CAM: Coenzyme Q10

Classified as:
Vitamin

Also Called
CoQ10, vitamin Q10, ubiquinone, ubidecarenone,
2,3-dimethoxy,5-methyl, 6-polyisoprene parabenzoquinone

Structure of Coenzyme Q10

Intro and Background
Coenzyme Q10 is a natural compound that is essential to the body's natural production of energy. ⁽¹⁾ In 1957, researchers at the University of Wisconsin won the Nobel Prize for discovering the role this vitamin plays in the body. Meat and poultry are the primary sources of dietary CoQ10, while supplements are also widely available. ⁽¹⁾ Researchers have found that cancer patients usually have lower levels of CoQ10 in their blood plasma than healthy individuals. ⁽²⁾ This finding serves as a basis for research into CoQ10 treatment. In order to see a significant increase in coenzyme Q10 about 100mg/day needs to be taken in supplement form. ⁽³⁾

Please read our notice on CAM and chemoprevention methods

Scientific Research
There is a limited number of trials in which CoQ10 is used to treat cancer in humans, and even these are not assuringly conclusive in their results. Low levels of CoQ10, although, have become an important way to determine the risk of melanoma progression. ⁽⁴⁾ CoQ10 can inhibit cancer cell proliferation during in vitro ⁽⁵⁾ as well as animal experiments. ⁽⁶⁾ Another recent study shows that the combined effect of CoQ10 and a cancer drug (Tamoxifen) can help suppress the growth of breast cancer cells in rats. ⁽⁷⁾ CoQ10 has also shown the ability to block some of the toxicity, or negative side effects, of chemotherapy which can help imrpove a patients quality of life. ⁽⁸⁾ In a study involving people diagnosed with melanoma and treated with CoQ10 (and interferon), CoQ10 treatment resulted in a smaller likelihood for the melanoma to reappear. ⁽⁹⁾ This same study also showed patients experienced an increase quality of life with CoQ10 intake. The present evidence suggests that Coenzyme Q10 may be a better treatment for cancer-related side effects than cancer itself.

Learn MORE about proliferation

There are currently no studies being investigating Coenzyme Q10 as a cancer treatment. ⁽¹⁰⁾ For information about ongoing clinical trials involving coenzyme Q10, please visit our section on Finding Clinical Trials.

US Food and Drug Administration Approval
At this time there is not enough evidence to support that coenzyme Q10 is effective in the fight against cancer and it has not been approved by the FDA for cancer treatment. ⁽¹¹⁾

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10. National Library of Medicine. (2007). "ClinicalTrials.gov" Retrieved June 2, 2010 from the National Institutes of Health [ http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct/search;jsessionid=77C2E74E90EC0B1C27B8F039E1FA6244?term=Coenzyme+Q10%2C+cancer&submit=Search ]
11. US Food and Drug Adminstration website. Accessed 9/10/2010 [http://www.fda.gov/]