Parkinson's disease is a chronic neurological disorder that results from the loss of brain cells that produce the neurotransmitter dopamine. It causes tremor, impaired balance and coordination, stiffness of the limbs and trunk, and slowing of movements. As of 2011, there is no known cure. Medications can only slow the progression of the disease. CoQ10 supplementation has resulted in clinical and metabolic improvement in some patients with Parkinson's disease. Consult your doctor before taking CoQ10 supplement for Parkinson's disease.
CoQ10
CoQ10 is a fat-soluble, vitamin-like substance primarily synthesized by the body and also consumed in the diet. CoQ10 plays an important role in generating energy in the form of adenosine triphosphate, or ATP. CoQ10 is also supplied to the body by various foods, including oily fish such as salmon and tuna, organ meats, and whole grains.
Research
A study published in the December 2008 issue of "Neuroscience Letters" found that people with Parkinson's disease have decreased levels of CoQ10 in the brain. According to researchers, these findings indicate that CoQ10 may be implicated in the development of Parkinson's disease. Another study that appeared in the 2002 issue of the "Archives of Neurology" suggested that CoQ10 can slow the rate of deterioration in Parkinson's disease. According to researchers, the results need to be confirmed in larger groups of patients.
Administration
CoQ10 is available without a prescription. A study published in 2004 in "Experimental Neurology" found that doses of CoQ10 as high as 1,200 mg per day are safe and may be more effective than lower doses to treat early Parkinson's disease. Doses higher than 100 mg per day should be divided into two or three doses throughout the day as the absorption of CoQ10 decreases with increasing supplemental dose, according to Linus Pauling Institute.
Safety
Along with its needed effects, CoQ10 also has side effects. According to the Mayo Clinic, reported side effects of CoQ10 include nausea, vomiting, headache, dizziness, itching, irritability, increased light sensitivity, heartburn, diarrhea, loss of appetite, or flu-like symptoms.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Parkinson's Disease.
- Mayo Clinic: CoQ10
- "Archives of Neurology";Effects of Coenzyme Q10 in Early Parkinson Disease: Evidence of Slowing of the Functional Decline; C. Shults; Oct 2002.
- "Neuroscience Letters"; The Coenzyme Q10 Status of The Brain Regions of Parkinson's Disease Patients; I.P. Hargreaves, et al.; December 2008
- "Experimental Neurology"; Pilot Trial of High Dosages of Coenzyme Q10 in Patients with Parkinson's Disease; C. Shults; August 2004
- Linus Pauling Institute: Coenzyme Q10
