Coenzyme Q10, or CoQ10, is a substance that exists in cell mitochondria, the structures that basically power our bodies. CoQ10 is often taken as a supplement for conditions like heart disease and high cholesterol, and as a general energy booster. CoQ10 has increasingly been researched for its role in the onset and treatment of fibromyalgia, but the results are still experimental. Nevertheless, CoQ10 has become one of the suggested supplements for fibromyalgia sufferers. Talk to your doctor before using any supplements.
Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is a condition in which a person has widespread muscle and joint pain. It is a frustrating, chronic condition that may not respond to different drug and complementary therapies, and the pain can come and go. No one exact cause has been identified, with relatively vague diagnoses of traumas, viruses, sleep disorders and altered brain activity as the point of origin. PubMed Health notes the "tender points," the areas that the pain originates in, are in soft tissue, although the pain can sometimes feel like it started in a joint. Treatments include pain medication, antidepressants, therapy, diet overhauls, exercise and nutritional supplements.
CoQ10 Redistribution
A 2009 study published in the journal "Clinical Biochemistry" reported an apparent redistribution of CoQ10 in fibromyalgia patients. The study compared a group of fibromyalgia patients to a control group and found higher levels of CoQ10 in the plasma of the fibromyalgia subjects, and lower CoQ10 levels in a type of blood cell called a blood mononuclear cell. A 2010 review in "Neuroendocrinology Letters" notes that one theory about the origin of fibromyalgia is mitochondrial dysfunction arising from possible stress on the cell, and that the lack of CoQ10 in the cell could be the trigger for this stress. Both the 2009 study and the 2010 review suggested CoQ10 supplements could possibly lessen the effects of this redistribution.
Supplement Effects
CoQ10 was already under investigation as a treatment for fibromyalgia at the time of the 2009 study. A pilot study from 2002, published in the "Journal of International Medical Research," tested the effects of 200 mg of CoQ10 taken with Ginkgo biloba on the quality of life of people with fibromyalgia. The initial results were promising, with 64 percent of the subjects reporting that they felt better, but this was an uncontrolled study -- meaning there was no group of untreated fibromyalgia patients for comparison -- and the study and review did not state conclusively whether the lack of CoQ10 led to fibromyalgia, or if fibromyalgia led to the lack of CoQ10. However, the University of Maryland Medical Center suggests taking 100-200 mg of CoQ10 each night for general systemic support.
Cautions
CoQ10 does have the potential to interact with other medications such as those used to treat blood pressure or for chemotherapy. If you are taking other medications or have fibromyalgia, definitely speak to your doctor before attempting to take CoQ10 to ensure you aren't risking a drug interaction.
References
- PubMed Health; Fibromyalgia; February 2010
- Georgia State University: Mitochondria
- "Neuroendocrinology Letters"; Oxidative Stress and Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Fibromyalgia. Minireview; M. Cordero, et al.; 2010
- "Clinical Biochemistry"; Coenzyme Q10 Distribution in Blood Is Altered in Patients With Fibromyalgia; M.D. Cordero, et al.; May 2009
- "Journal of International Medical Research"; An Open, Pilot Study to Evaluate the Potential Benefits of Coenzyme Q10 Combined With Ginkgo Biloba Extract in Fibromyalgia Syndrome; R.E. Lister; March-April 2002
- UMM.edu: Fibromyalgia
