Abstract
The present review focuses on preclinical and clinical studies conducted in the last decade that contribute to increasing knowledge on Coenzyme Q10’s role in health and disease. Classical antioxidant and bioenergetic functions of the coenzyme have been taken into consideration, as well as novel mechanisms of action involving the redox-regulated activation of molecular pathways associated with anti-inflammatory activities. Cardiovascular research and fertility remain major fields of application of Coenzyme Q10, although novel applications, in particular in relation to topical application, are gaining considerable interest. In this respect, bioavailability represents a major challenge and the innovation in formulation aspects is gaining critical importance.
Highlights
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ), is an endogenous lipophilic quinone, ubiquitous in biological membranes, where it acts as a cofactor of mitochondrial respiratory complexes supporting cellular bioenergetics
The present review focuses on novel research and the clinical findings of the past 10 years and represent an update on our previous reports, published between 2007 [1] and 2010 [2], that have already laid an important foundation in terms of discussing literature related to the clinical aspects and biological properties of CoQ in ameliorating different disease conditions
In the second decade of the new millennium, 64 years after its discovery, CoQ research is still attracting a lot of interest in the scientific community, both in relation to its multifaceted mechanism of action and for its wide range of applications in human health (Figure 1)
Summary
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ), is an endogenous lipophilic quinone, ubiquitous in biological membranes, where it acts as a cofactor of mitochondrial respiratory complexes supporting cellular bioenergetics. Its reduced form (ubiquinol) is endowed with antioxidant activities both as a radical scavenger and supporting, synergistically, the larger cellular antioxidant network These two functions, bioenergetic and antioxidant, characterized Coenzyme Q research in the last half of the 21st century, while in the first decades of the new millennium, research has unleashed novel functions of CoQ, highlighting its role in modulating gene expression, mitochondrial function and signaling, with important implications in the senescence process and cell death. Bioavailability studies comparing formulations have attracted significant attention (8%), probably driven by a major uprise in the number of ubiquinol formulas claiming enhanced bioavailability as well as other formulas These studies highlight a major limitation of CoQ application in human studies associated with its low bioavailability, in particular to specific tissues, such as the skeletal and cardiac muscle and, the efforts in improving delivery strategies. Associated with this topic, novel aspects receiving increasing interest in the literature, refer to the topical application of CoQ to skin (2%) and ophthalmology (2%)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
