Coenzyme Q10 Concentration Research Articles

DDDR-13. OPTIMIZING BRAIN CANCER THERAPY: BALANCING TUMOR ERADICATION AND NORMAL TISSUE PRESERVATION WITH BPM31510

Abstract The challenges translating glioblastoma therapies lie in safeguarding normal neuronal and glial tissue. Considering that the central nervous system has the lowest regenerative capacity, the exclusive focus on tumor eradication while neglecting normal tissue response, impedes proper healing. This oversight leads to toxicities ultimately culminating in patient demise with marginal gain in survival. BPM31510 is a nanodispersion encapsulating highly hydrophobic oxidized Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), allowing for delivery of supraphysiological CoQ10 concentrations into cancer cells. Initial investigations demonstrated differential responsiveness between cancer and non-cancer cells in vitro, an effect associated with high superoxide levels exclusively in cancer cells. To evaluate this divergence between cancer and non-cancer cells, a competitive co-culture cell-based assay was developed with labeled pairs of glioblastoma and non-cancer cells incubated up to three weeks with various concentrations of BPM31510 to ascertain optimal concentration leading to preferential growth of non-cancer cells. Human astrocyte (HA), mouse fibroblast (NIH 3T3), and rat astrocyte (TNC1) cells were paired with U251 human glioma, mouse GL261 and rat C6 glioma, respectively. Cell growth and spatial extent of the plate containing non-cancer or tumor cells were monitored every other day. Using doxorubicin as control, no dosage was discerned in which non-cancer cells exhibited advantage over tumor cells (i.e., either cultures became all tumor cells or both cell lines were eradicated). Using various concentrations of BPM31510, we identified an optimal dose in which cancer cells diminished while non-cancer cells predominated, reflected by markedly elevated mitochondrial superoxide levels in cancer cells prior to cell death. A co-culture cell-based assay was developed to identify an optimal dose of BPM31510 with selective preservation of non-cancer cells alongside tumor cell death. This approach elucidates developing a “fine tuning” strategy, wherein BPM31510 is titrated over time, thereby promoting normal tissue and healing, and ultimately leading to superior and prolonged functional outcomes.

Nutrient Status and Intakes of Adults with Phenylketonuria.

A phenylalanine-restricted diet, supplemented with protein substitutes (PSs), remains the cornerstone of phenylketonuria (PKU) management. However, adherence is challenging in adulthood, and data on the nutritional status of early and continuously treated adults with PKU (ETAwPKU) are scarce. A total of 34 ETAwPKU (16 females; mean ± SD, age: 28 ± 9 years, phenylalanine concentration: 847 ± 285 µmol/L) and 34 age- and sex-matched control subjects were compared regarding their blood nutrient status, self-reported dietary intake, and cognitive wellbeing. Though diet adherence varied, all ETAwPKU were taking a PS. No significant differences were found for blood DHA, calcium, ferritin, transferrin, and zinc concentrations. However, selenium and ubiquinone concentrations were 16% and 29% lower in ETAwPKU, respectively (p < 0.01 and <0.0001). Vitamin concentrations (D, B12, B6, and folic acid) were significantly higher in ETAwPKU except for alpha-tocopherol. Amino acid (AA) concentrations differed between ETAwPKU and controls: they were significantly lower for 12 AAs and higher for phenylalanine and glycine. ETAwPKU had a significantly higher intake of most minerals and vitamins, except for niacin and phosphorus (no difference). Depending on the nutrient, PSs represented 52-100% of patients' daily intake and 19% of total daily energy intake. Compared with controls, ETAwPKU scored significantly lower in three of the four subscales of the cognitive wellbeing questionnaire. Overall, the blood DHA and micronutrient status of ETAwPKU was adequate, except for selenium, with higher intakes than controls for most micronutrients. Patients relied heavily on PSs to meet the recommended intakes for protein, DHA, and micronutrients. The potential clinical impact of differences found in AA status should be further studied.

Exploring Plasma Coenzyme Q10 Status in Paediatric Dyslipidaemia.

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ) is a ubiquitous lipid with different biological functions. In blood, there is a close relationship between CoQ status and cholesterol, which strongly supports the study of both molecules simultaneously. The objective of this study was to evaluate plasma CoQ, lipoprotein concentrations and CoQ/Chol ratio in a cohort of paediatric patients with different types of dyslipidaemias. A total of 60 paediatric patients were recruited (age range: 7 months-18 years), including 52 with different types of hypercholesterolemia, 2 with isolated hypertriglyceridemia and 6 with hypobetalipoproteinemia. Plasma CoQ was analysed by HPLC with electrochemical detection, and lipoprotein and cholesterol concentrations by standard automated methods. The lowest CoQ values were detected in patients with hypobetalipoproteinemia and in two cases of liver cirrhosis. Mean CoQ values were significantly higher in hypercholesterolemic patients compared to controls (average values 1.07 µmol/L and 0.63 µmol/L) while the CoQ/cholesterol ratio did not show differences (170 vs. 163, respectively). Mean CoQ values were significantly lower in the group of patients with hypobetalipoproteinemia compared to controls (mean CoQ values of 0.22 µmol/L vs. 0.63 µmol/L, respectively), while those of CoQ/cholesterol did not show differences. Pearson's correlation test showed a positive correlation between the CoQ and cholesterol values (r = 0.565, p < 0.001) and between the CoQ and the LDL cholesterol values (r = 0.610, p < 0.001). Our results suggest that it is advisable to analyse plasma CoQ and cholesterol concentrations in patients with hypobetalipoproteinemia and hypercholesterolemia associated with liver damage.

Effect of a Two-Week Diet without Meat and Poultry on Serum Coenzyme Q10 Levels

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is an essential compound for energy production in the mitochondria and the antioxidation of lipid-soluble substances in cells. As it can be biosynthesized in cells, CoQ10 is not an essential nutrient. However, its intake through meals contributes to the maintenance of CoQ10 levels in the body. Therefore, understanding the effects of daily diet on serum CoQ10 levels is crucial. This study investigated the effect of a two-week diet without meat or poultry, which are rich in CoQ10 content, on serum CoQ10 levels of 22 young women aged 20–21 years. Upon restricting the intake of meat and poultry, the participants’ average daily intake of CoQ10 from meals decreased from 2.1 ± 0.6 to 1.1 ± 0.5 mg/day. Simultaneously, the average serum reduced, oxidized, and total CoQ10 levels decreased by 14%, 31%, and 16%, respectively, after the two-week dietary intervention, whereas the reduced serum CoQ10 ratio increased significantly. These results suggest that meat and poultry are significant sources of CoQ10 in the diet. Dietary habits affect serum CoQ10 levels; however, further research is required to determine whether people who follow long-term diets with lower serum CoQ10 levels, such as a healthy reference diet proposed by the EAT-Lancet Commission in addition to vegetarian and vegan diets, need CoQ10 supplementation to maintain health and achieve healthy longevity.

Coenzyme Q-10 reduced the aberrant production of extracellular matrix proteins in uterine leiomyomas through transforming growth factor beta 3

To evaluate the impact of coenzyme Q-10 (CoQ-10) on the dysregulated synthesis of extracellular matrix proteins mediated by transforming growth factor beta 3 (TGF-β3) in uterine leiomyomas. Laboratory study. University. None. Treatment of immortalized uterine myometrial and leiomyoma cells to TGF-β3 and CoQ-10. The protein concentrations of collagen 1A1 (COL1A1), collagen 3A1 (COL3A1), collagen 11A1 (COL11A1), and fibronectin (FN1) were assessed through western blot analysis after treatment of immortalized uterine myometrial and leiomyoma cells with both transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) 3 and concentrations of CoQ-10 at 10, 50, and 100 μM concurrently for 24 hours. Immortalized uterine leiomyoma and myometrial cells exposed to TGF-β3 for 24 hours demonstrated a significant up-regulation of COL1A1, COL3A1, COL11A1, and FN1 compared with untreated cells. In leiomyoma cells, concurrent treatment with CoQ-10 over the same timeframe revealed a dose-dependent decrease in these protein concentrations compared with those in cells treated with TGF-β3 alone. At the highest concentration of 100 μM of CoQ-10, significant decreases in the amounts of COL1A1 (0.59 ± 0.10-fold), COL3A1 (0.46 ± 0.09-fold), COL11A1 (0.53 ± 0.09-fold), and FN1 (0.56 ± 0.09-fold) were observed. Similarly, myometrial cells exposed to both TGF-β3 and CoQ-10 demonstrated a dose-responsive decline in the amount of extracellular matrix protein compared with cells exposed to TGF-β3 alone. Significant reductions in the amounts of COL1A1 (0.75 ± 0.03-fold), COL3A1 (0.48 ± 0.06-fold), COL11A1 (0.38 ± 0.06), and FN1 (0.69 ± 0.04-fold) were appreciated at 100-μM CoQ-10. Coenzyme Q-10 mitigated the aberrant production of key biomarkers of the extracellular matrix mediated by TGF-β3 in uterine leiomyomas. Our findings highlight a promising nonhormonal compound that can counteract the fibroproliferative process inherent to leiomyomas.

Production of yogurts fortified with nanoencapsulated coenzyme Q10: Technological feasibility and bioactive's release during in vitro digestion

The feasibility of incorporating different concentrations (0; 1% – ‘Y1’; 7% – ‘Y7’) of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)‐loaded nanoemulsions (Ynano Q10) in yogurts was evaluated, as well as the bioactive's stability during static in vitro digestion. Yogurts were characterised regarding CoQ10 concentrations, physicochemical/rheological properties and sensory acceptability. Ynano Q10 incorporation has not negatively affected yogurts properties, stability and overall acceptance on sensory tests. Bioactive's stability during in vitro digestion was higher in Ynano Q10 than in fortified yogurts; however, CoQ10 concentrations in yogurts after the intestinal phase (0.008% for Y1 and 0.175% for Y7) were sufficiently high, considering CoQ10 recommended daily intake.

Dietary co-enzyme Q10 boosted the growth performance, antioxidative capacity, immune responses, and intestinal and hepatic histomorphology of grey mullet (Liza ramada)

The aim of this experiment was to assess the potential benefits of supplementing coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) in the diet of Liza ramada, with a focus on growth promotion, enhanced feed utilization, improved digestive enzyme activity, bolstered antioxidant defenses, and overall health. Five diets were prepared, maintaining consistent levels of lipids (7%) and protein (32%). These diets featured equivalent raw materials but varied in their CoQ10 content (0, 20, 40, 60, and 80 mg CoQ10/kg diet). Initial fish weight averaged 90.89±0.41 g, and each diet was administered to fish in triplicate tanks over a 60-day feeding period. Surprisingly, the diet with 80 mg/kg of CoQ10 showed the most substantial increases in weight gain (131.23±1.82 g), specific growth rate (1.40±0.01%/day), and a more favorable feed conversion ratio (1.73±0.01), outperforming the 60, 40, and 20 mg/kg CoQ10 diets. Additionally, 40 and 60 mg/kg CoQ10 diets demonstrated substantial improvements in digestive enzyme activity [protease (22.30±0.80 and 21.34±0.77, U/ mg), amylase (19.90±0.65 and 20.15±0.43, U/ mg), and lipase (27.04±0.80 and 27.41±0.87, U/ mg)], antioxidant markers [superoxide dismutase (14.01±0.27 and 14.44±0.62, U/ mg), catalase (1.19±0.04 and 1.20±0.04, U/ mg), and glutathione peroxidase (3.27±0.14 and 3.47±0.16, U/ mg)], and immune responses [lysozyme (302.12±3.18 and 294.25±7.64, U/ ml), bactericidal activity (5.00±0.04 and 6.03±0.14, U/ ml), respiratory burst using nitroblue tetrazolium (0.55±0.01 and 0.55±0.01, U/ ml), and alternative complement pathway activities (58.29±1.01 and 58.74±0.80, U/ ml)] in L. ramada (p < 0.05). Histological evaluations of the liver and intestine indicated structural enhancements, particularly in the 60 and 80 mg/kg CoQ10 groups, suggesting potential benefits for organ health. CoQ10 supplementation did not affect the survival rate and biochemical parameters [albumin, glucose, total protein, globulin, total cholesterol, triglyceride, AST, ALT, urea, and creatinine] (p > 0.05). These findings underscore the potential of CoQ10 as a valuable dietary additive to enhance the growth and overall health of L. ramada, with recommended inclusion levels of CoQ10 falling between 60 and 80 mg/kg.

Effect of coenzyme Q10 supplementation on post-vitrification mouse embryo development

Objective: To investigate the effects of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) supplementation on post-vitrification embryo development and gross morphology. Methods: Balb/c mouse embryos were cultured in potassium simplex optimised medium (KSOM) with varying CoQ10 concentrations [0 (control), 20, 40, and 60 μΜ]. The most effective CoQ10 concentration (40 μM) was selected for subsequent post-vitrification morphology study. Embryos were randomly divided into four groups: Group A (non-vitrified without CoQ10), Group B (non-vitrified with CoQ10), Group C (vitrified without CoQ10), and Group D (vitrified with CoQ10), followed by vitrification at the 8-cell stage. Survival rates and development until the blastocyst stage were evaluated through morphological examinations using ASEBIR's system, distinguishing normal and abnormal embryos. Results: Supplementation of 40 μM CoQ10 significantly increased blastocyst formation (95%) compared to the control group (92%), 20 μM (62%), and 60 μM (56%) (P&lt;0.001). Following vitrification, Group D exhibited a significant increase in blastocyst formation (92%) compared to Group C (82%) (P&lt;0.05). Morphological assessments indicated superior embryo quality in Group B over Group D during the cleavage stage, morula, and blastocyst (P&lt;0.05). Conclusions: CoQ10 supplementation exhibits promising potential to enhance preimplantation embryo development, increase blastocyst formation rates, and improve embryo quality post-vitrification. This offers a promising approach to mitigate oxidative stress on embryos, potentially improving overall assisted reproductive technology outcomes.

Resource recovery through bioremediation of fuel-synthesis wastewater in a biofilm photobioreactor using purple non-sulfur bacteria: A circular bioeconomy approach

In the current era of wastewater treatment, integrating reusable water production with resource recovery is a key goal. This study aims to treat fuel-synthesis wastewater (FSW), intending to recover various resources, including polyhydroxybutyrate (PHBs), single cell protein, bacteriochlorophylls, carotenoids, and coenzyme Q10 from suspended and biofilm growth to decrease the harvesting costs. The study considered the treatment process, biofilm growth, and resource recovery potential in a mixed-culture system enriched with purple non-sulfur bacteria for treating FSW. Specifically, the effects of four different FSW strengths (25–100 %) and nitrogen sufficiency (N+) or deficiency (N−) were evaluated in eight biofilm photobioreactors. This study observed a direct correlation between the concentration of FSW and PHB content; specifically, as the FSW content decreased from 100 % (undiluted) to 25 % the PHB content decreased. The undiluted condition achieved 17 % dry cell weight as PHB in the suspended growth and 22.6 % in the biofilm growth under N− condition. The protein content ranged between 33 and 44 %, and the presence of nitrogen had a slight positive effect on higher protein content. No trend was observed for carotenoids or bacteriochlorophylls in the N− condition. In contrast, for the N+ condition, the concentration of bacteriochlorophylls increased with decreasing wastewater concentration under suspended growth, while it decreased with decreasing wastewater concentration under biofilm growth. Coenzyme Q10 concentration was enhanced under the most growth-limited condition (25 %, N−). PHB and protein content of these resources seem most promising when using N− and N+ conditions, respectively.

Evaluation of cell disruption methods for protein and coenzyme Q10 quantification in purple non-sulfur bacteria.

A recent focus has been on the recovery of single-cell protein and other nutritionally valuable bioproducts, such as Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) from purple non-sulfur bacteria (PNSB) biomass following wastewater treatment. However, due to PNSB's peculiar cell envelope (e.g., increased membrane cross-section for energy transduction) and relatively smaller cell size compared to well-studied microbial protein sources like yeast and microalgae, the effectiveness of common cell disruption methods for protein quantification from PNSB may differ. Thus, this study examines the efficiency of selected chemical (NaOH and EDTA), mechanical (homogenization and bead milling), physical (thermal and bath/probe sonication), and combined chemical-mechanical/physical treatment techniques on the PNSB cell lysis. PNSB biomass was recovered from the treatment of gas-to-liquid process water. Biomass protein and CoQ10 contents were quantified based on extraction efficiency. Considering single-treatment techniques, bead milling resulted in the best protein yields (p < 0.001), with the other techniques resulting in poor yields. However, the NaOH-assisted sonication (combined chemical/physical treatment technique) resulted in similar protein recovery (p = 1.00) with bead milling, with the former having a better amino acid profile. For example, close to 50% of the amino acids, such as sensitive ones like tryptophan, threonine, cystine, and methionine, were detected in higher concentrations in NaOH-assisted sonication (>10% relative difference) compared to bead-milling due to its less disruptive nature and improved solubility of amino acids in alkaline conditions. Overall, PNSB required more intensive protein extraction techniques than were reported to be effective on other single-cell organisms. NaOH was the preferred chemical for chemical-aided mechanical/physical extraction as EDTA was observed to interfere with the Lowry protein kit, resulting in significantly lower concentrations. However, EDTA was the preferred chemical agent for CoQ10 extraction and quantification. CoQ10 extraction efficiency was also suspected to be adversely influenced by pH and temperature.

Antioxidative Stress-Induced Destruction to Cochlear Cells Caused by Blind Antioxidant Therapy.

Verification that blind and excessive use of antioxidants leads to antioxidant stress which exacerbates cochlear cell damage. Basic research. The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University. We compared and quantified hair cell-like house ear institute-organ of corti 1 (HEI-OC1) cell density, cell viability, and apoptosis caused by different concentrations of N-acetylcysteine(NAC) via Hoechst staining, Cell Counting Kit 8, Hoechst with propidium iodide staining, and Annexin V with propidium iodide (PI) staining. Apoptosis induced by high concentrations of M40403 and coenzyme Q10 in cochlear explants was analyzed and compared by cochlear dissection and activated caspase 3 labeling. With the increase of NAC concentration (0-1000 μmol/L), cell density decreased consequently and reached the lowest at 1000 μmol/L (****P ≤ .0001). Cell viability is also declining (**P < .01). The number of Annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled cells and PI-labeled cells increased with increasing NAC concentration after treatment of HEI-OC1 cells for 48 hours. The proportion of apoptotic cells also rose (*P < .05, **P < .01). Cochlear hair cells (HCs) treated with low concentrations of M40403 and coenzyme Q10 for 48 hours showed no damage. When the concentrations of M40403 and coenzyme Q10 were increased (concentrations＞30 μmol/L), HC damage began, followed by a dose-dependent increase in HC loss (*P < .001, **P < .0001). Activated caspase-3 was clearly apparent in cochlear explants treated with 50 μmol/L M40403 and coenzyme Q10 compared with cochlear explants without added M40403 and coenzyme Q10. These experimental results suggest that inappropriate application of antioxidants can cause severe damage to normal cochlear HCs.

The Cocrystal of Ubiquinol: Improved Stability and Bioavailability.

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) exists in two forms, an oxidized form and a reduced form. Ubiquinol is the fully reduced form of CoQ10. Compared to the oxidized form, ubiquinol has a much higher biological absorption and better therapeutic effect. However, ubiquinol has an important stability problem which hampers its storage and formulation. It can be easily transformed into its oxidized form-ubiquinone-even at low temperature. In this work, we designed, synthesized, and characterized a new cocrystal of ubiquinol with vitamin B3 nicotinamide (UQ-NC). Compared to the marketed ubiquinol form, the cocrystal exhibited an excellent stability, improved dissolution properties, and higher bioavailability. The cocrystal remained stable for a long period, even when stored under stressed conditions. In the dissolution experiments, the cocrystal generated 12.6 (in SIF) and 38.3 (in SGF) times greater maximum ubiquinol concentrations above that of the marketed form. In addition, in the PK studies, compared to the marketed form, the cocrystal exhibited a 2.2 times greater maximum total coenzyme Q10 concentration and a 4.5 times greater AUC than that of the marketed form.

EFFECT OF COENZYME Q10 APPLICATION ON POST GINGIVAL CURETTAGE: TRANSFORMING GROWTH FACTOR-β1 LEVEL (TGF-β1) IN GINGIVAL CREVICULAR FLUID

Background: Curettage is one of the common periodontitis treatments. Mechanical cleaning of periodontal pocket requires additional materials so the wound healing in the operating area is more optimal. Coenzyme Q10 is one of the ingredients can be used to control levels of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS). Coenzyme Q10 concentrations of 1:9 and 2:8 in previous studies have been shown to stimulate fibroblast proliferation but its impact on TGF-β1 levels is still unknown. Purpose: to compare the effect of Coenzyme Q10 concentrations 1:9 and 2:8 with PerioQTM on TGF-β1 expression post-curettage. Method: In vivo, study was conducted on 12 periodontitis induced - Oryctolagus cuniculus. Coenzyme Q10 concentrations 1:9 (group I) and 2:8 (group II) were applied post-curettage and the results were compared with PerioQTM (group III). The TGF-β1 was collected from gingival sulcus fluid. It was taken with paper point no. 15 on days 3, -7, and -14 followed by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) examination. Data were analyzed with Two-way ANOVA and post hoc test with a significance level of p&lt;0.05. Result: TGF-β1 levels after application of Coenzyme Q10 concentration 1:9 and PerioQTM reached the peak on day 7 and decreased on day 14 while Coenzyme Q10 concentration of 2:8 reached the peak on day 14. Conclusion: The application of these three ingredients affects TGF-β1 levels of gingival sulcus fluid. The expression pattern of TGF-β1 concentration 1:9 is similar to PerioQTM, which reaches a peak at 7 days post-curettage and decreases the day after. Keywords: Coenzyme Q10, Gingival Crevicular Fluid, Periodontitis-Induced, Transforming Growth Factor-β1, Ubiquinone

Effect of coenzyme Q10 encapsulation with different sterols on stability, antioxidant activity, and cellular properties of nanoliposomes

The present study focuses on optimizing the preparation conditions of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)-loaded liposomes (LPs), aiming to overcome the limitations of conventional LPs. Cholesterol, commonly used for LPs stabilization, prompts exploration of alternative phytosterols due to its health concerns. This study evaluates the optimal concentrations of cholesterol and β-sitosterol, along with CoQ10 by analyzing their effects on particle size and entrapment efficiency (EE) using response surface methodology. It further investigates how cholesterol and β-sitosterol impact key physicochemical attributes, including lipid oxidation stability, cellular adhesion property, and cellular antioxidant activity. Incorporating cholesterol led to increased particle size but decreased CoQ10-loaded LPs' EE. Conversely, β-sitosterol incorporation increased both particle size and EE. The optimal sterol, including cholesterol and β-sitosterol, and CoQ10 concentration was 0.605 and 0.150 mg/mL, respectively. Notably, significant differences between cholesterol and β-sitosterol exhibited in lipid oxidation stability and cellular antioxidant activity of CoQ10-loaded LPs prepared with optimal conditions (p < 0.05). Under heat treatment at 60 °C for 2 h, β-sitosterol-containing LPs suppressed malondialdehyde production approximately 15% more effectively than cholesterol-containing LPs. Moreover, β-sitosterol elevated cellular antioxidant activity by around 11% in Caco-2 monolayers compared to cholesterol. These findings highlight β-sitosterol's potential to enhance CoQ10-loaded LPs' physicochemical attributes, proposing applications for cholesterol-free, stable LPs with improved bioactivity in the food and pharmaceutical industries.

Removal of pollutants and accumulation of high-value cell inclusions in a batch reactor containing Rhodopseudomonas for treating real heavy oil refinery wastewater

Treating wastewater using purple non-sulfur bacteria (PNSB) is an environmentally friendly technique that can simultaneously remove pollutants and lead to the accumulation of high-value cell inclusions. However, no PNSB system for treating heavy oil refinery wastewater (HORW) and recovering high-value cell inclusions has yet been developed. In this study, five batch PNSB systems dominated by Rhodopseudomonas were used to treat real HORW for 186 d. The effects of using different hydraulic retention times (HRT), sludge retention times (SRT), trace element solutions, phosphate loads, and influent loads were investigated, and the bacteriochlorophyll, carotenoid, and coenzyme Q10 concentrations were determined. The community structure and quantity of Rhodopseudomonas in the systems were determined using a high-sequencing technique and quantitative polymerase chain reaction technique. The long-term results indicated that phosphate was the limiting factor for treating HORW in the PNSB reactor. The soluble chemical oxygen demand (SCOD) removal rates were 67.03% and 85.26% without and with phosphate added, respectively, and the NH4+-N removal rates were 32.18% and 89.22%, respectively. The NO3−-N concentration in the effluent was stable at 0–3 mg/L with or without phosphate added. Adding phosphate increased the Rhodopseudomonas relative abundance and number by 13.21% and 41.61%, respectively, to 57.35% and 8.52 × 106 gene copies/μL, respectively. The SRT was the limiting factor for SCOD removal, and the bacteria concentration was the limiting factor for nitrogen removal. Once the inflow load had been increased, the total nitrogen (TN) removal rate increased as the HRT increased. Maximum TN removal rates of 64.46%, 68.06%, 73.89%, 82.15%, and 89.73% were found at HRT of 7, 10, 13, 16, and 19 d, respectively. The highest bacteriochlorophyll, carotenoid, and coenzyme Q10 concentrations were 2.92, 4.99, and 4.53 mg/L, respectively. This study provided a simple and efficient method for treating HORW and reutilizing resources, providing theoretical support and parameter guidance for the application of Rhodopseudomonas in treating HORW.

The Effect of Adjuvant Therapy with Molecular Hydrogen on Endogenous Coenzyme Q10 Levels and Platelet Mitochondrial Bioenergetics in Patients with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

Molecular hydrogen (H2) has been recognized as a novel medical gas with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a liver pathology with increased fat accumulation in liver tissue caused by factors other than alcohol consumption. Platelet mitochondrial function is considered to reflect systemic mitochondrial health. We studied the effect of adjuvant therapy with hydrogen-rich water (HRW) on coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) content and platelet mitochondrial bioenergetics in patients with NAFLD. A total of 30 patients with NAFLD and 15 healthy volunteers were included in this clinical trial. A total of 17 patients (H2 group) drank water three × 330 mL/day with tablets producing HRW (>4 mg/L H2) for 8 weeks, and 13 patients (P group) drank water with placebo tablets producing CO2. The concentration of CoQ10-TOTAL was determined by the HPLC method, the parameter of oxidative stress, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), by the spectrophotometric method, and mitochondrial bioenergetics in platelets isolated from whole blood by high-resolution respirometry. The patients with NAFLD had lower concentrations of CoQ10-TOTAL in the blood, plasma, and platelets vs. the control group. Mitochondrial CI-linked LEAK respiration was higher, and CI-linked oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) and CII-linked electron transfer (ET) capacities were lower vs. the control group. Plasma TBARS concentrations were higher in the H2 group. After 8 weeks of adjuvant therapy with HRW, the concentration of CoQ10 in platelets increased, plasma TBARS decreased, and the efficiency of OXPHOS improved, while in the P group, the changes were non-significant. Long-term supplementation with HRW could be a promising strategy for the acceleration of health recovery in patients with NAFLD. The application of H2 appears to be a new treatment strategy for targeted therapy of mitochondrial disorders. Additional and longer-term studies are needed to confirm and elucidate the exact mechanisms of the mitochondria-targeted effects of H2 therapy in patients with NAFLD.

Determination of Coenzyme Q10 Content in Food By-Products and Waste by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography Coupled with Diode Array Detection.

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a vitamin-like compound found naturally in plant- and animal-derived materials. This study aimed to determine the level of CoQ10 in some food by-products (oil press cakes) and waste (fish meat and chicken hearts) to recover this compound for further use as a dietary supplement. The analytical method involved ultrasonic extraction using 2-propanol, followed by high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection (HPLC-DAD). The HPLC-DAD method was validated in terms of linearity and measuring range, limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ), trueness, and precision. As a result, the calibration curve of CoQ10 was linear over the concentration range of 1-200 µg/mL, with an LOD of 22 µg/mL and an LOQ of 0.65 µg/mL. The CoQ10 content varied from not detected in the hempseed press cake and the fish meat to 84.80 µg/g in the pumpkin press cake and 383.25 µg/g in the lyophilized chicken hearts; very good recovery rates and relative standard deviations (RSDs) were obtained for the pumpkin press cake (100.9-116.0% with RSDs between 0.05-0.2%) and the chicken hearts (99.3-106.9% CH with RSDs between 0.5-0.7%), showing the analytical method's trueness and precision and thus its accuracy. In conclusion, a simple and reliable method for determining CoQ10 levels has been developed here.

Effects of dietary coenzyme Q10 supplementation during gestation on the embryonic survival and reproductive performance of high-parity sows

BackgroundFertility declines in high-parity sows. This study investigated whether parity-dependent declines in embryonic survival and reproductive performance could be restored by dietary coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) supplementation.MethodsTwo experiments were performed. In Exp. 1, 30 young sows that had completed their 2nd parity and 30 high-parity sows that had completed their 10th parity, were fed either a control diet (CON) or a CON diet supplemented with 1 g/kg CoQ10 (+ CoQ10) from mating until slaughter at day 28 of gestation. In Exp. 2, a total of 314 post-weaning sows with two to nine parities were fed the CON or + CoQ10 diets from mating throughout gestation.ResultsIn Exp. 1, both young and high-parity sows had a similar number of corpora lutea, but high-parity sows had lower plasma CoQ10 concentrations, down-regulated genes involved with de novo CoQ10 synthesis in the endometrium tissues, and greater levels of oxidative stress markers in plasma and endometrium tissues. High-parity sows had fewer total embryos and alive embryos, lower embryonic survival, and greater embryo mortality than young sows. Dietary CoQ10 supplementation increased the number of live embryos and the embryonic survival rate to levels similar to those of young sows, as well as lowering the levels of oxidative stress markers. In Exp. 2, sows showed a parity-dependent decline in plasma CoQ10 levels, and sows with more than four parities showed a progressive decline in the number of total births, live births, and piglets born effective. Dietary supplementation with CoQ10 increased the number of total births, live births, and born effective, and decreased the intra-litter covariation coefficients and the percentage of sows requiring farrowing assistance during parturition.ConclusionsDietary CoQ10 supplementation can improve the embryonic survival and reproductive performance of gestating sows with high parity, probably by improving the development of uterine function.

Effects of Coenzyme Q10 on the Biomarkers (Hydrogen, Methane, SCFA and TMA) and Composition of the Gut Microbiome in Rats.

The predominant route of administration of drugs with coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is administration per os. The bioavailability of CoQ10 is about 2-3%. Prolonged use of CoQ10 to achieve pharmacological effects contributes to the creation of elevated concentrations of CoQ10 in the intestinal lumen. CoQ10 can have an effect on the gut microbiota and the levels of biomarkers it produces. CoQ10 at a dose of 30 mg/kg/day was administered per os to Wistar rats for 21 days. The levels of gut microbiota biomarkers (hydrogen, methane, short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), and trimethylamine (TMA)) and taxonomic composition were measured twice: before the administration of CoQ10 and at the end of the experiment. Hydrogen and methane levels were measured using the fasting lactulose breath test, fecal and blood SCFA and fecal TMA concentrations were determined by NMR, and 16S sequencing was used to analyze the taxonomic composition. Administration of CoQ10 for 21 days resulted in a 1.83-fold (p = 0.02) increase in hydrogen concentration in the total air sample (exhaled air + flatus), a 63% (p = 0.02) increase in the total concentration of SCFA (acetate, propionate, butyrate) in feces, a 126% increase in butyrate (p = 0.04), a 6.56-fold (p = 0.03) decrease in TMA levels, a 2.4-fold increase in relative abundance of Ruminococcus and Lachnospiraceae AC 2044 group by 7.5 times and a 2.8-fold decrease in relative representation of Helicobacter. The mechanism of antioxidant effect of orally administered CoQ10 can include modification of the taxonomic composition of the gut microbiota and increased generation of molecular hydrogen, which is antioxidant by itself. The evoked increase in the level of butyric acid can be followed by protection of the gut barrier function.

A Trifolium repens flavodoxin-like quinone reductase 1 (TrFQR1) improves plant adaptability to high temperature associated with oxidative homeostasis and lipids remodeling.

Maintenance of stable mitochondrial respiratory chains could enhance adaptability to high temperature, but the potential mechanism was not elucidated clearly in plants. In this study, we identified and isolated a TrFQR1 gene encoding the flavodoxin-like quinone reductase 1 (TrFQR1) located in mitochondria of leguminous white clover (Trifolium repens). Phylogenetic analysis indicated that amino acid sequences of FQR1 in various plant species showed a high degree of similarities. Ectopic expression of TrFQR1 protected yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) from heat damage and toxic levels of benzoquinone, phenanthraquinone and hydroquinone. Transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana and white clover overexpressing TrFQR1 exhibited significantly lower oxidative damage and better photosynthetic capacity and growth than wild-type in response to high-temperature stress, whereas AtFQR1-RNAi A. thaliana showed more severe oxidative damage and growth retardation under heat stress. TrFQR1-transgenic white clover also maintained better respiratory electron transport chain than wild-type plants, as manifested by significantly higher mitochondrial complex II and III activities, alternative oxidase activity, NAD(P)H content, and coenzyme Q10 content in response to heat stress. In addition, overexpression of TrFQR1 enhanced the accumulation of lipids including phosphatidylglycerol, monogalactosyl diacylglycerol, sulfoquinovosyl diacylglycerol and cardiolipin as important compositions of bilayers involved in dynamic membrane assembly in mitochondria or chloroplasts positively associated with heat tolerance. TrFQR1-transgenic white clover also exhibited higher lipids saturation level and phosphatidylcholine:phosphatidylethanolamine ratio, which could be beneficial to membrane stability and integrity during a prolonged period of heat stress. The current study proves that TrFQR1 is essential for heat tolerance associated with mitochondrial respiratory chain, cellular reactive oxygen species homeostasis, and lipids remodeling in plants. TrFQR1 could be selected as a key candidate marker gene to screen heat-tolerant genotypes or develop heat-tolerant crops via molecular-based breeding.