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Coenzyme Q10 Appears To Slow Parkinson's Disease Progression

Coenzyme Q₁₀ appears to slow the progressive deterioration of function in Parkinson's Disease, say researchers.

This is the promising find of a multicentre, randomized, parallel-group, placebo-controlled, double-blind, dosage-ranging trial of 80 patients with early Parkinson's disease who did not require treatment. The patients received either placebo or coenzyme Q₁₀ at dosages of 300, 600 or 1200 mg/d.

Clifford Shults, MD, said, "Coenzyme Q₁₀ was safe and well tolerated at dosages of up to 1200 mg/d. Less disability developed in subjects assigned to coenzyme Q₁₀ than in those assigned to placebo." He added that the benefit was greatest in subjects receiving the highest dosage. " Coenzyme Q₁₀ appears to slow the progressive deterioration of function in Parkinson's disease, but these results need to be confirmed in a larger study." Dr Shults is based at the Department of Neurosciences, University of California, Dan Diego, La Jolla California and was lead investigator of the study.

The subjects underwent evaluation with the Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale at the screening, baseline, and at periods up to 16 months later. The adjusted mean total Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale was +11.99 for the placebo group, +8.81 for the 300-mg/d group, +10.82 for the 600-mg/d group, and 6.69 for the 1200-mg/d group.
Archives of Neurology 2002;59(10):1541-1550. "Effects of Coenzyme Q10 in Early Parkinson Disease Evidence of Slowing of the Functional Decline"

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