28th March 2014 - New research

COENZYME Q10 HAS NO EFFECT IN PARKINSON'S DISEASE

JAMA Neurology [2014] Mar 24 [Epub ahead of print] (M.F.Beal, D.Oakes, I.Shoulson, C. Henchcliffe, W.R.Galpern, et al) Complete abstract

Coenzyme Q10, an antioxidant that has been widely used for Parkinson's Disease has been found to have no significant effect. Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a supplement, which supports mitochondrial function in the neurons, and has been claimed to slow the progression of Parkinson's Disease. For more information go to Medline Plus

People with Parkinson's Disease were given either a placebo, 1200mg of CoQ10 per day, or 2400mg of CoQ10 per day. All of them were also given 1200 IU per day of vitamin E. Participants were observed for 16 months or until a disability requiring dopaminergic treatment. The treatments were well tolerated with no safety concerns. However, the worsening of Parkinson's Disease was actually related to the higher Coenzyme Q10 dose. Those taking no Coenzyme Q10 worsened by 6.9 points on the UPDRS. Those taking 1200mg worsened by 7.5 points. Those taking 2400mg worsened by 8.0 points. So Coenzyme Q10 was not only not beneficial it appeared, if anything, to be detrimental.

In previous studies Coenzyme Q10 was found to be ineffective in Parkinson's Disease in daily doses of 200mg, 300mg, 400mg, 600mg, and 800mg. Only one Coenzyme Q10 study has ever shown any improvement in Parkinson's Disease, using 360mg, but the effects were mild and were only assessed for four weeks. Daily doses of 300mg, 600mg and 1200 mg failed to improve the symptoms of Parkinson's Disease but reduced the rate of deterioration. In order to refer to this article on its own click here

COQ10, I have been taking 2400 mg daily for 11 years, I believe it has helped. I stopped for 2 three week periods ( I was Dxed 22 years ago and put on Sinemet)...stopped COQ10 in year 15 and year 17...felt much worse and some symptoms returned. Could not wait to get back on COQ10.

BIG THANKS FOR INFO ON MUCUNA(POWDER). In a three month period I have reduced COMTAN. And reduced Sinemet ER by 30%. I feel better and am more active. Meds now: one 25/100 Sinemet, 400mg COQ10, 1 teaspoons of Mucuna powder...every three hours, 6x a day, 1 200mg Comtan in dosings 1, 3,6. Three hours after last dosing 2 teaspoons of Mucuna and sleep. 4 hours before waking 1 dosing, then 1 hour before waking 1 dosing. For the last 21 years,generally I sleep during day and stay up at night.

CAUTION ON LIQUID MUCUNA: G-d bless those people in N.M. But if you try liquid mucuna: take only 1 drop and be close to a bed. then after a week try 2 drops spaced apart. Also, it effects me differently if the drop is on my tongue or under the tongue.

I have been reading this board for only three months, words cannot express the esteem I hold the contributors in...I am sure your efforts have benefited thousands of people. Off to WeHo.