Affiliations: "GC Descovich" Atherosclerosis Research Centre, "D.
Campanacci" Clinical Medicine and Applied Biotechonology Department, University
of Bologna, Italy | Internal Medicine and Therapeutics Department,
University of Pavia, Italy
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Arrigo F.G. Cicero, MD, "G.
Descovich" Atherosclerosis Study Center, "D. Campanacci" Clinical Medicine
& Applied Biotechnology Department, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Via
Massarenti 9, 40138 Bologna, Italy. Tel.: +39 3498558017; Fax: +39 059762089;
E-mail: afgcicero@cardionet.it
Abstract: Objective: to describe the effect of CoQ10 (added to either a
fibrate, or PUFA or association of both) in patients affected by massive
hypertriglyceridemia (MHTG) resistant to fibrates and PUFA. Design: Open, sequential, comparative intervention study. Setting:
Specialised centres for dyslipidemia management. Subjects: 15 subjects (mean age: 45.1 ± 12.5 years) affected
by MHTG and hyporesponsive to either fibrates, or PUFA, or fibrates-PUFA
association, and 15 age-matched subjects regularly responders to PUFA and
fenofibrate treatment. Interventions: Treatment for periods of 6 weeks each with the
following consecutive treatments: CoQ10 150 mg/day, PUFA 3000 mg/day,
fenofibrate 200 mg/day, PUFA 3000 mg/day + fenofibrate 200 mg/day, PUFA
3000 mg/day + CoQ10 150 mg/day, fenofibrate 200 mg/day + CoQ10 150 mg/day,
and finally, fenofibrate 200 mg/day + PUFA 3000 mg/day + CoQ10 150 mg/day.
Results: CoQ10 supplementation improved, in the control group,
systolic and diastolic blood pressure, creatinine and Lp(a) plasma levels, both
during fenofibrate and/or PUFA treatment. In MHTG group, CoQ10 supplementation
significantly improved TG, TC, Lp(a), uric acid and blood pressure during
fenofibrate treatment, but only Lp(a) and blood pressure during PUFA treatment.
Fenofibrate appeared to have better effect on hsCRP and γ-GT plasma
levels than PUFA. No significant change was observed in any group and under any
treatment in regards to homocysteinemia, PAI-1, or t-PA. Conclusion: Even though the mechanism of action through which the
effects were obtained is yet to be elucidated, adding CoQ10 to fenofibrate
could improve the drug's efficacy in MHTG patients not responding to
fenofibrate alone.
