Plasma ubiquinol‐10 as a marker for disease: is the assay worthwhile?

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Kontush, Anatol^; | Schippling, Sven | Spranger, Torsten | Beisiegel, Ulrike

Affiliations: Medizinische Klinik, Universitätskrankenhaus Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany

Note: [] Corresponding author at: Biochemisches Labor, Pav. 39, Medizinische Kern‐ und Poliklinik, Universitätskrankenhaus Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany. Tel.: +49 40 4717 4449; Fax: +49 40 4717 4592; E‐mail: kontush@ uke.uni‐hamburg.de.

Abstract: Ubiquinol‐10 and ubiquinone‐10 were measured in plasma of patients with several pathologies known to be associated with increased oxidative stress. Plasma ubiquinol‐10, expressed as a percentage of total ubiquinol‐10 + ubiquinone‐10, was found to be significantly lower in hyperlipidaemic patients and in patients with liver diseases than in age‐matched control subjects. In contrast, no decrease in ubiquinol‐10 was detected in plasma of patients with coronary heart disease and Alzheimer’s disease. Except for ubiquinol‐10, no other lipophilic antioxidant was found to be decreased in patients with liver diseases. These data suggest that the level of ubiquinol‐10 in human plasma may serve as a marker for liver dysfunction, reflecting its diminished reduction by the liver rather than increased consumption by oxidants.

Keywords: Ubiquinol‐10, oxidation, antioxidants, atherosclerosis, hyperlipidaemia, coronary heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease, liver diseases

Journal: Biofactors, vol. 9, no. 2-4, pp. 225-229, 1999