Can CoQ10 Help Parkinsons Symptoms?

According to the National Institute of Health, Parkinson’s disease affects more than half a million Americans, and more than 60,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with the disease each year. It’s the result of neuron degeneration in a region of the brain which controls movement; this degeneration, in turn, creates a shortage of the neurotransmitter dopamine. Dopamine plays a vital role in brain function, influencing behavior and cognition, voluntary movement, motivation, perception of punishment and reward, sleep, mood, attention, working memory, and learning.

This deficit of dopamine causes symptoms associated with Parkinson’s, like slurring of speech, difficulty in controlling movements, rigid limbs, and a lack of facial expressions. As the condition progresses, it can cause cognitive and psychological symptoms like learning and memory problems, depression, sleep disturbances, and in advanced cases, dementia. There are medications available to manage the symptoms of Parkinson’s, but there is no known cure. The majority of people diagnosed with the disease are in their 70?s and 80?s; very rarely, onset is reported in patients under 40 years old.

CoQ10?s Role In the Prevention and Treatment of Parkinson’s Disease

Coenzyme Q10,commonly known as CoQ10, is a vitamin-like substance that occurs naturally in every cell of the human body. It’s essential to the production of energy at the cellular level; the actual “work” that Coenzyme Q10 does takes place in a part of every cell called the mitochondria, and its job is to help transform fats and sugars into energy.

According to the Bastyr Center, researchers became interested in the relationship between CoQ10 and Parkinson’s disease because of reports that the disease is associated with a defect in the production of energy by mitochondria. In addition, reduced concentrations of CoQ10 have been found in the blood of people with Parkinson’s disease. These findings sparked interest in the use of CoQ10 as a potential treatment for the condition.

The published study included 80 participants who were in the early stages of Parkinson`s disease, before medication was required to treat their symptoms. The participants randomly received either a placebo or a daily dose of 300 mg, 600 mg, or 1200 mg of CoQ10 for a total of 16 months. The study participants were monitored using a rating scale used to determine the severity of their condition.

At the end of the study, the participants taking no CoQ10 had worsened by almost 50 percent. However, the results were far more favorable for the group taking CoQ10. The best outcomes were found in those taking 1200 mg per day; their Parkinson’s showed the least progression, only worsening by about 30 percent on average. Additionally, the long-term use of CoQ10 by study participants produced no negative side effects, and in a separate study, was even well tolerated by those who were already taking anti-Parkinson’s medications. These results seem to indicate that CoQ10 is safe and effective for use in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease.

It’s very important to consult your doctor before taking CoQ10 supplements as a treatment of Parkinson’s disease. CoQ10 is usually taken in doses ranging from 100 mg to 300 mg daily.