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Efficacy of Coenzyme Q10 for Improved Tolerability of Cancer Treatments: A Systematic Review

From the School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton; and Complementary Medicine, Peninsula Medical School, Universities of Exeter and Plymouth, Institute of Health and Social Care, Exeter, United Kingdom

Address reprint requests to Katja Schmidt, MSc, Complementary Medicine, Peninsula Medical School, Universities of Exeter and Plymouth, Institute of Health and Social Care, 25 Victoria Park Rd, Exeter, EX2 4NT, United Kingdom; e-mail: katja.schmidt{at}pms.ac.uk

PURPOSE: The aim of this systematic review was to summarize and evaluate the evidence available for oral supplementation with coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) to improve the tolerability of cancer treatments.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Searches for all published and unpublished controlled trials were carried out on seven databases. Manufacturers of CoQ10 were identified and contacted. Controlled clinical trials of monopreparations of CoQ10 administered orally to cancer patients were included. No language restrictions were imposed. Data were extracted independently by two authors according to predefined criteria.

RESULTS: Six studies were included in the review, including three randomized clinical trials and three nonrandomized clinical trials. Patients in five of six studies received anthracyclines. The results suggested that CoQ10 provides some protection against cardiotoxicity or liver toxicity during cancer treatment. However, because of inadequate reporting and analysis, as well as questionable validity of outcome measures, the results are not conclusive.

CONCLUSION: Suggestions that CoQ10 might reduce the toxicity of cancer treatments have not been tested by rigorous trials. Further investigations are necessary to determine whether CoQ10 can improve the tolerability of cancer treatments.

Supported by a grant from the British Medical Association (L.R.) and the Pilkington Family Trusts (K.S.).

Authors' disclosures of potential conflicts of interest are found at the end of this article.

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