Alleviating effects of coenzyme Q10 supplements on biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress: results from an umbrella meta-analysis

Sara Dabbaghi Varnousfaderani; Vali Musazadeh; Faezeh Ghalichi; Zeynab Kavyani; Soha Razmjouei; Amir Hossein Faghfouri; Sana Sedgh Ahrabi; Seyyed Morteza Seyyed Shoura; Parvin Dehghan

doi:10.3389/fphar.2023.1191290

Alleviating effects of coenzyme Q10 supplements on biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress: results from an umbrella meta-analysis

Front Pharmacol. 2023 Aug 8:14:1191290. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1191290. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pharmacy, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran.
² Student Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
³ School of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
⁴ Nutrition Research Center, Faculty of Nutrition and Food Science, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
⁵ School of Medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran.
⁶ Maternal and Childhood Obesity Research Center, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran.

Abstract

Introduction: Although several meta-analyses support the positive effect of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) on biomarkers of oxidative stress and inflammation, the results of some other studies reject such effects. Methods: Therefore, in this umbrella meta-analysis, we performed a comprehensive systematic search in such databases as Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Google Scholar up to January 2023. Results: Based on standardized mean difference analysis, CoQ10 supplementation significantly decreased serum C-reactive protein (CRP) (ES_SMD = -0.39; 95% CI: 0.77, -0.01, p = 0.042) and malondialdehyde (MDA) (ES_SMD = -1.17; 95% CI: 1.55, -0.79, p < 0.001), while it increased the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) (ES_SMD = 1.21; 95% CI: 0.61, 1.81, p < 0.001) and serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity (ES_SMD = 1.08; 95% CI: 0.37, 1.79, p = 0.003). However, CoQ10 supplementation had no significant reducing effect on tumor-necrosis factor-alpha (TNF- α) (ES_SMD = -0.70; 95% CI: 2.09, 0.68, p = 0.320) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels (ES_SMD = -0.85; 95% CI: 1.71, 0.01, p = 0.053). Based on weighted mean difference analysis, CoQ10 supplementation considerably decreased TNF-α (ES_WMD = -0.46, 95% CI: 0.65, -0.27; p < 0.001), IL-6 (ES_WMD = -0.92, 95% CI: 1.40, -0.45; p < 0.001), and CRP levels (effect sizes _WMD = -0.28, 95% CI: 0.47, -0.09; p < 0.001). Discussion: The results of our meta-analysis supported the alleviating effects of CoQ10 on markers of inflammation cautiously. However, CoQ10 had antioxidant effects regarding the improvement of all the studied antioxidant and oxidative stress biomarkers. Systematic Review Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=323861, identifier CRD42022323861.

Keywords: C-reactive protein; antioxidant; biomarkers; coenzyme Q10; interleukin-6; umbrella meta-analysis.

Publication types

Systematic Review

Grants and funding

The research protocol was approved and supported by the Student Research Committee of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Iran (Registration code: 71811).