Coenzyme Q10 in essential hypertension

Abstract This study was undertaken to clarify the mechanism of the antihypertensive effect of coenzyme Q 10 (CoQ 10 ). Twenty-six patients with essential arterial hypertension were treated with oral CoQ 10 , 50 mg twice daily for 10 weeks. Plasma CoQ 10 , serum total and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, and blood pressure were determined in all patients before and at the end of the 10-week period. At the end of the treatment, systolic blood pressure (SBP) decreased from 164.5 ± 3.1 to 146.7 ± 4.1 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) decreased from 98.1 ± 1.7 to 86.1 ± 1.3 mmHg ( P 10 values increased from 0.64 ± 0.1 μg/ml to 1.61 ± 0.3 μg/ml ( P P P −5 before treatment and 1,627 ± 158 dyne·s·cm −5 after treatment ( P P P 10 were below normal and returned to normal or higher levels after therapy. This research confirms the antihypertensive effect of CoQ 10 . The antihypertensive effect of the drug is probably based on a diminution of peripheral resistances. CoQ 10 s slight effect on blood cholesterol is useful since hypercholesterolemia is a risk factor for arterial hypertension.