Coenzyme Q10 (cancer treatment)
Coenzyme Q10, also known as CoQ10, is a fat-soluble vitamin-like substance that is being explored for its potential role in cancer treatment and prevention. This compound is naturally produced in the body and is present in small amounts in various foods. It has garnered attention due to its ability to significantly reduce the cardiotoxic effects associated with certain chemotherapy drugs, particularly Adriamycin (doxorubicin). Additionally, preliminary studies indicate that CoQ10 may improve therapeutic outcomes when used alongside standard treatments for breast cancer, although many of these studies lack rigorous design.
Beyond cancer, Coenzyme Q10 is also under investigation for its effects on cardiovascular diseases, fibromyalgia, and depression. The substance functions primarily as a coenzyme in mitochondrial energy production and possesses antioxidative properties that may be beneficial in combating oxidative stress and supporting immune function. While no serious side effects have been reported, mild effects such as insomnia, abdominal pain, and fatigue have been noted. It's important to recognize that CoQ10 is classified as a dietary supplement rather than an FDA-approved cancer treatment, and it is advised against use during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
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Coenzyme Q10 (cancer treatment)
ALSO KNOWN AS: CoQ10, ubidecarenone, ubiquinone, vitamin Q10
DEFINITION: Coenzyme Q10 is a fat-soluble vitamin or vitamin-like substance sometimes used in cancer treatment and prevention. A vitamin is an organic compound needed in very small amounts for the body to function normally. Vitamins serve as coenzymes or precursors to coenzymes that are normally present in food or may sometimes be generated in the body. Coenzyme Q10 is produced in all bodily tissues and is present in tiny quantities in food.
Coenzyme Q10 has been shown to significantly reduce the cardiotoxicity of chemotherapy drugs such as Adriamycin (doxorubicin). Studies of coenzyme Q10 used as an adjuvant to boost therapeutic outcomes following standard treatment for breast cancer showed positive results in a small number of patients. However, few, if any, of the studies were properly randomized or controlled.
Coenzyme Q10 is also used and being studied as a treatment for patients with moderate-to-severe congestive heart failure and other cardiovascular diseases, fibromyalgia, and depression, among other diseases.
Cancers treated or prevented: All, particularly breast cancer
Delivery routes: Orally as a pill (capsule or tablet) or intravenously (IV injection), the latter in animal studies
How this substance works: Coenzyme Q10 was first isolated from beef heart mitochondria (energy-producing structures in the cell) by Dr. Frederick Crane in 1957. A year later, Karl Folkers determined the exact structure of coenzyme Q10. Coenzymes are cofactors upon which relatively large and complex enzymes absolutely depend in order to function. Coenzyme Q10 acts as a coenzyme for at least three mitochondrial enzymes, in addition to enzymes in other areas of the cell. Mitochondrial enzymes are crucial for the production of high-energy adenosine triphosphate (ATP), upon which all cellular activities depend. Coenzyme Q10 acts as a coenzyme for several of the key enzymatic energy-generating steps in the cell. It also serves as an antioxidant vital to its clinical effects. Studies in animals found that coenzyme Q10 boosts the immune system and may be helpful in fighting certain infections and cancer. Since some conventional cancer therapies such as drugs and radiation therapy destroy cancer cells by producing free radicals, researchers are studying whether coenzyme Q10 in conjunction with traditional cancer treatments may affect the outcome.
Side effects: No serious side effects have been reported with coenzyme Q10 usage. The most frequently reported side effects include insomnia, higher-than-usual levels of liver enzymes, upper abdominal pain, sensitivity to light, irritability, headache, dizziness, heartburn, and extreme fatigue. It should be noted that coenzyme Q10 is a dietary supplement; it has not been approved for use as a cancer treatment by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is regulated not as a drug, but as a food. Coenzyme Q10 should not be taken if a person is pregnant or breadfeeding.
Bibliography
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