Non-invasive instrumental evaluation of Coenzyme Q10 phytosome on endothelial reactivity in healthy non-smoking young volunteers: A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled cross-over clinical trial

Coenzyme Q(10) (CoQ(10)) is a natural antioxidant compound that prevents the vascular damage induced by free radicals and the activation of inflammatory signaling pathways. Supplementation with CoQ(10) is safe though its bioavailability is generally low, as far as variable depending on the pharmaceutical form of preparation. Recently, the development of phytosome technology has improved the bioavailability of CoQ(10) and definitely facilitated its effective use in clinical practice. The present double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover clinical study aimed to investigate the effect on endothelial reactivity and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of either acute and chronic supplementation with CoQ(10) phytosome in a sample of 20 healthy young nonsmoking subjects. CoQ(10) phytosome supplementation acutely improved endothelial reactivity in comparison with baseline and placebo (+4.7% +/- 0.9% vs. -0.1 %+/- 0.3% p < 0.05). Middle-term supplementation of the tested pharmaceutical formulation of CoQ(10) significantly improved mean arterial pressure (-2.2 +/- 1.1 mmHg vs. 0.2 +/- 0.7 mmHg, p < 0.05 vs. placebo) and TAC (+29.6% +/- 3.2% vs. +1.9% +/- 0.8%, p < 0.05 vs. placebo). Endothelial reactivity improved compared with baseline following middle-term dietary supplementation with CoQ(10) phytosome (+5.7% +/- 1.1%, p < 0.05).