Dyskinesia in Parkinson's diseaseParkinson’s disease is a progressive, chronic neurologic disease that affects half a million Americans. A study that appeared in the Archives of Neurology (October 2002, Vol. 59, No. 10, pp. 1541-1550) looked at the effect supplementation with CoQ10 (coenzyme Q10) had on patients with Parkinson’s disease. CoQ10 is necessary for energy production in the cell, and it works as an antioxidant to protect cells from chemical damage.

Earlier studies have demonstrated that coenzyme Q10 levels are reduced in the cells of patients with Parkinson’s disease and that cellular energy production in these patients is impaired. Studies on animals have shown that CoQ10 supplementation can protect the area of the brain that is affected by Parkinson’s disease.

This study looked at 80 patients with early-stage Parkinson’s disease. All of the subjects had classic symptoms, tremor, stiffness and slowed movement. The subjects were divided into four groups. One group received a placebo (containing only vitamin E), with the other three groups getting vitamin E and either 300 mg/day, 600 mg/day or 1,200 mg/day of CoQ10. The subjects were evaluated one month after the initiation of treatment and for every four months thereafter (for a total of 16 months).

Side effects from the CoQ10 were mild, and all subjects were able to stay on the original dose. Also, the percentage of subjects reporting side effects were the same for both the treatment and the placebo groups. The groups receiving 300 mg/day and 600 mg/day of the CoQ10 developed less disability than the placebo group. The subjects who received 1,200 mg/day of CoQ10 had 44% less decline in motor function, mental decline and the ability to perform tasks necessary for daily living.

This was a small study, and is far from conclusive. The subjects receiving the CoQ10 also had increase in blood levels of CoQ10 and improved energy production in the cells.