Coenzyme Q₁₀ improves the tolerance of the senescent myocardium to aerobic and ischemic stress: Studies in rats and in human atrial tissue

Abstract

The inferior recovery of cardiac function after interventional cardiac procedures in elderly patients compared to younger patients suggests that the aged myocardium is more sensitive to stress. We report two studies that demonstrate an age-related deficit in myocardial performance after aerobic and ischemic stress and the capacity of CoQ10 treatment to correct age-specific diminished recovery of function. In Study 1 the functional recovery of young (4 mo) and senescent (35 mo) isolated working rat hearts after aerobic stress produced by rapid electrical pacing was examined. After pacing, the senescent hearts, compared to young, showed reduced recovery of pre-stress work performance. CoQ10 pretreatment (daily intraperitoneal injections of 4 mg/kg CoQ10 for 6 weeks) in senescent hearts improved their recovery to match that of young hearts. Study 2 tested whether the capacity of human atrial trabeculae (obtained during surgery) to recover contractile function, following ischemic stress in vitro (60 min), is decreased with age and whether this decrease can be reversed by CoQ10. Trabeculae from older individuals (> or = 70 yr) showed reduced recovery of developed force after simulated ischemia compared to younger counterparts (< 70 yr). Notably, this age-associated effect was prevented in trabeculae pretreated in vitro (30 min at 24 degrees C) with CoQ10 (400 MicroM). We measured significantly lower CoQ10 content in trabeculae from > or = 70 yr patients. In vitro pretreatment raised trabecular CoQ10 content to similar levels in all groups. We conclude that, compared to younger counterparts, the senescent myocardium of rats and humans has a reduced capacity to tolerate ischemic or aerobic stress and recover pre-stress contractile performance, however, this reduction is attenuated by CoQ10 pretreatment.

Influence of diagnostic categories, age, and gender on antioxidative defense and lipid peroxidation in skeletal muscle of patients with neuromuscular diseases

“…Likewise, a decrease in coenzyme Q~o was shown in rat heart and other tissues (26,27). The aged myocardium is clearly more sensitive to aerobic and ischemic stress in humans and in animals, and coenzyme Q~o treatment before ischemia markedly improves recovery (28,29). Also, a diet rich in coenzyme Qlo can slow down the decline in mitochondrial respiratory function normally observed in rat skeletal muscle (30).…”

Alternative Non-Medical, Non-Surgical Therapies for the Treatment of Angina Pectoris

“…F i b e r s f r o m s u b j e c t s o v e r age 70 showed poor recovery of force after simulated ischemia compared to younger patients. This age-associated effect was prevented by pretreatment with CoQ10 (18), in addition CoQ10 pretreatment prior to stress improved recovery of the myocardium after stress (19). Because of the popular use of "statin" drugs (Zocor, Lipitor, Pravachol, Lescol, and Mevacor) it is important to emphasize that statins act by inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase, the rate-limiting enzyme in cholesterol biosynthesis.…”

Mitochondria and the Aging Heart

“…[2][3][4][5][6] Differences in how an aged heart responds to a specific disease, type of injury or individual drug therapy compared to young heart imposes an added complication. For example, an aged heart is more susceptible to adverse events and often unable to adequately overcome an adverse event.…”

“…[4,7] While aging is associated with increased oxidative stress, further increase in stress caused by injury makes the aged heart more vulnerable. [2,3,5,6,8,9] Elderly patients often present at a clinic in an atypical manner, indicative of other diseases and complicating factors, which not only impedes diagnosis and treatment but increases susceptibility of the aged heart to more injury. [10] Therefore, it is important to understand the biology of aging on the heart in order to determine underlying mechanisms that produce adverse effects.…”