Significant Changes in Metabolic Profiles after Intervention with Selenium and Coenzyme Q10 in an Elderly Population

Abstract

Selenium and coenzyme Q10 (SeQ10) are important for normal cellular function. Low selenium intake leads to increased cardiovascular mortality. Intervention with these substances with healthy elderly persons over a period of four years in a double-blind, randomised placebo-controlled prospective study showed reduced cardiovascular mortality, increased cardiac function, and a lower level of NT-proBNP. Therefore, we wanted to evaluate changes in biochemical pathways as a result of the intervention with SeQ10 using metabolic profiling. From a population of 443 healthy elderly individuals that were given 200 µg selenium and 200 mg coenzyme Q10, or placebo daily for four years, we selected nine males on active intervention and nine males on placebo for metabolic profiling in the main study. To confirm the results, two validation studies (study 1 n = 60 males, study 2 n = 37 males) were conducted. Principal component analyses were used on clinical and demographic data to select representative sets of samples for analysis and to divide the samples into batches for analysis. Gas chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry-based metabolomics was applied. The metabolite data were evaluated using univariate and multivariate approaches, mainly T-tests and orthogonal projections to latent structures (OPLS) analyses. Out of 95 identified metabolites, 19 were significantly decreased due to the intervention after 18 months of intervention. Significant changes could be seen in the pentose phosphate, the mevalonate, the beta-oxidation and the xanthine oxidase pathways. The intervention also resulted in changes in the urea cycle, and increases in the levels of the precursors to neurotransmitters of the brain. This adds information to previous published results reporting decreased oxidative stress and inflammation. This is the first-time metabolic profiling has been applied to elucidate the mechanisms behind an intervention with SeQ10. The study is small and should be regarded as hypothesis-generating; however, the results are interesting and, therefore, further research in the area is needed. This study was registered at Clinicaltrials.gov, with the identifier NCT01443780.

Selenium and Coenzyme Q10 Supplementation Improves Renal Function in Elderly Deficient in Selenium: Observational Results and Results from a Subgroup Analysis of a Prospective Randomised Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Trial

“…There is an important and well-known association between kidney disease and cardiovascular risk [ 53 , 54 , 55 ], which is in accordance with the present observations on renal protection, as selenium deficiency results in increased cardiovascular risk [ 56 ]. Another interesting aspect might also be the findings that our group previously reported from a metabolic profiling evaluation of the effects of the supplementation [ 57 ]. Here, a small, but significant, change in the metabolites reflecting the renal function could be seen, indicating a positive effect of the supplementation also on the renal function.…”

Metabolomics and cardiovascular imaging: a combined approach for cardiovascular ageing

“…[76][77][78] Dietary supplements have been shown to alter markers of redox stress, improve endothelial function, and reduce risks of chronic disease and premature ageing. 79,80 Circulating metabolites derived from dietary polyphenols (such as blueberries) have been linked to more robust vascular flow-mediated dilatation, attenuated lipotoxicity-induced endothelial dysfunction, and may complement therapies to reduce vascular complications. 81,82 All these suggest an important role for antioxidant and antioxidant defence for proper maintenance of endothelial cell function.…”

The Use of Coenzyme Q10 in Cardiovascular Diseases

“…In healthy humans, the plasma XO activity significantly increases with age from 38 to 65 years old [ 97 ]. Yet, a dietary intervention with selenium (200 µg/day) and CoQ10 (200 µg/day) in an elderly population showed a downregulation of the XO pathway, thus decreasing the levels of uric acid in plasma, which might indicate a reduced need for antioxidants because ROS were also lowered [ 35 ]. NOXs are a primary source of ROS in the vascular system and play a central role in cardiovascular health and disease.…”

“…Patients who received selenium plus CoQ10 showed a decrease in the polyunsaturated fatty acids arachidonic acid, eicosapenatenoic and docosahexaenoic acid, and an increase in saturated fatty acids (hexadecenoic acid, myristic and stearic acid) and monounsaturated fatty acids (hexadecenoic acid and oleic acid), suggesting that the intervention might be cardioprotective and has a positive effect on individuals with metabolic syndrome and/or T2DM. Likewise, the levels of essential amino acids, which are associated with T2DM, decrease with selenium and CoQ10 supplementation [ 35 ].…”