Cosupplementation with vitamin E and coenzyme Q10 reduces circulating markers of inflammation in baboons.

BACKGROUND

Inflammation and oxidative stress are processes that mark early metabolic abnormalities in vascular diseases.

OBJECTIVES

We explored the effects of a high-fat, high-cholesterol (HFHC) diet on vascular responses in baboons and the potential response-attenuating effects of vitamin E and coenzyme Q(10) (CoQ(10)) supplementation.

DESIGN

We used a longitudinal design by subjecting 21 baboons (Papio hamadryas) to sequential dietary challenges.

RESULTS

After being maintained for 3 mo on a baseline diet (low in fat and cholesterol), 21 baboons were challenged with an HFHC diet for 7 wk. The serum C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations did not change. Subsequent supplementation of the HFHC diet with the antioxidant vitamin E (250, 500, or 1000 IU/kg diet) for 2 wk reduced serum CRP concentrations from 0.91 +/- 0.02 to 0.43 +/- 0.06 mg/dL. Additional supplementation with CoQ(10) (2 g/kg diet) further reduced serum CRP to approximately 30% of baseline (0.28 +/- 0.03 mg/dL; P = 0.036 compared with the HFHC diet). Introduction of the HFHC diet itself significantly decreased serum P-selectin (from 48.8 +/- 7.2 to 32.9 +/- 3.7 ng/dL, P = 0.02) and von Willebrand factor (from 187.0 +/- 10.1 to 161.9 +/- 9.0%, P = 0.02) concentrations. However, neither vitamin E alone nor vitamin E plus CoQ(10) significantly altered the serum concentrations of P-selectin or von Willebrand factor.

CONCLUSIONS

Dietary supplementation with vitamin E alone reduces the baseline inflammatory status that is indicated by the CRP concentration in healthy adult baboons. Cosupplementation with CoQ(10), however, significantly enhances this antiinflammatory effect of vitamin E.