Renal preservation effect of ubiquinol, the reduced form of coenzyme Q10.

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to evaluate the renal preservation effect of ubiquinol, the reduced form of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10).

METHODS

Three-week-old heminephrectomized male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups (10 animals each): diet with normal (0.3%) salt, high (8%) salt, and high salt plus 600 mg/kg body weight/day of ubiquinol, for 4 weeks. Systolic blood pressure (SBP), urinary albumin (u-alb), superoxide anion generation (lucigenin chemiluminescence) and ubiquinol levels in renal tissues were examined.

RESULTS

Salt loading increased SBP (111.0 ± 3.6 vs. 169.4 ± 14.3 mmHg, p < 0.01) and u-alb (43.8 ± 28.0 vs. 2528.7 ± 1379.0 µg/day, p < 0.02). These changes were associated with stimulation of superoxide generation in the kidney (866.3 ± 102.8 vs. 2721.4 ± 973.3 RLU/g kidney, p < 0.01). However, ubiquinol decreased SBP (143.9 ± 29.0 mmHg, p < 0.05), u-alb (256.1 ± 122.1 µg/day, p < 0.02), and renal superoxide production (877.8 ± 195.6 RLU/g kidney, p < 0.01), associated with an increase in renal ubiquinol levels.

CONCLUSION

Ubiquinol, the reduced form of CoQ10, effectively ameliorates renal function, probably due to its antioxidant effect. Thus, ubiquinol may be a candidate for the treatment of patients with kidney disease.