PURPOSE

The current study was conducted to determine the effects of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) supplementation on glycemic control and markers of lipid profiles risk in diabetic hemodialysis (HD) patients.

METHODS

This randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was performed among 60 diabetic HD patients. Subjects were randomly allocated into two groups to take either 120 mg/day of CoQ10 supplements or placebo (n = 30 each group) for 12 weeks.

RESULTS

After 12 weeks of intervention, CoQ10 supplementation, compared with the placebo, resulted in a significant decrease in serum insulin concentrations (- 2.5 ± 4.0 vs. + 2.8 ± 5.3 µIU/mL, P < 0.001), homeostasis model of assessment-estimated insulin resistance (- 0.9 ± 2.1 vs. + 1.2 ± 3.0, P = 0.002), and significant increase in the quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (+ 0.009 ± 0.01 vs. - 0.02 ± 0.05, P = 0.003). In addition, a trend toward a greater decrease in serum triglycerides (- 5 ± 53 vs. + 17 ± 44, P = 0.078) and VLDL-cholesterol levels (- 0.9 ± 10 vs. + 3 ± 9, P = 0.078) was observed in the CoQ10 group compared to the placebo group. We did not observe any significant effect of CoQ10 supplementation on fasting glucose, HbA1c and other lipid profiles compared with the placebo.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, our study supported that CoQ10 supplementation to diabetic HD patients for 12 weeks had beneficial effects on markers of insulin metabolism, but did not affect fasting glucose, HbA1c, and lipid profiles. Clinical registration http://www.irct.ir : IRCT2016081811763N30.