Hormonal and Metabolic Effects of Coenzyme Q10 and/or Vitamin E in Patients With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
What this study found
Overall, CoQ10-containing regimens produced the clearest benefit, improving insulin resistance and lowering androgen-related markers more consistently than vitamin E alone, with the combination showing the strongest glucose-homeostasis and SHBG response. Compared with placebo, adjusted between-group differences favored treatment for FBS, HOMA-IR, total testosterone, SHBG, FAI, and LH; for the CoQ10 plus vitamin E arm, the adjusted effects were 6.89 for FBS, 1.42 for HOMA-IR, 0.44 for total testosterone, -24.45 for SHBG, 2.61 for FAI, and 2.96 for LH, with corresponding between-group P values…
- Study & population
- Randomized, placebo-controlled, four-arm trial in reproductive-age women with PCOS from Tabriz, Iran, conducted from January 2017 through November 2017.
- Intervention
- Women with PCOS were assigned to one of three active regimens for 8 weeks: CoQ10 200 mg daily, vitamin E 400 IU daily, or CoQ10 200 mg plus vitamin E 400 IU daily.
- Key limitation
- The trial was small and short, with only 8 weeks of follow-up, limiting assessment of durability and clinical relevance.
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Open PDFOriginal abstract
Context Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder in reproductive-age women. The hormonal and metabolic effects of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) and/or vitamin E in patients with PCOS have not been studied, to our knowledge. Objective To evaluate the effects of CoQ10 and/or vitamin E on glucose homeostasis parameters and reproductive hormones in women with PCOS. Design, Setting, Participants Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial among 86 women with PCOS. Intervention CoQ10 or vitamin E or combination for 8 weeks. Main Outcome Measures Glucose homeostasis parameters and sex hormone concentrations. Results After adjustment for potential confounders, supplementation with CoQ10 alone or in combination with vitamin E, compared with placebo, had significant effects on fasting blood sugar (FBS); vitamin E's effect on FBS was not significant. A significant reduction in homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was observed in the CoQ10 and combined groups. CoQ10, vitamin E, and cosupplementation led to decreased serum total testosterone levels (P < 0.001) compared with those of the placebo group. CoQ10 supplementation in combination with vitamin E significantly improved in sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) levels compared with other groups (P = 0.008). Linear regression analysis revealed that changes in FBS, insulin, and HOMA-IR were predictors of change in free androgen index (P < 0.05). Conclusion CoQ10 with or without vitamin E supplementation among women with PCOS had beneficial effects on serum FBS and insulin levels, as well as HOMA-IR and total testosterone levels. However, only cosupplementation affected SHBG concentrations.