CoQ10 supplementation reduces markers of inflammation and MMPs in patients with breast cancer

Objectives:
Systemic inflammation and oxidative stress (OS) are associated with breast cancer. Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) as an adjuvant treatment with conventional anti-cancer chemotherapy has been demonstrated to help in the inflammatory process and oxidative stress. Therefore, this review article has been conducted.

Does coenzyme Q10 supplementation reduce levels of inflammatory markers, oxidative stress parameters and matrix metalloproteinases/tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (MMPs/TIMPs) in patients with breast cancer?

Study design:
This review article included 9 RCTs.

Results and conclusions:
The investigators found that coenzyme Q10 supplementation (100 mg/day for 45-90 days) significantly decreased the levels of
-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) [SMD = -1.88, 95% CI = -2. 62 to -1.13, I2 = 93.1%, p 0.001];
-IL-8 [SMD = -2.24, 95% CI = -2.68 to -1.8, I2 = 79.6%, p = 0.001];
-matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) [SMD = -1.49, 95% CI = -1.85 to -1.14, I2 = 76.3%, p = 0.005] and
-matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) [SMD = -1.58, 95% CI = -1.97 to -1.19, I2 = 79.6%, p = 0.002].

The investigators concluded that 100 mg/day coenzyme Q10 supplementation for 45-90 days reduces some of the important markers of inflammation and matrix metalloproteinases in patients with breast cancer. However, further studies with controlled trials for other types of cancer are needed to better understand and confirm the effect of coenzyme Q10 on tumor therapy.

Original title:
Effects of coenzyme Q10 supplementation on inflammation, angiogenesis, and oxidative stress in breast cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials by Alimohammadi M, Rahimi A, […], Rafiei A.

Link:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34008150/

Additional information of El Mondo:
Find more information/studies on coenzyme Q10 and breast cancer right here.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays a central role in promoting angiogenesis and is over-expressed in breast cancer.

IL-8 is a marker of ER-negative and/or HER2-positive breast cancer.

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a group of zinc-containing, calcium dependent endopeptidases which play a substantial role in breast carcinogenesis through several mechanisms. These mechanisms include remodeling of extracellular matrix (ECM), cell proliferation and angiogenesis which promote metastasis and result in tumor progression.