Preprint Adverse effects of CoenzymeQ10 in the treatment of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME/CFS), 2024, Olsson

[Dolphin]

https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-5362194/v1

Adverse effects of CoenzymeQ10 in the treatment of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME/CFS)

Gunnar L. Olsson1

1 Karolinska Institute


Purpose
In an ongoing study of oxidative stress and the effect of CoenzymeQ10 (CoQ10) at Bragée ME-Center in Stockholm, Sweden, incident and type of adverse effects were studied.

Method
Information of adverse effects were collected in three ways: 1: Study participants ending the study due to adverse effects. 2: Video consultations during the 12 weeks study where changes of symptoms and adverse effects were asked for. 3: At the end of the study the principal investigator (PI) asked for the occurrence of adverse effects.

Results
14 patients (11,7%) ended the study due to adverse effects. Most severe adverse effect was depression. During video visits 300 occurrences of changing symptoms/adverse effects were recorded. Most common were insomnia, headache and gastroenteric dysfunction. At the visit to the PI at the end of the study 47 participants reported adverse effects, most commonly mild reactions such as rashes, insomnia and gastrointestinal symptoms. More severe adverse effects reported were palpitations, depression, headache, and anxiety.

Conclusion
Adverse effects when taking CoQ10 seem to be common. Most often the symptoms are mild. Gastrointestinal symptoms, rashes and insomnia were common. A more severe adverse reaction was depression which previously has not been described.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1870122431123251388

 

[Mij]

I took ubiquinol because my blood levels were low. I stopped taking it after 3 months because it gave me artificial energy and I started feeling jittery.

 

[perchance dreamer]

CoQ10 gives me energy, but also insomnia, unfortunately.

 

[Yann04]

Coq10 gives me absolutely nothing.
I cannot tell at all a difference between taking it and not.
And my blood tests show very low levels.

 

[alex3619]

My response to CoQ10 is over a wide range. I have had boosts to energy levels, allowing me to finish my university studies. I have had zero benefit from a wide range of CoQ10 supplements, my response to specific supplements has been highly variable. I have had it induce subtle cognitive changes. My worst was in 1993 or so. I got hit with severe memory loss for a day. I could not recall where I lived. This was the day after I took CoQ10 for the first time. Like with many supplements we have to take the individual response into account.

 

[Dolphin]

Note the very high dosage used: “The participants took CoQ10 1050 mg daily for 12 weeks and were closely monitored during the study for possible adverse effects.”‬

 

[Hutan]

No placebo control, so it doesn't tell us much with any certainty. It's an observational study, which is okay, but the authors certainly should not be making statements like this:

Conclusion
Adverse effects when taking CoQ10 seem to be common. Most often the symptoms are mild. Gastrointestinal symptoms, rashes and insomnia were common. A more severe adverse reaction was depression which previously has not been described.

There is no way that they can know that the various mostly common ailments reported had anything to do with CoQ10.

 

[Hutan]

Here's our CoQ10 discussion thread
CoQ10 - Coenzyme Q10
You can find more studies of CoQ10 by clicking on the tag top left.

e.g. this one of post-Covid symptoms, click on the arrow in the quote title to follow the link

Interpretation: We conclude that CoQ10 treatment does not appear to significantly reduce the number or severity of PCC-related symptoms when compared to placebo.

 

[Mij]

There was a discussion on PR many years ago where a member "SOC" who was taking high dose CoQ10 recommended by Dr. Klimas that improved her delayed PEM. She wrote about her detailed experience.

 

[Hutan]

Does anyone know if the Bragee Clinic completed/published the study of CoQ10 that the abstract mentions?

 

[Hutan]

It's interesting to note that Gunnar Olsson has a number of mentions on the forum - he seems to have been involved with a lot of BPS work on ME/CFS e.g.

Well, earlier this year Bragée ME-center hired bps proponent Gunnar Olsson to work for them and to run his bps ACT study (gradually increased activity regardless of symptoms, changing unhelpful beliefs and avoidance behaviours etc) there, using their ME patients.

Olsson has collaborated closely with bps proponent Indre Bileviciute Ljungar over the years on several ME studies, as well as Rickard Wicksell (who also has published research on functional disorders, which according to them includes ME, together with Per Fink et al) and Daniel Maroti among others. Ljungar is the medical expert on the MBS study, according to their website.

And Gunnar Olsson, who according to the ethical review documents is running or intended to run his ACT study (very similar to PACE style CBT/GET: gradually increased activity regardless of symptoms, changing unhelpful beliefs and fear-avoidance behaviours etc) at Bragée ME-Center. Threads on the ACT study here, here and here.

Yes, the decision to allow Gunnar Olsson to conduct his ACT study on ME-patients from Bragee, among other things, is disconcerting to say the least.

It's a very ambigious picture Bragee clinic, but mostly Bragee himself, paints of where they stand in regards to the etiology of ME.

 

[Hutan]

Also noting that patients were given what I think is a very high dose - most other studies use a dose of around 300mg/day.

The participants took CoQ10 1050 mg daily for 12 weeks and were closely monitored during the study for possible adverse effects. This paper will describe the spectrum of adverse effects of an intake of 1050 mg daily of CoQ10.

I haven't been able to find any preprint or published paper about the findings of the study beyond this preprint on harms.