Those disclaimers being stated up front aside, my personal experience and the number of positive studies cited below which cite beneficial outcomes from administering Coenzyme Q10 led me to write this article. My fellow Health Education Committee members also encouraged me to share the news.

I had first heart about Coenzyme Q10 from a fellow surfer on the internet, probably about a year and a half ago. Since we have a Cavalier who has severe MVD, I thought I’d try it. She’s been getting Coenzyme Q10, along with some other additives and her prescribed medications, for at least that long. Her dosage is half of a 60 mg capsule, or 30 mg, every evening. Coenzyme Q10 can be readily purchased as capsules at health food stores; I just mix the powder in with her wet food.

The citations came from my research on the internet (http://www.pharmanord.dk/pnrm/15.html#1520 and http://www.pharmanord.dk/pnrm/8.html#829 for those who want to see for themselves). This is a sample only of all the abstracts on Coenzyme Q10. So as not to alter any of the intended meaning of the abstract content, I will quote specific sentences selected exactly as presented in these documents. Note the studies quoted were done on people. Definitions of medical terminology will be provided after the quoted passages to aid in understanding. The major source of definitions is the Encyclopedia and Dictionary of Medicine and Nursing by Benjamin F. Miller, M.D. and Claire Brackman Keane, R.N., B.S.

Mortensen SA:

Perspectives on Therapy of Cardiovascular Diseases with CoQ10

"A defective myocardial energy supply – due to lack of substrates and/or essential cofactors and a poor utilization efficiency of oxygen – may be a common final pathway in the progression of myocardial diseases of various etiologies. The vitamin-like, essential substance Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) has a key role in the oxidative phosphorylation…. . the tissue CoQ10 deficiency was significantly restored by oral therapy, 100 mg CoQ10 daily (dissolved in soy-bean oil and administered in soft gelatine capsules). In a series of 40 patients with heart failure of various origin at Rigshospitalet nearly two thirds revealed clinical improvement, most pronounced in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy. Double-blind placebo-controlled trials have definitely confirmed that coenzyme Q10 has a place as adjunctive treatment in heart failure with beneficial effects on the clinical outcome, the patients’ physical activity, and their quality of life. The positive results have been above and beyond the clinical status obtained from treatment with traditional principles – including angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors."

Substrate – a compound whose chemical transformation is catalyzed by an enzyme

Oxidative phosphorylation – a specific biochemical process

Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEs) – a class of drugs which causes vasodilation (increase in the dilation of blood vessels) and decreasing fluid retention in order to decrease the workload of the heart. Enalapril maleate (Enacard, Vasotec) and Benazeprit (Fortekor) are examples of ACE medications.

Lampertico M; Comis S:

"A decade of international research on CoQ10 has shown that this drug is effective in reducing the symptoms of cardiac heart failure in patients with C.H.F….RESULTS: concomitant administration of CoQ10 decreased dypsnea at rest, exertional dyspnea, fatigue and weakness, pulmonary rales and ankle edema. Also HR and BP were reduced. Side effects were very limited (0.4 %), mostly related to G.I. disorders. CONCLUSIONS: CoQ10 is a powerful and safe therapeutic agent in patients with C.H.F."

C.H.F. – Congestive Heart Failure

Dypsnea – labored or difficulty breathing (exertional means during physical exertion)

Rales – an abnormal respiratory sound heard in auscultation and indicating some pathologic condition

Edema (also spelled oedema, British style) – an abnormal accumulation of fluid in the intercellular spaces of the body

HR – heart rate

BP – blood pressure

Morisco C; Trimarco B; Condorelli M

"The improved cardiac function in patients with CHF treated with CoenzymeQ10 supports the hypothesis that this condition is characterized by mitochondrial dysfunction and energy starvation, and therefore that it may be ameliorated by Coenzyme Q10 supplementation….episodes of pulmonary oedema or cardiac asthma were reduced in the control group (20 vs 51 and 97 vs 198, respectively, both p<0.001), as compared to the placebo group. Our results demonstrate that the addition of coenzyme Q10 to conventional therapy significantly reduces hospitalization for worsening heart failure and the incidence of serious complications in patients with congestive heart failure."

Baggio E: Gandini R; Plancer C; Passeri N; Carmosino G;

Clin Investig: 71:S145-9 (1993)

"We investigated the efficacy and safety of CoQ10 adjuvant treatment in congestive heart failure which had been diagnosed at least 6 months previously and treated with standard therapy. …Preliminary results on 1113 patients, mean age 69.4 years, show a low incidence of side effects, 11 adverse events were reported in 8 (0.74%) patients of which only 6 events were correlated to the test treatment. After 3 months of test treatment the percentage of patients with improvement in clinical signs and symptoms was as follows: cyanosis (81%), edema (76.9%), pulmonary rales (78.4%), hepatomegaly (49.3%), jugular reflux (81.5%), dypsnoea (54.2%), palpitations (75.7%), sweating (82.4%), arrhythmia (62.2%), insomnia (60.2%), vertigo (73%), nocturia (50.7%). Moreover, we observed a contemporary improvement of at least 3 symptoms in 54% of patients; this could be interpreted as an index of improved quality of life."

Cyanosis – a bluish discoloration of skin and mucous membranes due to excessive concentration of reduced hemoglobin in the blood

Hepatomegaly – enlargement of the liver

Jugular reflux – swelling of the jugular vein induced by pressure over the liver seen in heart failure

Palpitation – a heartbeat that is unusually rapid, strong or irregular enough to make a person aware of it

Arrhythmia – Variation from the normal heartbeat

Vertigo – dizziness

Nocturia – excessive urination at night.

Wouldn’t it be interesting if research done on people turns out to benefit our dogs for a change?

If anyone else decides to add CoQ10 to your MVD-affected dog’s diet, I’d be interested to hear from you in a few months to let me know if you are able to detect any improvement in clinical symptoms.

Disclaimer: Your veterinarian is the most qualified person to answer all of the questions you have about your pet's health. Nothing in this article should be construed as medical advice regarding any individual animal’s condition.

© Copyright April 19, 1999.