CoQ10 to protect heart: anyone with experience?

[heblaj01]

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is known to offer some protection against heart damage from some chemo drugs such as Adriamycin. (It has also been used to correct decreased endogenous CoQ10 in patients taking statin drugs).

Has anyone used CoQ10 to reduce risk of cardiovascular problems when taking Herceptin? With what results? Any sign of interaction with Herceptin?

Any knowledge about the kind of heart problems faced by Adriamycin & Herceptin taking patients? If similar it would support the use of CoQ10 in both cases.

If CoQ10 is effective & safe to use with Herceptin for minimizing heart disease risk, it may also help in figthing cancer based on recent basic research (not yet confirmed in humans)

[Cathya]

Hi;

I am taking CoQ10....300 mg per day....1/2 morning and 1/2 evening. I did 4 AC and 4 Taxol, radiation, Arimidex and Herceptin. I started taking CoQ10 after confirming with my onc after finishing radiation and chemo. I just hadn't heard of it before. This would have been around Sept. 2005. I was taken off herceptin about 6 weeks ago due to a low muga....42%....so I really don't know. I continue to take it and hope that when I get my next test done in a couple of weeks things will have improved.

Cathy

[suzan w]

I am taking COQ 10, 200mg. I did 4 rounds of A/C and am 6 months into herceptin-every 3 weeks. So far, my MUGA tests (3 so far and one next week) have all been 65%. My oncologist said that COQ10 is OK to take, but she is not a real believer in supplements!!!

[chrislmelb]

I have just started taking COQ10 as my MUGA score is on its way down. 68,62 and then on Wed 58. I have just started with it and fish oil so i don't get pulled off the trial. here's hoping.
Christine

[heblaj01]

Thanks to Christine,Suzan & Cathia for replying to my querry.
I am not sure yet if CoQ10 is effective or not based on your varying results, but at least you gave me confidence that it is not declared as counterindicated by your onc.
A possible factor affecting efficacy ,besides dosage, is the type of pill: powder pills are the least bioavailable. Softgels in an oil base are said to be better in that respect(2 to 3 times). One U.S. supplier of CoQ10 pills using limonene claims even higher bioavailability.
I hope you are taking one of the better variety.

[jhandley]

There is a lot of evidence to show Q10 protects the heart. If you go to Pub Med and search there are at least 126 hits nearly all of which are positive. Recent research also shows more anticancer effects against melanoma; acting against the BCL-2 pathway. I have been researching Q10 on and off for 5 years and take 200-300 mg a day.eers
Jackie