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Evidence summaries

Coenzyme Q10 for Primary Hypertension

Coenzyme Q10 might possibly not decrease blood pressure in primary hypertension but the evidence is insufficient. Level of evidence: "D"

A Cochrane review [Abstract] 1 included 3 studies with a total of 68 subjects. Only 2 of the 3 included studies were pooled in the meta-analysis (n=50), as one study was judged to have an unacceptably high risk of bias. Both studies allowed participants to continue previous anti-hypertensive therapies. Patients took 100 mg-200 mg coenzyme Q10 (also called ubiquinone) daily or a placebo daily for up to 8-12 weeks. Coenzyme Q10 did not significantly change systolic BP (-3.68 mmHg, 95% CI -8.86 to 1.49 mmHg), or diastolic BP (-2.03 mmHg, 95% CI -4.86 to 0.81 mmHg). If the third study had been included in the meta-analysis, a small but statistically significant blood pressure lowering effect of CoQ10 would have been found.

Comment: The quality of evidence is downgraded by study quality (unclear allocation concealment and blinding), by inconsistency (variability in results), and by imprecise results (few patients).

References

  • Ho MJ, Li EC, Wright JM. Blood pressure lowering efficacy of coenzyme Q10 for primary hypertension. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2016;(3):CD007435 [PubMed].

Primary/Secondary Keywords