Increased intakes of selenium plus coenzyme Q10 may lower mortality risk

According to anew Swedish study, a long-term supplementationof seleniumplus coenzyme Q10 may significantly reduce cardiovascular mortality in elderly people.

In the randomized controlled trial, 443 people aged between 70 and 88 were divided into two groups: 221 of them took the active treatment and 222 received the placebo (1). The active treatment was supplementation with 200 mg/day of CoQ10 and 200 µg/day of organic selenium yeast tablets. The participants underwent a clinical examination, ECG and echocardiogram; blood samples were collected for the analysis of NT-proBNP, a recognized biomarker of cardiac muscle deterioration. The participants were monitored every six months throughout the intervention. During a follow up period of 5.2 years, the findings showed a significant reduction of cardiovascular mortality in the active treatment group versus the placebo group. NT-proBNP levels were significantly lower in the active group compared with the placebo group. Echocardiography revealed significantly better cardiac function scores for the active supplementation group compared to the placebo group.

The researchers concluded that “long-term supplementation of selenium/coenzyme Q10 may reduce cardiovascular mortality. Low cardiac contents of selenium and coenzyme Q10 have been shown in patients with cardiomyopathy, but inconsistent results have been published regarding the effects of supplementation of each of the components studied separately. Although, a vital relationship exists between the two substances for optimal cell function.

1. Alehagen U. et al. Cardiovascular mortality and N-terminal-proBNP reduced after combined selenium and coenzyme Q10 supplementation: A 5-year prospective randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial among elderly Swedish citizens. J Cardiol. Published online August 2012.