Coenzyme Q10 distribution in blood is altered in patients with Fibromyalgia

OBJECTIVE: Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ(10)) is an essential electron carrier in the mitochondrial respiratory chain and a strong antioxidant. Signs and symptoms associated with muscular alteration and mitochondrial dysfunction, including oxidative stress, have been observed in patients with fibromyalgia (FM). The aim was to study CoQ(10) levels in plasma and mononuclear cells, and oxidative stress in FM patients.

METHODS: We studied CoQ(10) level by HPLC in plasma and peripheral mononuclear cells obtained from patients with FM and healthy control subjects. Oxidative stress markers were analyzed in both plasma and mononuclear cells from FM patients.

RESULTS: Higher level of oxidative stress markers in plasma was observed respect to control subjects. CoQ(10) level in plasma samples from FM patients was doubled compared to healthy controls and in blood mononuclear cells isolated from 37 FM patients was found to be about 40% lower. Higher levels of ROS production was observed in mononuclear cells from FM patients compared to control, and a significant decrease was induced by the presence of CoQ(10).

CONCLUSION: The distribution of CoQ(10) in blood components was altered in FM patients. Also, our results confirm the oxidative stress background of this disease probably due to a defect on the distribution and metabolism of CoQ(10) in cells and tissues. The protection caused in mononuclear cells by CoQ(10) would indicate the benefit of its supplementation in FM patients.

Clin Biochem. 2008 Dec 25. [Epub ahead of print]

Article Courtesy of http://www.co-cure.org/

New Public Service Announcement about CFS from CDC to Air on TV

I hope this finds you doing well, better, or at least as well as can be expected!

As a part of the Center for Disease Control's (CDC) Public Awareness Campaign they will be airing a TV spot on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and how it robs us of our lives. Hopefully people will come to see that we are genuinely afflicted with this horrible Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and be more understanding. More importantly, maybe the doctors out there that don't believe in CFS will start seeing that it is real and start trying harder to help their patients. On the CDC website, http://www.cdc.gov/cfs/awareness.htm , you can view the commercial as well as a brochure, booklet and various articles you can print off to show your doctor, or anyone close to you that may not fully understand but are interested in learning more about CFS. In the CFS Booklet, they discuss how CFS may be related to specific genes, virus', and other findings. They also have a great CFS toolkit with different articles relating to specific areas like managing activity, provider resource guide and diagnosing CFS to name a few. Go check it out at http://www.cdc.gov/cfs/awareness.htm .

Link to TV spot: http://www.cdc.gov/cfs/PSAs/MissingMyLife.mov
Link to CDC CFS awareness website: http://www.cdc.gov/cfs/awareness.htm

Sheri Davis