another interesting article on coQ10 and post-meno women

PiscesMoon · November 2010

http://foodforbreastcancer.com/news/coenzyme-q10-%28coq10%29-might-increase-risk-of-postmenopausal-breast-cancer

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) might increase risk of postmenopausal breast cancer

Last updated: September 19, 2010

News type:: Breast cancer study
Publication:: Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, September 2010
Study name:: Plasma coenzyme Q10 levels and postmenopausal breast cancer risk: The Multiethnic Cohort Study

Two studies have reported conflicting results with respect to the association of circulating coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) with the risk of breast cancer. Both studies are summarized below. The first study found that U.S. postmenopausal women in the highest third of circulating CoQ10 levels had 1.6 times the risk of breast cancer risk compared to those in the lowest third. The strongest association was found for postmenopausal women under age 60 (3.9 times the risk for the highest versus the lowest thirds).

The second study, based on a Chinese population, reported no association between postmenopausal breast cancer risk and circulating CoQ10. However, premenopausal women in the highest fourth of circulating CoQ10 were found to have a 50% lower risk of breast cancer compared to those in the lowest quartile. Both sets of authors comment that future studies are needed to define the origin of circulating CoQ10, its physiological functioning, and potential role in cancer development and progression.

Implications of the studies

CoQ10 is known to be beneficial for congestive heart failure patients and has been suggested as a treatment during anthracycline chemotherapy to prevent heart damage. The first study results suggest that such treatment would be unwise since it might contribute to breast cancer recurrence. Other antioxidants (for example, beta carotene) have been found to be associated with lower cancer risk when consumed as part of food while promoting cancer when taken as a concentrated supplement. It is possible that the U.S. population with the highest circulating CoQ10 were more likely to achieve this level through supplementation than the Chinese population. While CoQ10 is found throughout the body, it's normal functioning is not well understood. How CoQ10 functions in breast cancer cells has not been determined. Therefore, we would advise against taking CoQ10 supplements based on the available evidence.

dlb823 · November 2010

Interesting, but I'm curious about the website it's from. It doesn't say anything about who created it or their mission. Is it someone we know from BCO? Deanna

PiscesMoon · November 2010

it comes from the foodforbreastcancer.com website. lots of studies linked there and a lot of information on studies that are being done with some of the supplements that we take.

~M

MariannaLaFrance · November 2010

Great. I just started taking COQ10 last week. Hmmmmm

Yazmin · December 2010

So...... Anything new of CoQ10 and cancer risk? Anybody? (Also: would those concerns apply to Ubiquinol as well?)

Yazmin · January 2011

What to believe?

http://healthresearchdirect.com/2010/10/congestive-heart-failure-symptoms-improve-with-ubiquinol/

luv_gardening · January 2011

This is the abstract of the original OP study.

http://cebp.aacrjournals.org/content/19/9/2351.abstract

Is anyone able to access the full text to find out if it mentions whether the women were excluded if they were taking CoQ10 supplements?

There may be a difference between those who have a high baseline CoQ10 blood level and those who are supplementing to bring their levels higher.

I've been taking high amounts for more than a year and I'm post menopausal, just turned 60 so this is of great importance to me.

Yasmin I saw that study too but as I don't have heart problems my main concern is with the higher cancer rates, they don't specifically say recurrence but I assume this is what they mean.

luv_gardening · January 2011

Here are the studies that keep me taking CoQ10 and ubiquinol;

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FROM: Biochem Biophys Res Commun 1995 (Jul 6); 212 (1): 172-177

Lockwood K, Moesgaard S, Yamamoto T, Folkers K

Pharma Nord, Vejle, Denmark

Over 35 years, data and knowledge have internationally evolved from biochemical, biomedical and clinical research on vitamin Q10 (coenzyme Q10; CoQ10) and cancer, which led in 1993 to overt complete regression of the tumors in two cases of breast cancer. Continuing this research, three additional breast cancer patients also underwent a conventional protocol of therapy which included a daily oral dosage of 390 mg of vitamin Q10 (Bio-Quinone of Pharma Nord) during the complete trials over 3-5 years. The numerous metastases in the liver of a 44-year-old patient "disappeared," and no signs of metastases were found elsewhere. A 49-year-old patient, on a dosage of 390 mg of vitamin Q10, revealed no signs of tumor in the pleural cavity after six months, and her condition was excellent. A 75-year-old patient with carcinoma in one breast, after lumpectomy and 390 mg of CoQ10, showed no cancer in the tumor bed or metastases. Control blood levels of CoQ10 of 0.83-0.97 and of 0.62 micrograms/ml increased to 3.34-3.64 and to 3.77 micrograms/ml, respectively, on therapy with CoQ10 for patients A-MRH and EEL.

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FROM: Biochem Biophys Res Commun 1994 (Mar 30); 199 (3): 1504-1508

Lockwood K, Moesgaard S, Folkers K

Pharma Nord, Vejle, Denmark

Relationships of nutrition and vitamins to the genesis and prevention of cancer are increasingly evident. In a clinical protocol, 32 patients having -"high-risk"- breast cancer were treated with antioxidants, fatty acids, and 90 mg. of CoQ10. Six of the 32 patients showed partial tumor regression. In one of these 6 cases, the dosage of CoQ10 was increased to 390 mg. In one month, the tumor was no longer palpable and in another month, mammography confirmed the absence of tumor. Encouraged, another case having a verified breast tumor, after non-radical surgery and with verified residual tumor in the tumor bed was then treated with 300 mg. CoQ10. After 3 months, the patient was in excellent clinical condition and there was no residual tumor tissue. The bioenergetic activity of CoQ10, expressed as hematological or immunological activity, may be the dominant but not the sole molecular mechanism causing the regression of breast cancer.

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There is more reading for those who are interested at-

http://www.rainbowminerals.net/breast_cancer_coq10.htm

luv_gardening · January 2011

At the end of that last web page there's a long critique of the studies that starts;

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Coenzyme Q 10 (CoQ10) as a Treatment for Breast Cancer

Three preliminary reports by the same research group have recently concluded that coenzyme Q10 may play a role in the treatment and secondary prevention of breast cancer. All three have serious methodological shortcomings.

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(My bold highlighting)

Yazmin · January 2011

Thank you,SheilaEchidna

MiracleMileM · January 2011

I take 200 mg of CQ10 daily (split) in the hope that it will protect my heart and ejection fraction from the risk associated with Herceptin. So far - three years now - my ejection fraction has remained unchanged and gone up a couple of points. I think CQ10 helps maintain good energy levels which probably makes sense since the ability of the body to make CQ10 declines with age and I am turning 71 next week.

I remember seeing a report of a study that tracked those with breast cancer recurrence and paired them with those whose cancer had not recurred. The blood serum levels of CQ10 were lower in those with a recurrence than those with no recurrence. This was not that 32 person Danish study where people were given CQ10 supplementation but rather a study that looked at those with recurrence absent any supplementation. That study of course could not be used to show a causal connection but it did support my decision to take CQ-10. I did not save a link to that study and could not find it again Although I'm stage IV I am currently NED and want to stay that way as long as possible..

Here are some of the things I did find:

Reports on CQ10 research: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/cam/coenzymeQ10/HealthProfessional/page5/print

http://www.health.com/health/library/mdp/0,,ncicdr0000062979,00.html

http://breastcancerchoices.org/coq10.html; http://www.uofmhealth.org/health-library/hn-2831009

Look at these links about the benefits of CQ10 added to tamoxifen in reducing incidence of recurrence: http://www.senpu.jp/coq10/pdf/j11-028.pdf and http://www.cancerx.org/q10-anticancer-5.pdf

I know tht taoxifen uses a different mechanism for estrogen suppression than the aromatose inhibiters, but I wonder if there would be similar results pairing CQ10 with the AIs.

Marilyn

another interesting article on coQ10 and post-meno women

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