CoQ10 + NADH for chronic fatigue Original paper
People with chronic fatigue syndrome tend to have disrupted levels of the coenzyme Q10 and NADH (important catalysts in the body), which could lead to some of the condition’s symptoms. This study found that supplementing these two compounds produced some very small improvements in fatigue, sleep quality, and health-related quality of life.
This Study Summary was published on October 3, 2021.
Background
Myalgic encephalomyelitis — more commonly known as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) — is a poorly understood and debilitating condition. Disruption of levels of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) have been reported in CFS; could supplementing these compounds improve people’s symptoms?
The study
In this 12-week randomized controlled trial, 207 participants with CFS received either 200 milligrams of CoQ10 plus 20 milligrams of NADH or a placebo (in four equal doses) daily for 8 weeks. The primary outcome was the change in self-reported fatigue measured using the Fatigue Impact Scale (FIS-40). The secondary outcomes were changes in sleep disturbances and health-related quality of life, as measured by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), respectively. All outcomes were measured at baseline, at 4 and 8 weeks into treatment, and 4 weeks posttreatment.
The results
In terms of fatigue, the CoQ10 + NADH group had small improvements in the cognitive domain of the FIS-40 at weeks 4 and 8 and in the total FIS-40 score at week 4 compared to baseline. There were no other improvements compared to baseline or placebo at any other time point.
In terms of sleep quality, the CoQ10 + NADH group had improved sleep duration and sleep efficiency at week 8 compared to baseline and a significant difference in sleep duration at baseline and week 4 compared to placebo. There were no other differences compared to baseline or placebo at any other time points.
In terms of health-related quality of life, the CoQ10 + NADH group had improved physical function at weeks 4 and 8 and improved bodily pain at 4 weeks compared to baseline. There were no other significant differences compared to baseline or placebo at any other time points.
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This Study Summary was published on October 3, 2021.