Studies on Conezyme Q Contents in Serum Lipoproteins

Part I. Changes in Coenzyme Q₁₀ Contents During the Course of Myocardial Infarction and Cerebral Infarction

Abstract

The distribution of coenzyme Q₁₀ (CoQ₁₀) in serum lipoprotein fractions was measured by high-speed liquid chromatography during myocardial infarction and cerebral infarction. In control subjects, the major part of CoQ₁₀ was present in the LDL fraction, and the distribution of CoQ₁₀ was correlated with that of cholesterol. The CoQ₁₀ level was related to the phenotypes of hyperlipidemias: more CoQ₁₀ was present in LDL in type IIa, and in VLDL in types IIb and IV. In myocardial infarctions, the CoQ₁₀ concentration decreased on the 3rd day, then gradually returned to the initial level in the serum and LDL fraction, while it decreased gradually untill the 21st day in the HDL fraction. The CO₁₀-cholesterol ratio decreased on the 3rd day in serum, and on the 3rd, 7th and 14th days in the LDL fraction. In contrast, there was no significant change in the HDL fraction. In cerebral infarctions, the CoQ₁₀ concentration decreased on the 3rd and 7th days in serum, and on the 3rd day in the HDL fraction. These results suggest that part of the metabolism of CoQ₁₀ is the same as that of cholesterol in serum lipoproteins, and that CoQ₁₀ is carried from LDL and HDL to mitochondria-rich organs during repair.