Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is characterized by chronic activation of proinflammatory mechanisms. Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) reduces inflammation and oxidative stress in individuals with rheumatoid arthritis. The researchers here have studied and found that CoQ10 had an impact on the expression of TNF-α. 

Overproduction of proinflammatory cytokines is a main trait of rheumatoid arthritis. Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), an endogenous antioxidant, has shown anti-inflammatory effects in some diseases. In this study we aimed to assess the effects of CoQ10 supplementation on cytokines generation and oxidative stress in rheumatoid arthritis.

In this double-blind, randomized controlled clinical trial, 44 patients with rheumatoid arthritis were recruited. Twenty-two patients received 100 mg/day capsules of CoQ10 and 22 patients took placebo for 2 months. At the beginning and the end of the intervention, 7 mL of fasting blood was taken from patients to measure malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α).

At the end of the study, serum MDA significantly decreased in supplemented group (mean difference = -1.47 nmol/mL; 95% confidence interval (CI), -2.52 to -0.43; p = 0.008). CoQ10 also suppressed overexpression of TNF-α (difference in median was +1.1 in placebo vs. +0.03 in CoQ10 group; p = 0.033). There was no significant difference in TAC and IL-6 levels between groups.

This study showed beneficial effects of CoQ10 supplementation on inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress in rheumatoid arthritis patients.