CoQ10 Research Information from the Today News Show seen on NBC

COENZYME Q 10
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a vitamin-like substance that is present in every cell of the body and is responsible for the production of energy within the cell. It is also an anti-oxidant capable of quenching free radicals. In the laboratory it has been demonstrated to protect human skin cells from ultraviolet radiation. The ability of CoQ10 to reduce superficial fine lines and wrinkles, skin roughness, dark marks and blotchiness has been demonstrated in several studies. Although CoQ10 did not completely erase the signs of aging, there is clear evidence that it can improve the appearance of the facial skin.

Dr. Hoppe demonstrated that when CoQ10 is applied to the skin, it successfully penetrates through both the epidermal (20%) and dermal layers (2%). To assess the effect of the cream after it is absorbed by the skin, Dr. Hoppe enrolled 20 elderly subjects in a 6-month study. The subjects applied 0.3% CoQ10 cream around one eye and a vehicle control cream around the other eye. After 6 months of treatment with topical CoQ10 cream, the subject’s deep wrinkles were visibly reduced. Microtopography analysis showed that there was a 27% reduction in the depth of the wrinkles as well as a 26% reduction in the overall irregularity of the skin surface as compared to untreated areas. A study of 25 female subjects (average age of 46 years) who applied CoQ10 to the crow’s feet twice daily for 10 weeks demonstrated slightly better results. In this study, fine line and wrinkle were reduced 35% after 5 weeks of application and 42% after 10 weeks of application of the cream.

A study examined the elasticity (the ability of the skin to spring back after stretching) of the skin after the application of CoQ10. The skin losses elasticity with aging and the skin has a propensity to sag; thus, restoring the elasticity will impart a more youthful appearance. In this study of 57 female subjects (ages 34-55), the skin’s elasticity was greater than for untreated skin after 2 weeks of application of CoQ10 cream. The treated skin continued to demonstrate superior elasticity after 4 weeks of usage and at 1 week after CoQ10 cream had been stopped. This finding suggests a persisting benefit.

Finally, Dr. Ghosh performed a twelve week clinical trial of 25 women (20 in the treatment group and 5 in the control group) who were 35 years of age or older with photodamaged facial skin. CoQ10 cream was applied twice a day to the subject’s superficial facial lines and wrinkles in the crow’s-foot area. CoQ10 cream with SPF 15, reduced the appearance of superficial facial lines and wrinkles by 47% after 4 weeks. A self-assessments by the study subjects demonstrated that 16/21 had fewer superficial facial lines and wrinkles after 12 weeks of treatment.

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