X-Message-Number: 27685
Date: Wed, 8 Mar 2006 05:14:20 -0800 (PST)
From: Doug Skrecky <>
Subject: coenzyme Q10 is a dud at life extension for a third time

[Alpha-lipoic acid was a dud as well. Even caloric restriction provided
only a marginal 13% benefit on maximum lifespan. Suggestions are welcome
for more effective interventions...]

Free Radic Biol Med. 2004 Apr 15;36(8):1043-57.
The impact of alpha-lipoic acid, coenzyme Q10 and caloric
restriction on life span and gene expression patterns in
mice.
  We evaluated the efficacy of three dietary interventions
started at middle age (14 months) to retard the aging
process in mice. These were supplemental alpha-lipoic acid
(LA) or coenzyme Q(10) (CQ) and caloric restriction (CR, a
positive control). LA and CQ had no impact on longevity or
tumor patterns compared with control mice fed the same
number of calories, whereas CR increased maximum life span
by 13% (p <.0001) and reduced tumor incidence. To evaluate
these interventions at the molecular level, we used
microarrays to monitor the expression of 9977 genes in
hearts from young (5 months) and old (30 months) mice.
LA, CQ, and CR inhibited age-related alterations in the
expression of genes involved in the extracellular matrix,
cellular structure, and protein turnover. However, unlike
CR, LA and CQ did not prevent age-related transcriptional
alterations associated with energy metabolism. LA
supplementation lowered the expression of genes encoding
major histocompatibility complex components and of genes
involved in protein turnover and folding. CQ increased
expression of genes involved in oxidative phosphorylation
and reduced expression of genes involved in the complement
pathway and several aspects of protein function. Our
observations suggest that supplementation with LA or CQ
results in transcriptional alterations consistent with a
state of reduced oxidative stress in the heart, but that
these dietary interventions are not as effective as CR in
inhibiting the aging process in the heart.

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