Benefits Of Coenzyme Q 10 (Coq10) In Oral Health.

Nelson Wood, DMD, DSc, MS Historically, the benefits of coenzyme Q10 in oral health have been known for decades. CoQ10 can benefit both oral and systemic health. Oxidative damage occurs with periodontitis, and therapeutic effects have included antioxidants, such as CoQ10 (1,2) Clinically, topical CoQ10 applied to periodontal pockets significantly reduced gingivitis, bleeding and gingival enzyme activity (3). Another Clinical study demonstrated that topically applied CoQ10 was extremely effective in reducing periodontal pocket depths, and that healing was so excellent after 5-7 days of treatment that diseased gingival sites were difficult to locate (4). A different clinical study demonstrated that individuals with periodontitis frequently have significant gingival and white blood cell CoQ10 deficiencies. This white blood cell CoQ10 deficiency indicated a systemic nutritional imbalance, and not caused by neglected oral hygiene. A gingival deficiency of CoQ10 can predispose individuals to gingivitis and periodontitis, and periodontitis can even augment CoQ10 deficiency (5). In an individual case study, dentists scored clinical improvements of five symptoms of gingivitis and periodontitis, only three weeks after beginning CoQ10 treatment (6). Although, significant clinical reports demonstrated beneficial effects with CoQ10 on periodontal disease, its mechanism was not known until CoQ10 deficiency was seen in gingival tissue of subjects with periodontitis when compared to healthy subjects (7,8). Topical application of CoQ10 improves adult periodontitis not only as a sole treatment, but also in combination with traditional non-surgical periodontal therapy (3). Gingival CoQ10 deficiency can predispose individuals to gingivitis and periodontitis; periodontitis can even enhance CoQ10 deficiency (5). Therefore, CoQ10 supplementation is important not only for improvement of periodontal diseases, but also increased body resistance to infections (9). CoQ10 has antioxidant properties and controls oxygen flow within cells, assists with absorption of other nutrients, and boosts immune properties. Individuals with periodontal disease have been shown to be deficient in CoQ10, both locally and systemically. CoQ10 also has a protective and strengthening action in all tissues. Since CoQ10 is fat soluble, it is best taken when dietary fat is present (10). 1. Tsunemitsu A, Honjo K, et al. Effect of ubiquinone 35 on hypercitricemia. J Periodontol 1968;39:215-18. 2. Tsunemitsu A, Matsumura T. Effect of coenzyme Q administration on hypercitricemia of patients with periodontal disease. J Dent Res 1967;46:1382-84. 3. Hanioka T, Tanaka M, et al. Effect of topical application of coenzyme Q10 on adult periodontitis. Mol Aspects Med 1994;15 (Suppl):s241-8. 4. Wilkinson E, Arnold R, Folkers K, Hansen I, Kishi H. Bioenergetics in clinical medicine. II. Adjunctive treatment with coenzyme Q in periodontal therapy. Res Commun Chem Pathol Pharmacol 1975;12:111-23. 5. Hansen I, Iwamoto Y, et al. Bioenergetics in clinical medicine. IX. Gingival and leucocytic deficiencies of coenzyme Q10 in patients with periodontal disease. Res Commun Chem Pathol Pharmacol 1976;14:729-38. 6. Iwamoto Y, Nakamura R, Folkers K, Morrison R. Study of periodontal disease and coenzyme Q. Res Commun Chem Pathol Pharmacol 1975;11:265-71. 7. Nakamura R, Littarru G, Folkers K, Wilkinson E. Study of CoQ10-enzymes in gingiva from patients with periodontal disease and evidence for a deficiency of coenzyme Q10. Proc Natl Acad Sci, USA 1974;71:1456-60. 8. Littarru G, Nakamura R, Ho L, Folkers K, Kusell W. Proc Natl Acad Sci, USA 1971;68:2332-35. 9. Al-Hasso S. Coenzyme Q10: a review. Hosp Pharm 2001;36:51-55. 10. http://www.anyvitamin.com/