In the News: CoQ10 Plus Selenium Linked to Lower Biomarkers of Aging

CoQ10 Plus Selenium Linked to Lower Biomarkers of Aging in Clinical-Trial Sub-Study

People who received the combination CoQ10 plus selenium experienced beneficial changes in biomarkers of aging, while the placebo group had unfavorable modifications, a sub-study of a previous prospective double-blind placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial.*

The trial included 441 older individuals with low selenium levels who received a placebo or 200 mg per day CoQ10 plus 200 mcg per day selenium for 48 months. Blood samples were analyzed before and after the treatment period.

At the end of the trial, five aging-associated biomarkers were significantly lower among participants who received CoQ10 plus selenium, and higher in the placebo group.

Editor's Note: "Supplementation with selenium/Q10 influenced the analyzed biomarkers in ways indicating an anti-ageing effect," the researchers concluded.

* Cells. 2023 Jul; 12(13): 1773.

Quercetin Supports Post-Exercise Muscle Recovery

A review and meta-analysis concluded that supplementing with the plant compound quercetin speeds muscle-function recovery and reduces muscle soreness following exercise.*

The researchers selected 13 studies that included 249 sedentary to well-trained participants. The studies compared the effects of quercetin supplementation to a placebo or control when administered prior to an exercise protocol designed to induce muscle damage. All but one study used a supplementation dosage of 1,000 mg per day.

Among the five studies that assessed muscle function, four studies found significant improvement among groups that received quercetin compared with the control groups. Meta-analysis of the four studies that evaluated muscle soreness revealed a decrease in association with quercetin supplementation.

Editor's Note: Pooled analysis of six stud- ies that measured creatine kinase, a marker of muscle tissue damage, found a signifi- cant decrease 24 hours to 48 hours after exercise among participants who received quercetin.

*  Biol Sport. 2023 Jul;40(3):813-825.

Healthy Eating Lowers Risks of Disease and Mortality

Greater adherence to several healthy eating patterns was associated with a lower risk of disease and mortality, according to an article published in JAMA Internal Medicine.*

The participants in the cohort study, with up to 36 years of follow-up, included 44,085 men enrolled in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study, and 75,230 women who took part in the Nurses' Health Study. Their responses to questionnaires were scored for adherence to the Healthy Eating Index 2015, Alternative Mediterranean Diet, Healthful Plant-based Diet Index, and Alternate Healthy Eating Index.

Individuals whose adherence scores to these four healthy diets were among the top 20% of subjects had 19%, 18%, 14%, and 20% lower risks of mortality, respectively, compared to those whose scores were among the lowest 20%.

Those with the highest 20% adherence had lower risks of cardio- vascular disease and cancer mortality.

The inverse associations between these scores and risk of mortality were consistent in different racial and ethnic groups.

Editor's Note: "These findings support the recommendations of Dietary Guidelines for Americans that multiple healthy eating patterns can be adapted to individual food traditions and preferences.," the researchers stated.

* JAMA Intern Med. 2023 Jan 9.

Green Tea Compound Shows Promise Against Uterine Fibroids, Cell Study Shows

Research findings from a cell study, published in Scientific Reports suggest that a compound occurring in green tea may be beneficial against benign fibrous uterine tumors that occur in a significant number of women.*

Scientists probed the mechanism of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), an antioxidant compound in green tea, based on findings of an early phase clinical trial that showed EGCG was effective in reducing fibroid size and associated symptoms.

The investigation utilized lab-grown human fibroid cells that were treated with epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). The researchers observed that EGCG disrupted fibroid tumor cell growth, movement, signaling and metabolism, and reduced specific proteins (fibrotic).

When compared with five synthetic inhibitors of fibrosis, EGCG's ability was more effective than three and equal to that of two.

Editor's Note: "These results provide insight into mechanisms behind the observed clinical efficacy of EGCG against uterine fibroids," the researchers concluded.

* Sci Rep. 2023 May 25;13(1):8492.