RESEARCH NEWS: Coenzyme Q10 May Protect Against Cataract Formation - In Vitro Results are Promising

Coenzyme Q10 May Protect Against Cataract Formation - In Vitro Results are Promising

An in vitro study involving human lens epithelial cells found that pre-incubation with coenzyme Q10 prior to exposure to white light significantly reduced phototoxic cell death and apoptosis. In other words, CoQ10 reduced light-induced LEC-damage, suggesting that supplementation with coenzyme Q10 may help prevent the death of human lens epithelial cells and the formation of cataracts.

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Summary: In an in vitro study involving human lens epithelial cells (LEC), pre-incubation with coenzyme Q10 prior to exposure to white light (known to induce stress and apoptotic cell death) was found to significantly reduce phototoxic cell death and apoptosis, and reduce the light exposure-induced decrease in Bcl-2 expression and increase in BAX expression, as compared to cells that were not pre-incubated with coenzyme Q10. In other words, "CoQ10 significantly reduced light-induced LEC-damage and attenuated phototoxic effects on BAX and Bcl-2 expression." These results suggest that supplementation with coenzyme Q10 may help to prevent the death of human lens epithelial cells and the formation of cataracts. Considering that cataract is "one of the most prevalent eye disease and a major cause for legal blindness in the world," these results are promising and warrant additional research.


Reference: "Coenzyme Q10 prevents human lens epithelial cells from light-induced apoptotic cell death by reducing oxidative stress and stabilizing BAX / Bcl-2 ratio," Kernt M, Hirneiss C, et al, Acta Ophthalmol, 2010 April 1; [Epub ahead of print]. (Address: Department of Ophthalmology, Ludwig Maximilian University, Munich, Germany).

SOURCE: VitaSearch