ID 1511 - Koenzym Q10

PL: Koenzym Q10
EN: Co-Enzyme Q 10
Pdf: coenzyme Q10

Oświadczenie (2)

1. Charakterystyka żywności / składnika

The food constituent that is the subject of the health claim is coenzyme Q10 (ubiquinone).
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is part of the ubiquinone family of compounds, all containing 1,4 benzoquinone as the functional group with a side chain of isoprenyl units, which is 10 units in the case of coenzyme Q10. Coenzyme Q10 can exist in three oxidation states: the fully reduced ubiquinol form (CoQ10H2), the radical semiquinone intermediate (CoQ10H) and the fully oxidised ubiquinone form (CoQ10). Coenzyme Q10 can be synthesised in most human tissues and occurs widely in nature, including foods, mainly in meat, poultry and fish. Coenzyme Q10 is measurable in foods by established methods.
The Panel considers that the food constituent, coenzyme Q10 (ubiquinone), which is the subject of the health claims, is sufficiently characterised.

2.4. Udział w prawidłowym przebiegu procesów poznawczych (ID 1511)

The claimed effect is “protection of healthy neurological system”. The Panel assumes that the target population is the general population.
In the context of the clarifications provided, the Panel assumes that the claimed effect refers to normal cognitive function. Cognitive function includes memory, attention (concentration), learning, intelligence and problem solving, which are well defined constructs and can be measured by validated psychometric cognitive tests.
The Panel considers that contribution to normal cognitive function is a beneficial physiological effect.

3. Naukowe uzasadnienia wpływu na zdrowie człowieka

Coenzyme Q10 (ubiquinone) is found in high concentrations in the mitochondria, it is involved in the mitochondrial electron transport chain as an electron acceptor/donor, and is known to play a role in oxidative mitochondrial phosphorylation (ATP production). Coenzyme Q10 can be synthesised by the body and there is no need for coenzyme Q10 in human diets (SCF, 1993).

3.4. Udział w prawidłowym przebiegu procesów poznawczych (ID 1511)

Four references were provided to substantiate the claimed effect, including one narrative review, two human studies and one animal study.
One human study evaluated the efficacy of idebenone versus tacrine in patients suffering from dementia of the Alzheimer type (Gutzmann et al., 2002). The Panel considers that no conclusions can be drawn for the scientific substantiation of the claimed effect from a study using a synthetic analogue
of coenzyme Q10, and furthermore that the study did not evaluate endpoints of relevance for the claimed effect in those patients who were suffering from dementia.
The narrative review was related to the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases with coenzyme Q10 (Young et al., 2007), and one human study investigated the effect of coenzyme Q10 in subjects with Parkinson‟s disease (Shults et al., 2002). The evidence provided does not establish that results obtained in patients with neurodegenerative diseases can be extrapolated to the general population with regard to normal cognitive function.
The animal study examined whether supplemental intake of coenzyme Q10 (ubiquinone-10) or alpha- tocopherol, either alone or in combination, could improve cognitive and psychomotor performance of aged mice (McDonald et al., 2005). The Panel considers that evidence provided in animal studies is not sufficient to predict the occurrence of an effect of coenzyme Q10 consumption on cognitive function in humans.
The Panel notes that no references were provided from which conclusions could be drawn for the scientific substantiation of the claimed effect.
The Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of coenzyme Q10 (ubiquinone) and contribution to normal cognitive function.

Warunki i możliwe ograniczenia stosowania oświadczenia

A minimum dose of 300mg is suggested with active neurological degeneration. Data indicates that doses of up to 2,400mg/day are safe. Stop use two weeks before procedures with bleeding risk e.g. surgery and do not use immediately after these procedures.