ID 1913 -
Koenzym Q10
PL: Koenzym Q10
EN: Co-Enzyme Q 10
Pdf: coenzyme Q10
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.
2.6. Wzrost wytrzymałości i/lub wydolności (ID 1913)
The claimed effect is “physical activity”. The Panel assumes that the target population is active individuals in the general population.
In the context of the proposed wordings, it is unclear whether the claim refers to endurance capacity or to endurance performance. It should be noted that in the literature these terms are often used as synonyms. Endurance capacity refers to the exercise time to volitional fatigue when exercising at a constant workload or speed. Endurance performance relates to completing a certain task (running a certain distance) as fast as possible. This claim will be evaluated in relation to both of these definitions.
The Panel considers that an increase in endurance capacity and/or endurance performance 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).
3.6. Wzrost wytrzymałości i/lub wydolności (ID 1913)
Three references were provided in the consolidated list for the scientific substantiation of the claimed effect (Cerioli et al., 1991; Yamabe and Fukuzaki., 1991; Zeppilli et al., 1991). These references were published in a book and details given in the description of the studies are limited.
In the first one arm, uncontrolled intervention (Cerioli et al., 1991) 12 healthy untrained male subjects were studied before and after 30 days of supplementation with 100 mg/day of coenzyme Q10. In a second one arm, uncontrolled intervention (Yamabi and Fukuzaki, 1991), nine female patients complaining of “easy fatigability and decreased work ability” were given 90 mg/day of coenzyme Q10 for six months. The study by Zeppilli et al. (1991) described the effects of coenzyme Q10 supplementation (100 mg/day for 30 days) on work capacity in both athletes (n=9) and sedentary subjects (n=10), as well as in a group of patients with “mitochondrial disease” (n=8). Athletes and sedentary volunteers received coenzyme Q10 for 30 days and placebo for an additional 30 days with a 21-day washout period in between. However, it is unclear from the paper whether treatment and placebo were administered in a random order or in the sample order to all subjects. Statistical methods used for data analysis were not reported and direct comparisons between coenzyme Q10 and placebo were not made for any of the groups. The Panel considers that no conclusions can be drawn from these small, uncontrolled studies 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 an increase in endurance capacity and/or endurance performance.
Warunki i możliwe ograniczenia stosowania oświadczenia
90 mg/day up to 6 months;
