Kiavash Fekri,1 Mohammad Mehdi Mirforoughi,2 Yaser Salehinajafabadi,3 Hadi Raeisi Shahraki,4 Raziyeh Ershadi,5 Shima Rahmati1 1Cancer Research Center, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran; 2Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; 3Clinical Biochemistry Research Center, Basic Health Sciences Institute, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran; 4Modeling in Health Research Center, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran; 5Department of Pathology, Clinical Research Development Unit, Hajar Hospital, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, IranCorrespondence: Shima Rahmati, Cancer Research Center, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran, Email shimarahmati1987@gmail.comBackground: The role of oxidative stress and ferroptosis in the pathogenesis of thalassemia major have been established and have been shown to cause tissue damage and disease progression. The lipophilic antioxidant coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) can protect against tissue damage by restoring antioxidant enzyme function and decreasing oxidative damage. This study evaluated the effect of CoQ10 supplementation on biomarkers of ferroptosis in patients with thalassemia major.Methods: In this single-arm preâpost study, patients with confirmed thalassemia major (48) received oral CoQ10 (100 mg/day) for 8Â weeks. Peripheral blood samples were collected before and after the study period for assays to measure antioxidant enzyme activity: superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). Statistical analyses were conducted using paired T-test and Wilcoxon.Results: CoQ10 supplementation significantly increased SOD and GPx activity compared to baseline, (p < 0.05). No significant change was seen in CAT activity. No statistically significant differences were observed in hematological parameters and ferritin level after using CoQ10.Conclusion: CoQ10 supplementation appears to exert protective effects against ferroptosis in patients with thalassemia major, primarily by enhancing antioxidant defenses. Our study findings support the hypothesis that CoQ10 may represent a potential adjunctive therapy in mitigating oxidative stress and ferroptotic damage.Keywords: coenzyme Q10, thalassemia major, ferroptosis, oxidative stress, antioxidant enzymes
Fekri et al. (Fri,) studied this question.