Effect of Ubiquinol on Cognitive Function, Blood Pressure, Arterial Stiffness, and Biomarkers of Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in the Elderly: A Randomized Trial

Older age is typically characterized by decrements in cognitive performance relative to younger adults, though it may not necessarily reach clinical impairment. Dietary supplementation with ubiquinol, the reduced form of the antioxidant and cellular energizer CoQ10, may support cognitive function in older individuals. In the current randomized clinical trial of 111 adults aged 60 years and older (ubiquinol, n = 61; placebo, n = 50), 90 days of ubiquinol (200 mg) supplementation resulted in plasma CoQ10 levels being four times that of the placebo group at study end (p < 0.001). We found that ubiquinol supplementation did not facilitate group differences (controlling for baseline values and relevant demographics) in cognitive function, blood biomarkers reflective of oxidative stress or inflammation, measures of cardiovascular health, or subjective mood at study end. However, regression analyses revealed a positive association between change in plasma CoQ10 and memory performance, as well as a negative association between change in oxidative stress and memory performance at study end in those who received ubiquinol but not placebo. We conclude that adequately powered future clinical trials should examine whether long-term supplementation with ubiquinol can support cognitive function in older adults at risk of cognitive decline or with health conditions predisposing them to risk factors associated with decline.