Combination of atorvastatin/coenzyme Q۱۰ as adjunctive treatment in congestive heart failure: A double-blind randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial

BACKGROUND: Heart failure is one of the leading causes of mortality, is a final common pathway of several cardiovascular diseases, and its treatment is a major concern in the science of cardiology. The aim of the present study was to compare the effect of addition of the coenzyme Q۱۰ (CoQ۱۰)/atorvastatin combination to standard congestive heart failure (CHF) treatment versus addition of atorvastatin alone on CHF outcomes. METHODS: This study was a double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled trial. In the present study, ۶۲ eligible patients were enrolled and randomized into ۲ groups. In the intervention group patients received ۱۰ mg atorvastatin daily plus ۱۰۰ mg CoQ۱۰ pearl supplement twice daily, and in the placebo group patients received ۱۰ mg atorvastatin daily and the placebo of CoQ۱۰ pearl for ۴ months. For all patients echocardiography was performed and blood sample was obtained for determination of N-terminal B-type natriuretic peptide, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and C-reactive protein levels. Echocardiography and laboratory test were repeated after ۴ months. The New York Heart Association Function Class (NYHA FC) was also determined for each patient before and after the study period. RESULTS: Data analyses showed that ejection fraction (EF) and NYHA FC changes differ significantly between intervention and placebo group (P = ۰.۰۰۶ and P = ۰.۰۰۲, respectively). Changes in other parameters did not differ significantly between study groups. CONCLUSION: We deduce that combination of atorvastatin and CoQ۱۰, as an adjunctive treatment of CHF, increase EF and improve NYHA FC in comparison with use of atorvastatin alone.   Keywords: Coenzyme Q۱۰, Atorvastatin, Clinical Trial, Congestive Heart Failure