Skip to main content
Download PDF

Association between genetic variants in the Coenzyme Q10 metabolism and Coenzyme Q10 status in humans

BMC Research Notes volume 4, Article number: 245 (2011) Cite this article

Abstract

Background

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is essential for mitochondrial energy production and serves as an antioxidants in extra mitochondrial membranes. The genetics of primary CoQ10 deficiency has been described in several studies, whereas the influence of common genetic variants on CoQ10 status is largely unknown. Here we tested for non-synonymous single-nucleotidepolymorphisms (SNP) in genes involved in the biosynthesis (CoQ3G272S , CoQ6M406V, CoQ7M103T), reduction (NQO1P187S, NQO2L47F) and metabolism (apoE3/4) of CoQ10 and their association with CoQ10 status. For this purpose, CoQ10 serum levels of 54 healthy male volunteers were determined before (T0) and after a 14 days supplementation (T14) with 150 mg/d of the reduced form of CoQ10.

Findings

At T0, the CoQ10 level of heterozygous NQO1P187S carriers were significantly lower than homozygous S/S carriers (0.93 ± 0.25 μM versus 1.34 ± 0.42 μM, p = 0.044). For this polymorphism a structure homology-based method (PolyPhen) revealed a possibly damaging effect on NQO1 protein activity. Furthermore, CoQ10 plasma levels were significantly increased in apoE4/E4 genotype after supplementation in comparison to apoE2/E3 genotype (5.93 ± 0.151 μM versus 4.38 ± 0.792 μM, p = 0.034). Likewise heterozygous CoQ3G272S carriers had higher CoQ10 plasma levels at T14 compared to G/G carriers but this difference did not reach significance (5.30 ± 0.96 μM versus 4.42 ± 1.67 μM, p = 0.082).

Conclusions

In conclusion, our pilot study provides evidence that NQO1P187S and apoE polymorphisms influence CoQ10 status in humans.

Background

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is the predominant form of endogenous ubiquinone in humans. Synthesized in the mitochondrial inner membrane, CoQ10 is comprised of a ubiquinone head group attached to a trial of 10 five-carbon isoprenoid units, that anchors the molecule to the membranes [1]. Intracellular synthesis is the major source of CoQ10, however it can also be acquired through the diet and dietary supplements [2]. CoQ10 acts in the respiratory chain and is necessary for pyrimidine biosynthesis as well as a cofactor of uncoupling proteins [3]. CoQ10 has been also identified as a modulator of gene expression [4–6], inflammatory processes [7–9] and apoptosis [10, 11].

The CoQ10 biosynthetic pathway comprises 10 steps, including methylations, decarboxylations, hydroxylations and isoprenoid synthesis and transfer [12]. The elucidation of this pathway was mainly due to studies in respiration-deficient mutans of E. coli and S. cerevisiae[13, 14]. In humans, rare genetic variants in genes encoding enzymes of CoQ10 synthesis causes mitochondrial dysfunction, as CoQ10 carries electrons from complex I and complex II to complex III in the mitochondrial respiratory chain. Several forms of human CoQ10 deficiencies were characterized by infantile encephalomyopathy, renal failure, cerebellar ataxia or myopathy [15–17].

The complexity of CoQ10 biosynthesis suggests that genetic defects in different biosynthetic enzymes or regulatory proteins may cause different clinical syndromes. Although several studies have been undertaken to look into primary CoQ10 deficiency, the influence of common genetic variants on CoQ10 status is largely unknown. Therefore a proof of principle study in humans was performed to associate single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes encoding proteins of CoQ10 biosynthesis, reduction and metabolism with CoQ10 status before and after supplementation.

Methods

Participants and study design

Sample characteristics of subjects and study design have been recently described [18]. In short: 54 healthy male volunteers received 150 mg of the reduced form of CoQ10 (ubiquinol, KANEKA Corporation, Japan) daily in form of three capsules with each principal meal for 14 days. Fasting blood samples were taken before (T0) and after (T14) supplementation with ubiquinol from all study participants. The participants, aged 30.1 ± 6.7 years, had an average Body Mass Index (BMI) of 24.1 ± 2.5, no history of gastrointestinal, hepatic, cardiovascular or renal diseases, a habit of non- or occasional smoking (≤ 3 cigarettes/day) and maintenance of usual nutrition habits. The study was approved by the ethics committee of the Medical Faculty of Kiel University, Germany, and was conformed to Helsinki Declaration. All volunteers gave written informed consent.

Genotyping

Genomic DNA was isolated from whole blood samples. Genotyping of all SNPs investigated (Table 1) was performed with the TaqMan system. Fluorescence was measured with ABI Prism 7900 HT sequence detection system (ABI, Foster City, USA).

Table 1 Selected polymorphisms in CoQ3, CoQ6, CoQ7, NQO1, NQO2 and apoE gene
Full size table

HPLC analysis

CoQ10 analysis was based on the method of high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) with electrochemical detection and internal standardisation using ubihydroquinone-9 and ubiquinone-9 as standards and has been described elsewhere [18].

Statistical analysis

Data are expressed as means ± SD. Differences in the characteristics of the study population between two genotype groups were examined using the Student t-test and additionally for CoQ6M406V the χ2 -test in a dominant genetic model. To determine statistical significance between all genotypes, test for linear trend in one way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed. P-values ≤ 0.05 were considered statistically significant and all statistical analyses were computed using SPSS (Version 13.0). In order to analyze the impact of non-synonymous SNPs on the structure and function of proteins, PolyPhen server [19] was used. For power calculation, the GPower program (Version 3.1) was applied.

Results and Discussion

Selection of genes and single nucleotide polymorphisms

In order to identify common SNPs which may be associated with the CoQ10 status, we searched in the HapMap data base for non-synonymous variants in genes which are involved in CoQ10 biosynthesis and metabolism. As shown in table 1, we selected SNPs in the CoQ3 (rs6925344, C>T, Gly272Ser), CoQ6 (rs8500, A>G, Met406Val) and CoQ7 (rs11074359, T>C, Met103Thr) gene. These genes code for enzymes of CoQ10 biosynthesis. Functional variants [20, 21] in the NQO1 (rs1800566, C>T, Pro187Ser) and NQO2 (rs1143684, T>C, Leu47Phe) gene were also included, as the encoded NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductases are involved in the recycling of CoQ10. Furthermore they protect cells from oxidative damage by catalyzing reduction of carcinogenic quinone compounds to their hydroquinone forms [22]. Two SNPs determining the apolipoprotein E (apoE) haplotypes E2, E3 and E4 (rs429358, rs7412) were further included. Both SNPs led to an amino acid change from cysteine to arginine at position 112 (rs429358) and 158 (rs7412), which gives rise to six possible diplotypes: E2/E2, E2/E3, E2/E4, E3/E3, E3/E4 and E4/E4. The apoE diplotypes have been associated with cholesterol metabolism [23, 24], atherosclerosis [25], inflammation [26], lipid peroxidation [27] and longevity [28].

Genotype distributions in the cohort

The selected SNPs were genotyped in 54 healthy male volunteers. The obtained genotype distribution (Figure 1 and 2) were in accordance to the HapMap data: Genotype distribution of the CoQ3G272S polymorphism revealed 38 homozygous for G/G (73%), 13 heterozygous for G/S (25%) and 1 homozygous for S/S (2%), while 1 sample failed genotyping. Analysis of the CoQ6M406V genotype showed 19 homozygous for M/M (36%), 24 heterozygous for M/V (44%) and 11 homozygous for V/V (20%). Genotyping of CoQ7M103T polymorphism revealed 25 M/M (48%), 17 M/T (33%) and 10 T/T (19%) carriers. Two samples failed genotyping. Concerning the distribution of the NQO1P187S SNP, 30 persons are carriers of two P/P alleles (56%), 22 persons were heterozygous with one P and one S allele (41%) and two participants were carriers of two S/S alleles (3%). NQO2L47F genotyping displayed 35 participants were homozygous L/L carriers (65%), 15 participants were heterozygous for L/F (28%) and 4 participants were homozygous F/F carriers (7%). The genotype distribution of apoE was as follows: 1 person with E2/E2 genotype (2%), 7 persons with E2/E3 (14%), 29 persons with E3/E3 (58%), 11 persons with E3/E4 (22%) and 2 persons with E4/E4 (4%). For 4 persons, genotyping of one or both SNPs respectively failed. Thus, the Apo E genotype distribution in our cohort of 54 healthy men was comparable with previously published data [29, 30].

Figure 1
figure 1

Effect of amino acid exchange polymorphisms on CoQ 10 plasma levels. SNPs in genes encoding enzymes of the CoQ10 synthesis pathway (CoQ3G272S, CoQ6M406V, CoQ7M103T) before (T0) and after (T14) ubiquinol supplementation (150 mg/day) in humans are shown. Values are mean ± SD and n numbers (genotype distribution) are given in brackets. Differences between two genotype groups were examined using Student t-test and between all genotypes using "test for linear trend" (ANOVA).

Full size image
Figure 2
figure 2

Effect of NQO1P187S, NQO2L47F and apoE genotype distribution on CoQ 10 plasma levels. CoQ10 plasma levels before (T0) and after (T14) ubiquinol supplementation (150 mg/day) in humans are shown. Values are mean ± SD and n numbers (genotype distribution) are given in brackets. Differences between two genotype groups were examined using Student t-test (*p ≤ 0.05) and between all genotypes using "test for linear trend" (ANOVA).

Full size image

Association between genotypes and CoQ10 level at baseline T0 and after supplementation T14 with the reduced form of CoQ10

As previously described [18], 54 healthy male volunteers received 150 mg of the reduced form of CoQ10 daily in form of three capsules with each principal meal for 14 days. This supplementation led to a significant 4-fold increase in total CoQ10 plasma levels at T14 (4.60 ± 1.55 μmol/L) compared to T0 (0.96 ± 0.31 μmol/L) [18]. As shown in Figure 1 and 2, SNPs determined in the CoQ7 and NQO2 genes were not associated with total CoQ10 levels. Trend analysis (ANOVA) over all genotype variants of CoQ7M103T and NQO2L47F revealed p values >0.05 and were therefore considered as not significant.

CoQ3G272S

The COQ3 gene encodes an O-methyltransferase required for two steps in the biosynthetic pathway of CoQ10[31]. Analysing CoQ3 rs6925344 SNP in association to plasma CoQ10 levels at T0, no significant differences between genotypes could be revealed. Yet at T14, G/S carriers in CoQ3G272S genotype had a higher total CoQ10 content (5.30 ± 0.96 μmol/L) after supplementation compared to G/G carriers (4.42 ± 1.67 μmol/L) with borderline significance (p = 0.082, t-test).

CoQ6M406V

CoQ6 is mapped to human chromosome 14q24.3 and encodes a monooygenase, which is required in CoQ10 biosynthesis for incorporation of oxygen to the benzoquinone ring [32]. CoQ10 plasma levels were not significantly changed within genotype distribution of CoQ6 rs8500 SNP before (T0) and after (T14) supplementation. However, considering total CoQ10 distribution at T0 in a chi-square cross tabulation as a function of CoQ6 rs8500 genotype (Table 2) a person chi-square χ2 value of p = 0.081 was evident, which again can be considered as marginal significant. Therefore a power calculation for CoQ6 genotype rs8500 was conducted using GPower program (Version 3.1). This disclosed a total of 898 individuals are required to receive 95% power.

Table 2 Total CoQ10 distribution in a chi-square crosstabulation as a function of CoQ6M406V genotype (rs8500).
Full size table

NQO1P187S

It has been shown, that NQO1 can generate and maintain the reduced state of ubiquinones in membrane systems and liposomes, thereby promoting their antioxidant function [33, 34]. NQO1P187S SNP was associated with CoQ10 levels at T0 (P/S versus S/S, p = 0.044). Thus, this pilot study indicates that Pro187Ser SNP in NQO1 gene could participate in abnormal CoQ10 metabolism. SNP prediction of functional effects of human nsSNPs with structure homology-based method (PolyPhen) revealed a possibly damaging effect of NQO1P187S SNP with a score of 0.215. However, genotype distribution of the S/S genotype was low (n = 2), which reflects the ethnic variation of this polymorphism with the highest prevalence of the S allele in East Asian populations (e.g. 22% prevalence in Chinese populations) and the lowest prevalence in Caucasians (4%) [35]. Furthermore Han et al [36] found a significant association of this SNP with carotid artery plaques in type 2 diabetic patients in east Asian populations. As this genetic variation may play a more significant role in an East Asian rather than in a Caucasian population, evaluation of the Pro187Ser SNP in association with CoQ10 metabolism in an East Asian population may be preferable.

apoE

Apolipoprotein E (apoE) is a polymorphic multifunctional protein with three common isoforms in humans (E2, E3 and E4). Presence of the apoE4 allele is associated with a 40-50% higher risk of cardiovascular disease [37]. There is increasing evidence demonstrating that the apoE4 allele may be associated with elevated oxidative stress and chronic inflammation [38]. Thus apoE was considered as a candidate gene explaining variance in CoQ10 status. At T0, total CoQ10 levels were higher in E4/E4 carriers as compared to all other genotype groups, however p values did not reached significance (p = 0.065, E2/E3 vs E4/E4, Figure 2). These results confirm the results found by Battino et al [29] in a cohort of 106 healthy blood donors. Interestingly, in our study total CoQ10 levels increased significantly (p = 0.034) in E4/E4 carriers after supplementation (T14), which has to the best of our knowledge not been shown so far. Thus, E4/E4 carriers may be more responsive towards a dietary CoQ10 supplementation than non E2/E3 carriers. The underlying physiological and/or molecular mechanisms for this finding still need to be elucidated.

Conclusions

Taken together, our pilot study with 54 volunteers provides evidence that NQO1P187S and apoE polymorphisms may influence CoQ10 status in humans. According to our results and power calculation, larger cohorts are needed in further studies to determine the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms in genes encoding proteins of CoQ10 biosynthesis, reduction and metabolism and CoQ10 status.

References

  1. Turunen M, Olsson J, Dallner G: Metabolism and function of coenzyme Q. Biochim Biophys Acta. 2004, 1660 (1-2): 171-199. 10.1016/j.bbamem.2003.11.012.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Kwong LK, Kamzalov S, Rebrin I, Bayne AC, Jana CK, Morris P, Forster MJ, Sohal RS: Effects of coenzyme Q(10) administration on its tissue concentrations, mitochondrial oxidant generation, and oxidative stress in the rat. Free Radic Biol Med. 2002, 33 (5): 627-638. 10.1016/S0891-5849(02)00916-4.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Bentinger M, Tekle M, Dallner G: Coenzyme Q--biosynthesis and functions. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 396 (1): 74-79.

  4. Groneberg DA, Kindermann B, Althammer M, Klapper M, Vormann J, Littarru GP, Doring F: Coenzyme Q10 affects expression of genes involved in cell signalling, metabolism and transport in human CaCo-2 cells. Int J Biochem Cell Biol. 2005, 37 (6): 1208-1218. 10.1016/j.biocel.2004.11.017.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Schmelzer C, Doring F: Identification of LPS-inducible genes downregulated by ubiquinone in human THP-1 monocytes. Biofactors. 2010, 36 (3): 222-228. 10.1002/biof.93.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Lee CK, Pugh TD, Klopp RG, Edwards J, Allison DB, Weindruch R, Prolla TA: The impact of alpha-lipoic acid, coenzyme Q10 and caloric restriction on life span and gene expression patterns in mice. Free Radic Biol Med. 2004, 36 (8): 1043-1057. 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2004.01.015.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Schmelzer C, Lorenz G, Rimbach G, Doring F: Influence of Coenzyme Q_{10} on release of pro-inflammatory chemokines in the human monocytic cell line THP-1. Biofactors. 2007, 31 (3-4): 211-217. 10.1002/biof.5520310308.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Schmelzer C, Lorenz G, Rimbach G, Doring F: In Vitro Effects of the Reduced Form of Coenzyme Q(10) on Secretion Levels of TNF-alpha and Chemokines in Response to LPS in the Human Monocytic Cell Line THP-1. J Clin Biochem Nutr. 2009, 44 (1): 62-66. 10.3164/jcbn.08-182.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  9. Schmelzer C, Lorenz G, Lindner I, Rimbach G, Niklowitz P, Menke T, Doring F: Effects of Coenzyme Q10 on TNF-alpha secretion in human and murine monocytic cell lines. Biofactors. 2007, 31 (1): 35-41. 10.1002/biof.5520310104.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Barroso MP, Gomez-Diaz C, Villalba JM, Buron MI, Lopez-Lluch G, Navas P: Plasma membrane ubiquinone controls ceramide production and prevents cell death induced by serum withdrawal. J Bioenerg Biomembr. 1997, 29 (3): 259-267. 10.1023/A:1022462111175.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Gonzalez R, Ferrin G, Hidalgo AB, Ranchal I, Lopez-Cillero P, Santos-Gonzalez M, Lopez-Lluch G, Briceno J, Gomez MA, Poyato A, et al: N-acetylcysteine, coenzyme Q10 and superoxide dismutase mimetic prevent mitochondrial cell dysfunction and cell death induced by d-galactosamine in primary culture of human hepatocytes. Chem Biol Interact. 2009, 181 (1): 95-106. 10.1016/j.cbi.2009.06.003.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Tzagoloff A, Dieckmann CL: PET genes of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Microbiol Rev. 1990, 54 (3): 211-225.

    PubMed  CAS  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  13. Maklashina E, Cecchini G: The quinone-binding and catalytic site of complex II. Biochim Biophys Acta. 1797 (12): 1877-1882.

  14. Miki R, Saiki R, Ozoe Y, Kawamukai M: Comparison of a coq7 deletion mutant with other respiration-defective mutants in fission yeast. Febs J. 2008, 275 (21): 5309-5324. 10.1111/j.1742-4658.2008.06661.x.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Quinzii C, Naini A, Salviati L, Trevisson E, Navas P, Dimauro S, Hirano M: A mutation in para-hydroxybenzoate-polyprenyl transferase (COQ2) causes primary coenzyme Q10 deficiency. Am J Hum Genet. 2006, 78 (2): 345-349. 10.1086/500092.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  16. Lopez LC, Schuelke M, Quinzii CM, Kanki T, Rodenburg RJ, Naini A, Dimauro S, Hirano M: Leigh syndrome with nephropathy and CoQ10 deficiency due to decaprenyl diphosphate synthase subunit 2 (PDSS2) mutations. Am J Hum Genet. 2006, 79 (6): 1125-1129. 10.1086/510023.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  17. DiMauro S, Quinzii CM, Hirano M: Mutations in coenzyme Q10 biosynthetic genes. J Clin Invest. 2007, 117 (3): 587-589. 10.1172/JCI31423.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  18. Schmelzer C, Niklowitz P, Okun JG, Haas D, Menke T, Doring F: Ubiquinolinduced gene expression signatures are translated into altered parameters of erythropoiesis and reduced low density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in humans. IUBMB Life. 2011, 63 (1): 42-48. 10.1002/iub.413.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. PolyPhen. [http://genetics.bwh.harvard.edu/pph/]

  20. Traver RD, Siegel D, Beall HD, Phillips RM, Gibson NW, Franklin WA, Ross D: Characterization of a polymorphism in NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreductase (DT-diaphorase). Br J Cancer. 1997, 75 (1): 69-75. 10.1038/bjc.1997.11.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  21. Jamieson D, Wilson K, Pridgeon S, Margetts JP, Edmondson RJ, Leung HY, Knox R, Boddy AV: NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 and nrh:quinone oxidoreductase 2 activity and expression in bladder and ovarian cancer and lower NRH:quinone oxidoreductase 2 activity associated with an NQO2 exon 3 single-nucleotide polymorphism. Clin Cancer Res. 2007, 13 (5): 1584-1590. 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-06-1416.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Vasiliou V, Ross D, Nebert DW: Update of the NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase (NQO) gene family. Hum Genomics. 2006, 2 (5): 329-335.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  23. Reitz C, Tang MX, Schupf N, Manly JJ, Mayeux R, Luchsinger JA: Association of higher levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in elderly individuals and lower risk of late-onset Alzheimer disease. Arch Neurol. 67 (12): 1491-1497.

  24. Alvim RO, Freitas SR, Ferreira NE, Santos PC, Cunha RS, Mill JG, Krieger JE, Pereira AC: APOE polymorphism is associated with lipid profile, but not with arterial stiffness in the general population. Lipids Health Dis. 9: 128-

  25. Humphries SE, Talmud PJ, Hawe E, Bolla M, Day IN, Miller GJ: Apolipoprotein E4 and coronary heart disease in middle-aged men who smoke: a prospective study. Lancet. 2001, 358 (9276): 115-119. 10.1016/S0140-6736(01)05330-2.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Jofre-Monseny L, Loboda A, Wagner AE, Huebbe P, Boesch-Saadatmandi C, Jozkowicz A, Minihane AM, Dulak J, Rimbach G: Effects of apoE genotype on macrophage inflammation and heme oxygenase-1 expression. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2007, 357 (1): 319-324. 10.1016/j.bbrc.2007.03.150.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  27. Dietrich M, Hu Y, Block G, Olano E, Packer L, Morrow JD, Hudes M, Abdukeyum G, Rimbach G, Minihane AM: Associations between apolipoprotein E genotype and circulating F2-isoprostane levels in humans. Lipids. 2005, 40 (4): 329-334. 10.1007/s11745-006-1390-4.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Flachsbart F, Caliebe A, Nothnagel M, Kleindorp R, Nikolaus S, Schreiber S, Nebel A: Depletion of potential A2M risk haplotype for Alzheimer's disease in longlived individuals. Eur J Hum Genet. 18 (1): 59-61.

  29. Battino M, Giunta S, Galeazzi L, Galeazzi R, Mosca F, Santolini C, Principi F, Ferretti G, Bacchetti T, Bencivenga R, et al: Coenzyme Q10, antioxidant status and ApoE isoforms. Biofactors. 2003, 18 (1-4): 299-305. 10.1002/biof.5520180234.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Eichner JE, Dunn ST, Perveen G, Thompson DM, Stewart KE, Stroehla BC: Apolipoprotein E polymorphism and cardiovascular disease: a HuGE review. Am J Epidemiol. 2002, 155 (6): 487-495. 10.1093/aje/155.6.487.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Jonassen T, Clarke CF: Isolation and functional expression of human COQ3, a gene encoding a methyltransferase required for ubiquinone biosynthesis. J Biol Chem. 2000, 275 (17): 12381-12387. 10.1074/jbc.275.17.12381.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Hsieh EJ, Gin P, Gulmezian M, Tran UC, Saiki R, Marbois BN, Clarke CF: Saccharomyces cerevisiae Coq9 polypeptide is a subunit of the mitochondrial coenzyme Q biosynthetic complex. Arch Biochem Biophys. 2007, 463 (1): 19-26. 10.1016/j.abb.2007.02.016.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  33. Beyer RE, Segura-Aguilar J, Di Bernardo S, Cavazzoni M, Fato R, Fiorentini D, Galli MC, Setti M, Landi L, Lenaz G: The role of DT-diaphorase in the maintenance of the reduced antioxidant form of coenzyme Q in membrane systems. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 1996, 93 (6): 2528-2532. 10.1073/pnas.93.6.2528.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  34. Landi L, Fiorentini D, Galli MC, Segura-Aguilar J, Beyer RE: DT-Diaphorase maintains the reduced state of ubiquinones in lipid vesicles thereby promoting their antioxidant function. Free Radic Biol Med. 1997, 22 (1-2): 329-335. 10.1016/S0891-5849(96)00294-8.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Kelsey KT, Ross D, Traver RD, Christiani DC, Zuo ZF, Spitz MR, Wang M, Xu X, Lee BK, Schwartz BS, et al: Ethnic variation in the prevalence of a common NAD(P)H quinone oxidoreductase polymorphism and its implications for anticancer chemotherapy. Br J Cancer. 1997, 76 (7): 852-854. 10.1038/bjc.1997.474.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  36. Han SJ, Kang ES, Kim HJ, Kim SH, Chun SW, Ahn CW, Cha BS, Nam M, Lee HC: The C609T variant of NQO1 is associated with carotid artery plaques in patients with type 2 diabetes. Mol Genet Metab. 2009, 97 (1): 85-90. 10.1016/j.ymgme.2009.01.012.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Rimbach G, Minihane AM: Nutrigenetics and personalised nutrition: how far have we progressed and are we likely to get there?. Proc Nutr Soc. 2009, 68 (2): 162-172. 10.1017/S0029665109001116.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Jofre-Monseny L, Minihane AM, Rimbach G: Impact of apoE genotype on oxidative stress, inflammation and disease risk. Mol Nutr Food Res. 2008, 52 (1): 131-145. 10.1002/mnfr.200700322.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by KANEKA Corporation, Japan.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Human Nutrition and Food Science, Devision of Molecular Prevention, Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel, Heinrich-Hecht-Platz 10, 24118, Kiel, Germany

    Alexandra Fischer, Constance Schmelzer & Frank Döring

  2. Institute of Human Nutrition and Food Science, Devision of Food Science, Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel, Heinrich-Hecht-Platz 10, 24118, Kiel, Germany

    Gerald Rimbach

  3. Children's Hospital of Datteln, University of Witten/Herdecke, Dr.-Friedrich-Steiner Str. 5, 45711, Datteln, Germany

    Petra Niklowitz & Thomas Menke

Authors
  1. Alexandra Fischer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Constance Schmelzer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Gerald Rimbach
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Petra Niklowitz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Thomas Menke
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Frank Döring
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Frank Döring.

Additional information

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Authors' contributions

AF analysed the data and wrote the manuscript. CS participated in the design of the study, acquired and analysed the data. GR participated in the design of the study and critically revised the manuscript. PN and TM carried out the CoQ10 measurements. FD was responsible for the concept and design of the study and the writing of the paper. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Authors’ original submitted files for images

Below are the links to the authors’ original submitted files for images.

Authors’ original file for figure 1

Authors’ original file for figure 2

Rights and permissions

This article is published under license to BioMed Central Ltd. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Fischer, A., Schmelzer, C., Rimbach, G. et al. Association between genetic variants in the Coenzyme Q10 metabolism and Coenzyme Q10 status in humans. BMC Res Notes 4, 245 (2011). https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.1186/1756-0500-4-245

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.1186/1756-0500-4-245

Keywords

BMC Research Notes

ISSN: 1756-0500

Contact us