Abstract
BACKGROUND
Metabolic-dysfunction Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) has been associated with increased cardiovascular risk. The aim of this Randomized Double-blind clinical Trial was to evaluate the effects of coenzyme-Q10 supplementation in patients with MASLD in terms of endothelial, vascular and myocardial function.
METHODS
Sixty patients with MASLD were randomized to receive daily 240mg of coenzyme-Q10 or placebo. At baseline and at 6-months, the a) Perfused boundary region of sublingual vessels using the Sideview - Darkfield imaging technique, b) pulse-wave-velocity, c) flow-mediated dilation of the brachial artery, d) left ventricular global longitudinal strain, e) coronary flow reserve of the left anterior descending coronary artery and f) controlled attenuation parameter for the quantification of liver steatosis were evaluated.
RESULTS
Six months post-treatment, patients under coenzyme-Q10 showed reduced Perfused boundary region (2.18±0.23 vs. 2.29±0.18µm), pulse-wave-velocity(9.5±2 vs. 10.2±2.3m/s), controlled attenuation parameter (280.9±33.4 vs. 304.8±37.4dB/m), and increased flow-mediated dilation (6.1±3.8 vs 4.3±2.8%), global longitudinal strain(-19.6±1.6 vs -18.8±1.9%) and coronary flow reserve(3.1±0.4 vs 2.8±0.4) compared to baseline (p<0.05). The placebo group exhibited no improvement during the 6-month followup period (p>0.05). In patients under coenzyme-Q10, the reduction in controlled attenuation parameter score was positively related to the reduction in Perfused boundary region and pulse wave velocity and reversely related to the increase in coronary flow reserve and flow-mediated dilation(p<0.05 for all relations).
CONCLUSIONS
Six-month treatment with high-dose coenzyme-Q10 reduces liver steatosis and improves endothelial, vascular and left ventricle myocardial function in patients with MASLD, demonstrating significant improvements in micro- and macro-vasculature function.
