Prophylactic treatment with coenzyme Q10 in patients undergoing cardiac surgery: could an antioxidant reduce complications? A systematic review and meta-analysis

source extracted confidence: high 2026-04-09
#antioxidants #cardiac-surgical-procedures #cardiopulmonary-bypass #chi-square-distribution #drug-administration-schedule

Prophylactic treatment with coenzyme Q10 in patients undergoing cardiac surgery: could an antioxidant reduce complications? A systematic review and meta-analysis

de et al., 2015 | Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg | Meta Analysis

Citation

de Frutos Fernando, Gea Alfredo, ... Rabago Gregorio. Prophylactic treatment with coenzyme Q10 in patients undergoing cardiac surgery: could an antioxidant reduce complications? A systematic review and meta-analysis. Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg. 2015-Feb;20(2):254-9. doi:10.1093/icvts/ivu334

Abstract

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a lipid-soluble antioxidant that could have beneficial effects in patients undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. There is no clear evidence about its clinical effects or a systematic review published yet. We aimed to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature to elucidate the role of coenzyme Q10 in preventing complications in patients undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. We searched the PubMed Database using the following keywords: Coenzyme Q10, ubiquinone, ubiquinol, CoQ10, Heart Surgery, Cardiac surgery. Articles were systematically retrieved, selected, assessed and summarized for this review. We performed separate meta-analyses for different outcomes (inotropic drug requirements after surgery, incidence of ventricular arrhythmias and atrial fibrillation, cardiac index 24 h after surgery and hospital stay), estimating pooled odds ratios (ORs) or mean differences of the association of CoQ10 administration with the risk of these outcomes. Eight clinical trials met our inclusion criteria. Patients with CoQ10 treatment were significantly less likely to require inotropic drugs after surgery {OR [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.47 (0.27-0.81)]}, and to develop ventricular arrhythmias after surgery [OR (95% CI) 0.05 (0.01-0.31)]. However, CoQ10 treatment was not associated with Cardiac index 24 h after surgery [mean difference (95% CI) 0.06 (-0.30 to 0.43)], hospital stay (days) [mean difference (95% CI) -0.61 (-4.61 to 3.39)] and incidence of atrial fibrillation [OR (95% CI) 1.06 (0.19-6.04)]. Since none of the clinical trials included in this review report any adverse effects associated to CoQ10 administration, and coenzyme Q10 has been demonstrated to be safe even at much higher doses in other studies, we conclude that CoQ10 should be considered as a prophylactic treatment for preventing complications in patients undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. However, better quality randomized, controlled trials are needed to clarify the role of CoQ10 in patients undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass.

Key Findings

However, better quality randomized, controlled trials are needed to clarify the role of CoQ10 in patients undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass.

Outcomes Measured

  • Requires manual extraction

Population

Field Value
Population coq10 treatment were significantly
Sample Size See abstract
Age Range See abstract
Condition See abstract

MeSH Terms

  • Antioxidants
  • Cardiac Surgical Procedures
  • Cardiopulmonary Bypass
  • Chi-Square Distribution
  • Drug Administration Schedule
  • Humans
  • Odds Ratio
  • Postoperative Complications
  • Risk Factors
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Ubiquinone

Evidence Classification

  • Level: Meta Analysis
  • Publication Types: Journal Article, Meta-Analysis, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Systematic Review
  • Vertical: coq10

Provenance

Source extracted via PubMed E-utilities API on 2026-04-09