Bioavailability of coenzyme Q10 loaded in an oleogel formulation for oral therapy: Comparison with a commercial-grade solid formulation

EHRENHAUS MASOTTA, NATALIA; HÖCHT, CHRISTIAN; CONTIN, MARIO; LUCANGIOLI, SILVIA; ROJAS, ANA M.; TRIPODI, VALERIA P.

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS

ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV

Año: 2020 vol. 582

0378-5173

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is essential in mitochondrial bioenergetics and is a potent endogenous antioxidant. LowCoQ10 levels are associated with neurodegenerative, metabolic, muscular and cardiovascular disorders. Earlytreatment with high doses (5?50 mg/kg/day) demonstrated to limit the onset and progression of neuropathology.Recently, we developed an oleogel matrix able to support a high dose of oil-dissolved CoQ10, easy toswallow by CoQ10-deficient patients who suffer from secondary dysphagia. In the present study, we evaluatedthe bioavailability of oleogel-dissolved CoQ10 and plasma antioxidant status in healthy adults in single-dose andrepeated-dose studies. The single-dose study demonstrated that, in terms of CoQ10 bioavailability, 1 g CoQ10/5goleogel-disk was equivalent to the solid form (1 g CoQ10/three 00-size-capsules), whereas the repeated-dosestudy (14-days-administration) demonstrated a significantly higher increase in plasma CoQ10 when administeredthrough the oleogel, which could be compatible with the levels necessary to achieve an adequate therapeuticresponse. Also, a trend to a higher plasma apparent half-life (greater than24 h) was observed for the oleogelloaded-CoQ10. In conclusion, the oleogel matrix does not compromise the oil-dissolved CoQ10 bioavailability andcan prevent the non-adherence to this vital supplementation in patients with high CoQ10 requirements. Nosignificant variation in the plasma antioxidant status (vitamins A, E and C, glutathione and TBARs) was observed.