Coenzyme Q10’s Role in Chemotherapy

Free radicals have been identified and have been implicated in the action of many chemotherapeutic drugs.                                                                                       

In one study, researchers tested the hypothesis that drugs used in chemotherapy such as etoposide, doxorubicin and methotrexate induce an increase in the level of coenzyme Q10 in cancer cell lines as part of the antioxidant defence against the free radical production during these anticancer treatments.                                                                          

The researchers found that chemotherapy induced an increase in free radical production and therefore the body increases the Coenzyme Q10 levels in the cell as a defence against this free radical production.                                                                               

This data suggests that Coenzyme Q10 increase is involved in the cellular defence during chemotherapy treatment and contributes to the survival of the cells.                                              

Therefore all patients receiving Chemotherapy should preventative supplement with Coenzyme Q10.