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The Use of CoQ10 and
L-Carnitine as Compliments to
Traditional CVS/Abdominal Migraine Therapies
Submitted by Amy Preston, CVSA Board Member-at-Large
CoQ10:
Co-enzyme Q10 (“CoQ10”) is a coenzyme and antioxidant that boosts the energy
efficiency and output of mitochondria. It is currently being studied and/or used
to help treat a number of medical conditions, including migraine, Parkinson’s
Disease, heart conditions, and hypoglycemia. For example, in 2005, Sandor et al
conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of CoQ10 use as a
preventive treatment for migraine. They studied 42 migraine patients and found
that “CoQ10 was superior to placebo for attack-frequency, headache-days, and
days-with-nausea in the third treatment month,” with a 14.4% reduction for those
taking placebos and a 46.7% reduction rate for those taking CoQ10 (Sandor et al,
2005). While the use of CoQ10 has not yet been studied for those with
CVS/abdominal migraine, personal experiences of patients seem to indicate
potential benefits of CoQ10 use in reducing severity and/or frequency of
attacks.
L-carnitine:
L-carnitine is an amino acid-like compound that helps fatty acids to pass into
the mitochondria of cells to be converted into energy. It is currently being
used by some practitioners in the treatment plan for mitochondrial
disorders/dysfunctions and in pediatric cardiomyopathy. In 2002, Van Calcar,
Harding, and Wolff, published an article about the use of l-carnitine
administration with 6 CVS patients. They reported that the “average time between
episodes was 1.7 months before carnitine administration and increased to 1.1
years after carnitine administration,” concluding that “oral carnitine may be
useful to control the symptoms in patients with cyclic vomiting syndrome” (Van
Calcar, Harding, & Wolff, 2002).
Supplement Form & Use:
CoQ10 & l-carnitine are currently being used by some physicians in the treatment
of CVS/abdominal migraine, together, alone, and/or in conjunction with
traditional therapies. While the CVSA does not recommend or endorse specific
treatments and/or dosages, we recognize the importance of passing on information
regarding the current therapeutic practices of medical professionals treating
those with CVS/abdominal migraine. As with all medical treatments, it is
important to consult your physician before beginning any new therapies.
CoQ10 is available in many forms, however, not all forms of CoQ10 are readily
absorbable. Most resources report that liquid geltabs are more absorbable than
solid pills/powders. Additionally, there is a large variance in the purity of
CoQ10 from one brand to another, and in the sources from which these brands are
derived. Most “natural” forms of CoQ10 come from Japan, and the production
process is time-consuming and labor intensive, which accounts for the cost of
CoQ10 supplements. Synthetic forms of CoQ10, while cheaper, are generally
derived from tobacco and are not easily absorbed. Furthermore, be aware that
many CoQ10 geltabs use vitamin E, and that one of the biggest sources for
vitamin E in the U.S. is soy, which some people are sensitive to. As vitamin E
is a fat-soluble vitamin, use care in choosing CoQ10 supplements that do not
contain vitamin E at what could potentially be toxic levels. Finally, it is
important to know that it can take up to several months of regular CoQ10 use in
order to see clinical benefit.
Two companies that use natural CoQ10 from Japan, and which have been used in
research studies are Healthy Origins & Tischon Corp. Healthy Origins suspends
the CoQ10 in olive oil liquid gels.
Tischon Corporation Q-gel, suspends the CoQ10 in a hydrosoluble liquid gel
(please note that there is soy in this one) available from Epic4Health. Tischon Corp Q-gel has
been FDA approved for
therapeutic use. Both companies are currently giving discounts to callers
who indicate that it is being used for CVS.
L-Carnitine can be purchased as a natural supplement and is also available in
prescription form as Carnitor. Some insurance companies will now cover the cost
of l-carnitine with a doctor’s prescription.
Side Effects:
There seem to be relatively few side effects associated with the use of CoQ10.
Sandor et al (2005) indicated that there seemed to be no discernable side
effects of the CoQ10 use among their migraine study participants.
Side effects from l-carnitine use tend to be mild and may include softening of
the stools, which generally resolves itself after continued use of the
supplement, and a mild “fishy” odor which goes away with a decrease in dosage.
Dosages:
Dr. Boles currently
uses the following dosage guidelines for CoQ10 and l-carnitine/Carnitor, but
strongly advises consulting with your own physician before beginning to take
either of these supplements:
CoQ10:
Adult dose: 300 – 500 mg per day, divided over 2-3 doses
Child dose: 10 mg/kg/day
L-carnitine: (based on common practice among metabolic physicians)
Adult dose: 3 tablets of Carnitor (330 mg each), 2 or 3 times per day
Child dose: 100 mg/kg/day, divided over 2 -3 doses
Works Cited
Sandor, P. S., Di Clemente, L., Coppola, G.,
Saenger, U., Fumal, A., Magis, D., Seidel, L., Agosti, R. M., & Schoenen, J.
(2005). Efficacy of coenzyme Q10 in migraine prophylaxis: a randomized
controlled trial. Neurology, 64 (4), 713-715.
Van Calcar, S. C., Harding, C. O., & Wolff, J. A. (2002). L-carnitine
administration reduces number of episodes in cyclic vomiting syndrome. Clinical
Pediatrics, 41 (3), 171-174. |
