Questions

[hope]

Hi All -
I have been on dialysis since last September and I am still really new with all of this. I have a 2 questions - the first one is my fluid intake. I am on a quart and a half of fluid and before the summer started I didn't have any problems. Now I am retaining fluid plus I cut back on my intake. I am feeling better now and am on my feet more. Could that be the cause? Then I heard about this over the counter pill called Coenzyme Q10 that it really helps with dialysis, but it has a backing of vitamin E. Has anyone heard of this and does it help? Thanks for your time.. Hope

[DoriSchatell]

Hi Hope,

I'm not sure about pairing up vitamin E with enzyme Co-Q10, but Co-Q10 is an antioxidant that is made by the human body. I have read that it strengthens muscles (including the heart muscle) and that anyone who takes a statin drug (to lower cholesterol) should take Co-Q10 every day, because statin drugs deplete Co-Q10.

The National Cancer Institute has a site on the use of Co-Q10 in cancer treatment that has a good, basic summary of what it is and how it works: http://www.nci.nih.gov/cancertopics/pdq/cam/coenzymeQ10/healthprofessional.

Here is a site for people with congestive heart failure that has a lot of information about Co-Q10. http://www.chfpatients.com/stew/coq10.htm.

Dori Schatell

[Beth Witten MSW ACSW]

I found this information on the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) of the National Institutes of Health, a government agency that is researching effectiveness of various kinds of complementary and alternative treatments. The discussion relates to diabetes, not kidney disease, but some of it might apply to people with kidney disease. I'd definitely suggest that you print the pages that Dori suggested and this information as well and show it to your kidney doctor.

The following is from http://nccam.nih.gov/health/diabetes/#coenzyme.

Coenzyme Q10
Coenzyme Q10, often referred to as CoQ10 (sometimes written as CoQ10; other names include ubiquinone and ubiquinol) is a vitamin-like substance. CoQ10 helps cells make energy and acts as an antioxidant. Meats and seafood contain small amounts of CoQ10. Supplements are marketed as tablets and capsules.

Summary of the research findings
There have been few studies on CoQ10 and type 2 diabetes so far. The evidence is not sufficient to evaluate CoQ10's effectiveness as a CAM therapy in diabetes. CoQ10 has not been shown to affect blood glucose control. In theory, it might have use against heart disease in people with diabetes, but well-designed studies looking at heart disease outcomes are needed to answer this question.

Side effects and other risks
CoQ10 appears to be safe for most of the adult population. However, it may interact with and affect the action of some medicines, including warfarin (a blood thinner) and medicines used for high blood pressure or cancer chemotherapy. Other possible side effects of CoQ10 include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, and heartburn.

The NCCAM site also had a link to this site for info on CoQ10:
http://www.cancer.gov/cancerinfo/pdq/cam/coenzymeQ10

Here's another site that has content written by doctors at Harvard Medical School that addresses its evidence, unproven uses, potential dangers, interactions, dosing, and includes the following summary:
http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/8513/31402/350469.html

Coenzyme Q10 has been suggested as a treatment for many conditions. Some research supports the use of coenzyme Q10 for congestive heart failure, after heart attacks, high blood pressure, heart complications associated with diabetes and Alzheimer's disease, although it is not well-established what doses may be safe and effective. There is not enough scientific evidence to support the use of coenzyme Q10 for any other medical condition. Coenzyme Q10 may cause flulike symptoms, stomach upset or headache. It should be avoided in pregnant or breast-feeding women, but it has been studied and used in children under the supervision of a qualified health care provider. Coenzyme Q10 may increase the risk of blood clotting or bleeding. Consult your health care provider immediately if you have any side effects.

[neuf2008]

I have often seen CoQ10 (http://www.seacoastvitamins.com/topic.php?health=Q10) paired with vitamin E, so I think it is pretty common. The vitamin E helps the cells absorb the CoQ10 and it also helps protect the cells from free radicals, which CoQ10 also does. I would think CoQ10 would be beneficial to be on while on dialysis because of the help it provides to cell health and the antioxidants. Hope that helps and good luck.

[DoriSchatell]

Thanks, Neuf2008, that's very helpful information, and it makes a lot of sense.

[Beth Witten MSW ACSW]

Patients with kidney failure have to be careful when taking fat soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K...and Co-Q-10) to avoid getting too much. Fat soluble vitamins can accumulate in the body when kidneys don't work and dialysis doesn't remove them either. Patients should talk with their doctor and/or dietitian about what vitamins they should take. There are vitamins for patients with kidney disease that are specially formulated for their needs.