Coenzyme Q^sub 10^ Supplementation Prevents Iron Overload While Improving Glycaemic Control and Antioxidant Protection in Insulin-Resistant Psammomys obesus

Abstract

This study investigated the anti-diabetic preventive activity of coenzyme Q₁₀ (CoQ₁₀) in a murine model of diet-induced insulin resistance (IR), Psammomys obesus (Po). IR was induced by feeding a standard laboratory diet (SD). CoQ₁₀ oil suspension was orally administered at 10 mg/kg body weight (BW)/day along with SD for 9 months. Anthropometric parameters, namely, total body weight gain (BWG) and the relative weight of white adipose tissue (WAT) were determined. Blood glucose, insulin, quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI), total antioxidant status (TAS), iron, malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitrite (NO2 ^-) were evaluated. NO2 ^- level was also assessed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) culture supernatants. Our results show that CoQ₁₀ supplementation significantly improved blood glucose, insulin, QUICKI, TAS, iron and MDA, but influenced neither NO2 ^- levels nor the anthropometric parameters. These findings support the hypothesis that CoQ₁₀ would exert an anti-diabetic activity by improving both glycaemic control and antioxidant protection. The most marked effect of CoQ₁₀ observed in this study concerns the regulation of iron levels, which may carry significant preventive importance.