Alternative Health Blog

In a study involving diabetic rats, supplementation with coenzyme Q10 was found to restore conduction velocities which were slowed down as a result of diabetes. In rats, diabetes was found to decrease maximum depolarization area, kinetics, and conduction velocities of both fast and slow nerve fiber groups, and increase time to peak, rheobase and chronaxie values of sciatic nerve compound action potential waveforms. While administration of alpha-lipoic acid was not found to produce statistically significant effects, administration of coenzyme Q10 not only stopped the shift towards slower conduction velocities, but it actually restored conduction velocities to levels found in age-matched non-diabetic control rats. The authors state, "In addition to its effects on mitochondrial alterations, these positive effects of CoQ10 on diabetic neuropathy can be attributed to its antioxidant activity." Additional research is warranted.
 
Reference:
"Coenzyme Q(10) and alpha-lipoic acid supplementation in diabetic rats: conduction velocity distributions," Ayaz M, Tuncer S, et al, Methods Find Exp Clin Pharmacol, 2008; 30(5): 367-74.