Absorption, tolerability, and effects on mitochondrial activity of oral coenzyme Q10 in parkinsonian patients.

We report a pilot study of three oral doses of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) (200 mg administered two, three, or four times per day for 1 month) in 15 subjects with Parkinson's disease. Oral CoQ10 caused a substantial increase in the plasma CoQ10 level. It was well tolerated, but at the highest dose (200 mg four times per day) mild, transient changes in the urine were noted. CoQ10 did not change the mean score on the motor portion of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale. There was a trend toward an increase in complex I activity in the subjects.