Clinical and biochemical effects of coenzyme Q10, vitamin E, and selenium supplementation to psoriasis patients

ObjectiveThe aim of the present study was to evaluate clinical effects of supplementation with antioxidants to patients with severe erythrodermic (EP) and arthropathic (PsA) forms of psoriasis.MethodsFifty-eight patients were hospitalized, treated by conventional protocols, and randomly assigned to four groups. Groups EP1 and PsA1 were supplemented with coenzyme Q10 (ubiquinone acetate, 50 mg/d), vitamin E (natural α-tocopherol, 50 mg/d), and selenium (aspartate salt, 48 μg/d) dissolved in soy lecithin for 30–35 d. Groups EP2 and PsA2 (placebo) received soy lecithin. Clinical conditions were assessed by severity parameters. Markers of oxidative stress included superoxide production, copper/zinc-superoxide dismutase, and catalase activities in the circulating granulocytes, in the affected epidermis, and plasma levels of nitrites/nitrates.ResultsAt baseline patients had an increased superoxide release from granulocytes (10.0 ± 0.5, 2.9 ± 0.2, and 1.5 ± 0.1 nmol/L per 106 cells/h for EP, PsA, and donors, respectively), increased copper/zinc-superoxide dismutase and catalase activities in granulocytes in EP patients and decreased in PsA patients, decreased activity of copper/zinc-superoxide dismutase (0.3 ± 0.0, 1.8 ± 0.1, and 2.2 ± 0.2 U/mg protein for EP, PsA, and donors, respectively), and altered activity of catalase in psoriatic epidermis. Plasma levels of nitrites/nitrates were greater than normal in psoriatic patients. Supplementation resulted in significant improvement of clinical conditions, which corresponded to the faster versus placebo normalization of the oxidative stress markers.ConclusionSupplementation with antioxidants coenzyme Q10, vitamin E, and selenium could be feasible for the management of patients with severe forms of psoriasis.