Coenzyme Q₁₀ in the pathogenesis and prevention of metabolic and mitochondrial non-communicable diseases

Coenzyme Q10 is a cofactor for mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes connected with adenosine triphosphate production in oxidative phosphorylation. It has a fundamental role in cellular bioenergetics and therefore is important for its application in mitochondrial non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Its reduced form, ubiquinol, acts as an antioxidant, scavenging free oxygen radicals. NCDs are closely related to metabolic syndrome. NCDs are noninfectious and nontranmissible, and their origin is a combination of genetic, physiological, and lifestyle factors. NCDs are responsible for 71% of all deaths in the world. The most common NCDs are cardiovascular diseases, cancers, respiratory tract disease, diabetes, and chronic kidney diseases. Annually, 17.9 million people become ill with cardiovascular diseases, 9 million people with cancers, 3.9 million people with respiratory tract diseases, and 1.6 million people with diabetes. The prevalence, development, and progression of chronic kidney diseases have reached epidemic proportions. In all NCDs, oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction play crucial roles. Prevention of development of mitochondrial NCDs by coenzyme Q10 is one of the basic forms of protection of human health.