Effect of Ubiquinone (Coenzyme Q10) on Early Wound Healing Following Gingival Recession Coverage: a Pilot Study

Gingival recessions constitute a common problem in the adult population worldwide. In the United States the prevalence of ≥1 mm recession in persons >30 years was 58%, representing over 60 million adults while in a French cohort aged 30-65 years old 84.6% had at least one gingival recession. In two other studies it has been reported that over 90% of adults aged 35 to 50 years and above present with single or multiple gingival recessions. The consequences of gingival recessions can be gingivitis due to suboptimal oral hygiene, tooth mobility and in extreme circumstances tooth loss. Tooth sensitivity, root caries, non-carious cervical lesions and esthetic concerns especially with anteriorly located recessions can be also encountered. With the yearly increase in the number of orthodontic patients a potentially additional burden is expected in the population.

The use of subepithelial palatal connective tissue graft (SCTG) in conjunction with either coronally advanced flap (CAF) or coronally advanced tunnel are well established techniques for the treatment of single and multiple gingival recessions. These techniques have been shown to result in predictable root coverage, higher increase in keratinized tissue and stable long-term outcomes thus being considered today state of the art.

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), referred to as 'ubiquinone', is endogenously synthesised by the mevalonate pathway in the human body and is obtained in much of human diet. CoQ10 is a critical intermediate of the mitochondrial electron transport chain for the synthesis of adenosine triphosphate. The biological importance of CoQ10 is related to antioxidant activity, which can scavenge free radicals as well as restore the antioxidant defence system. Furthermore, in vitro and animal studies have suggested that CoQ10 acts as anti-inflammatory agent reducing the inflammatory response by inhibiting the translocation of nuclear factor kappa beta into the nucleus. Owing to its anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory capacities CoQ10 is of potential therapeutic value in numerous chronic diseases including periodontitis, rheumatoid arthritis or cardiovascular disease. Moreover, it might exert also beneficial effects on wound healing by reducing inflammation and oxidative stress. A recent clinical trial showed that the serum level of TNF-α was significantly reduced in patients with rheumatoid arthritis who received capsules of CoQ10 (100mg/day) for 8 weeks. However, to date, no published study has investigated the anti-oxidative and anti-inflammation effects of coenzyme Q10 spray on oral wound healing. Thus, the purpose of this clinical study is to examine the early wound healing after coenzyme Q10 spray administration (for 3 weeks) in patients undergoing recession coverage surgery.

For this pilot study 30 patients exhibiting single or multiple gingival recessions (Miller class I-III) will randomly be assigned to the control or test group and will be using a placebo or CoQ10 spray for 3 weeks. The primary endpoint is:

• the progress of wound healing assessed by the early wound healing index EHI previously defined by Wachtel et al. 2003.