Ubiquinol in Parkinson's Disease: Safety, Tolerability, and Effects Upon Oxidative Damage and Mitochondrial Biomarkers

Multiple lines of evidence have implicated abnormal energy metabolism and deficient mitochondrial function in Parkinson's disease, presenting a unique target for therapy. A pilot study of ubiquinol in PD was therefore undertaken to determine its effects upon physiologic measures of mitochondrial metabolic function. The incorporation of a neuroimaging biomarker is particularly important, since changes would demonstrate our ability to achieve Central Nervous System (CNS) access from this an formulation, accompanied by a meaningful neurophysiologic effect. Hydrogen Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Imaging (1H MRSI) is a technique that provides insight into the metabolism of several endogenous brain compounds, most notably N-acetyl-L-aspartate (NAA), choline-containing compounds (Cho), and creatine and phosphocreatine (Cr). A number of studies of mitochondrial function have now firmly established the utility of 1H MRSI in probing potential mitochondrial energy metabolism dysfunction, in primary mitochondrial disorders, but also in PD. This pilot study is therefore designed to test whether oral ubiquinol affects cerebral indices of mitochondrial dysfunction, as measured by 1H MRSI in patients with Parkinson's disease, and to gather preliminary information on the safety and tolerability of ubiquinol in individuals with PD.