Meat, poultry and fish may help in the treatment of diabetes

This study was published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2002 Nov;56(11):1137-42

Study title and authors:

Coenzyme Q10 improves blood pressure and glycaemic control: a controlled trial in subjects with type 2 diabetes.

Hodgson JM, Watts GF, Playford DA, Burke V, Croft KD.

University of Western Australia Department of Medicine and HeartSearch, Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12428181

The objective of the study was to assess the effects of dietary coenzyme Q10 on blood pressure and blood sugar levels in subjects with type 2 diabetes. The study included 74 patients with type two diabetes who received extra coenzyme Q10 for 12 weeks.

After 12 weeks of the extra coenzyme Q10 the study found:

• There was a 3-fold increase in blood levels of coenzyme Q10.
• Blood pressure was significantly lowered.
• Blood sugar levels were lowered. HbA1C levels decreased by .37%.

The results of the study show that extra coenzyme Q10 may improve blood pressure and long-term blood sugar control in subjects with type 2 diabetes.

The richest dietary sources of coenzyme Q10 are meat, poultry, fish and organ meats such as liver, kidney and heart.