(NationalHealth365)  Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) – characterized by excessive fat in the livers of people with no history of alcohol abuse – affects close to 30 percent of all American adults.  Researchers have discovered that NAFLD develops mainly from obesity and metabolic syndrome, and in 2023, the condition was officially renamed “metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease,” or MASLD.  Regardless of the name change, the facts remain the same – untreated MASLD can have potentially life-threatening consequences.

While early MASLD is often mild, it can sometimes progress to a more severe condition featuring liver inflammation and a raised risk of liver cancer and heart disease.  A newly published study shows that coenzyme Q10, an antioxidant compound produced by the body, may help slow this progression and cause improvements – not only to liver enzymes but to heart function – in people with MASLD.  Let’s see how CoQ10 supports the health of the liver and heart, thereby helping to launch a “one-two punch” against two serious chronic diseases at once.

New study reveals CoQ10 improves heart function in patients with MASLD

CoQ10 is a vitamin-like fat-soluble compound found throughout the entire body, with the most abundant levels occurring in the heart and liver.  Its main job is to generate energy in the cells by producing a molecule known as adenosine triphosphate (ATP).  CoQ10 is also a potent antioxidant that can help reduce the oxidative stress that contributes to multiple diseases.

The new data was obtained through a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, a rigorous type of study that is considered the “gold standard” of medical research.  Published in 2024 in Cardiovascular Diabetology, the study showed that six months of supplementation with 240 mg a day of CoQ10 not only improved liver steatosis but led to remarkable improvements in endothelial and myocardial function – in other words, the workings of the arteries and heart.

The team concluded that CoQ10 supplementation might confer “significant reduction” of cardiovascular risk in patients with MASLD.  Although this was quite a bombshell, in retrospect, the findings weren’t surprising.  After all, CoQ10 has long been shown to improve outcomes for heart failure patients.

Multiple studies support CoQ10’s ability to benefit patients with congestive heart failure
The researchers pointed out that – in addition to protecting cellular membranes against oxidative stress – CoQ10 can ease symptoms, lower adverse cardiovascular events, and even reduce cardiovascular mortality in patients with congestive heart failure.

In a separate review of clinical trials, the authors assessed the effects of CoQ10 on over 700 adults with various conditions, including coronary heart disease, diabetes, and MASLD.  They reported that CoQ10 was associated with reductions of enzymes – such as ALT (alanine transaminase), AST (aspartate aminotransferase), and GGT (gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase) that indicate liver inflammation.

How to avoid the progression of MASLD to MASH

According to the American Liver Foundation, about 20 percent of MASLD cases eventually progress to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH).  This is a much more serious condition that can cause liver inflammation and permanent liver scarring (cirrhosis), along with a higher risk of liver cancer, liver failure, cardiac arrhythmias, and heart attacks.

Many researchers hope CoQ10 can help slow or even reverse this progression.  In a placebo-controlled trial published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition, 41 participants with MASLD were divided into two groups.  The first group received 100 mg a day of CoQ10 for 12 weeks, while the other received a placebo.

The CoQ10 group displayed significant decreases in inflammatory markers such as AST, GGT, and C-reactive protein.  CoQ10 supplementation also regulated the hormones adiponectin and leptin, which play a role in hunger and fat metabolism.  While the study size was small, the findings were impressive, leading the scientists to conclude that CoQ10 could effectively improve systemic inflammation in fatty liver disease.

It’s worth noting:  As CoQ10 also helps reduce oxidative stress in the brain, it is currently being studied for its potential against cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease.

Statin drugs put a “hit” on coenzyme Q10 levels

CoQ10 levels can be threatened by various factors, including illness, nutritional deficiencies, oxidative stress from aging, and the use of certain medications, particularly statin drugs intended to lower cholesterol.  You can increase your dietary intake of this all-important enzyme by consuming grass-fed beef, cage-free chicken, eggs, and cold-water wild fatty fish.  Vegans and vegetarians can obtain CoQ10 from legumes, nuts and seeds.

CoQ10 is available as a supplement in two types – ubiquinol (the reduced form) and ubiquinone (the oxidized form).  In case you’re wondering, a recent crossover study published in Nutrients found that both forms are equally absorbable.  However, most holistic healthcare providers advise a soft-gel formulation for maximum benefit.  And, take it with food – preferably one containing healthy fats.  Before supplementing with CoQ10, check with your holistic doctor.

If you’ve been diagnosed with fatty liver disease, the good news is that the early stages of this condition can be slowed and even reversed by controlling weight, cholesterol, blood lipids, blood pressure, and blood sugar.  And – as the latest studies demonstrate – liver-friendly CoQ10 can be a valuable addition to your “toolbox” of natural techniques for MASLD management.

Editor’s note: Discover the best ways to eliminate the threat of fatty liver disease, own the Fatty Liver Docu-Class created by NaturalHealth365 Programs.

Sources for this article include:

Biomedcentral.com
AmericanLiverFoundation.org
NIH.gov
NIH.gov
NIH.gov
MASHAwareness.com
ClevelandClinic.org
NIH.gov
Healthline.com