Lecithin coenzyme Q10 restores mitochondrial dynamics and alleviates hepatic dysfunction in high-fat Diet-Fed db/db mice.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the metabolic and pathological effects of a high-fat diet (HFD) in db/db mice and evaluated the therapeutic efficacy of various Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) products. We aimed to determine whether HFD-induced mitochondrial damage can be improved by different CoQ10 products through either repairing mitochondrial injury or increasing mitochondrial bioenergy, thereby addressing the root cause of oxidative stress.

METHODS AND RESULTS: Plasma biochemical analyses revealed that HFD induced hyperglycemia, elevated hepatic transaminases [aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT)], and dyslipidemia. Lecithin coenzyme Q10 (SoQ10) significantly improved these parameters, especially in reducing AST (255 ± 73.8 U/L vs. 138 ± 29.4 U/L, p < 0.05), ALT (87.8 ± 17.3 U/L vs. 79.2 ± 11.9 U/L, p < 0.05), and triglyceride levels (142.0 ± 37.0 mg/dL vs. 15.5 ± 2.5 mg/dL, p < 0.05), demonstrating greater efficacy than standard CoQ10. Histological evaluation showed that HFD caused marked hepatic steatosis and inflammatory infiltration. Oil Red O staining further confirmed excessive lipid deposition in the livers of HFD-fed mice. Both Q10 treatments decreased lipid droplet accumulation (p < 0.05), with SoQ10 showing a greater reduction (p < 0.05), indicating its potential to alleviate hepatic steatosis. Further assessments indicated that gene expression analyses showed that HFD upregulated lipid metabolism-related genes [lipoprotein lipase (LPL), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ), sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1 (SREBP-1), alkaline ceramidase 2 (ACER2)] (p < 0.05), indicating an imbalance between lipogenesis and lipolysis. SoQ10 modulated these genes and further enhanced ceramide synthase 2 (CERS2) expression, suggesting a role in reestablishing hepatic lipid homeostasis. Additionally, SoQ10 significantly upregulated genes associated with mitochondrial biogenesis peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α), mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM)] (p < 0.05) and mitochondrial dynamics [mitofusin-2 (MFN2), optic atrophy type 1 long isoform (OPA1-L)] as well as fission [dynamin-related protein 1 (DRP1), mitochondrial fission protein 1 (Fis1)] (p < 0.05), indicating a potential to restore mitochondrial structural balance. In contrast, conventional CoQ10 had a more limited effect, particularly on fusion-related gene expression.

CONCLUSIONS: SoQ10 demonstrated superior therapeutic potential over conventional CoQ10 in ameliorating hepatic metabolic dysfunction, oxidative mitochondrial damage, and disturbances in lipid metabolism and mitochondrial dynamics induced by a high-fat diet.