Abstract
Purpose: In cases of traumatic brain injury (TBI), oxidative stress is recognized as a major factor in neuronal cell damage. This study aimed to assess the effects of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) on oxidative stress biomarkers and clinical outcomes in patients with TBI. Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, patients with moderate or severe TBI (n = 40) admitted to the ICU received either CoQ10 tablets at a dose of 600 mg/day or a placebo for three days within the first 72 hours post-injury. Serum malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were assessed at baseline and again three days after the intervention. The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) was evaluated daily until day 5. The Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) was assessed at the time of discharge from both the ICU and hospital, and the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score was determined on days 1, 3, and 5. Mortality rates and the length of ICU and hospital stays were also recorded. Results: CoQ10 had no significant effect on MDA levels, SOD activity, or duration of hospitalization compared with the placebo (P > 0.05). However, GCS scores showed significant improvement from days 3 to 5 in the CoQ10 group compared with the placebo (P = 0.017, P = 0.007, and P = 0.006, respectively). GOS scores demonstrated significant improvement at discharge from both the ICU and hospital (P = 0.005 and P < 0.001, respectively). In the CoQ10 group, the SOFA score declined significantly by day 5 compared with the placebo (P = 0.023). In-hospital mortality was also significantly lower in the CoQ10 group (P = 0.002). Conclusion: Supplementation with CoQ10 in patients with TBI improved GCS, GOS, and SOFA scores and reduced in-hospital mortality. CoQ10 may serve as a promising adjunctive therapy in TBI patients, although further research is required.