Research Team Trying CoQ10 to Aid Ill Gulf War Veterans: Seeking San Diego Area Volunteers

Written by Anthony Hardie, 91outcomes

(91outcomes.blogspot.com) -- Dr. Beatrice Golomb, M.D., Ph.D, and her research team at the University of California-San Diego are seeking 1991 Gulf War veteran volunteers in the San Diego area to participate in a treatment drug trial of Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), an over-the-counter supplement that may benefit ill Gulf War veterans.

According to the Study:

"The purpose of The University of California, San Diego (UCSD) Q10 and Gulf War Veterans Research Study is to learn whether taking Ubiquinone (Coenzyme Q10 or CoQ10), an over-the-counter nutritional supplement, reduces symptoms and benefits the health and quality of life of Gulf War Veterans with chronic, multi-symptom health problems. Health problems may include fatigue, muscle or joint pain, memory problems, cognitive changes, sleep problems and others.

"CoQ10 is available over-the-counter but is considered experimental for use in treating veterans with Gulf War Illness. CoQ10 is an important antioxidant made by the body and helps protect against damage from toxins, chemicals, drugs, mental stress, and other factors. CoQ10 also helps to produce energy needed to keep the body healthy and functional, and protects against cell death and degenerative diseases."

The Research Study is funded through the U.S. Department of Defense's Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP) through an annual appropriation made by Congress as it sees fit.

If you are an ill veteran of the 1991 Gulf War and are in the San Diego area (or will be), please volunteer to help your fellow Gulf War veterans by contacting this promising Study. More information is available from the Study website.

If you're not in the San Diego area, you can still try CoQ10 on your own, though you may want to consult your physician or read more online about it first.

According to the University of Minnesota, CoQ10 "appears to be generally safe with no significant side effects, except occasional stomach upset. However, the safety of CoQ10 supplementation during pregnancy and breast-feeding is unknown and, therefore, should not be used during that time until more information is available."

Recommended doses vary. According to the University of Minnesota, doses for adults age 19 and over can range from 30 to 200mg. However, nearby Mayo Clinic says doses of up to 1,200 mg split evenly have been taken twice per day.

CoQ10 is available for purchase in most local health food stores, and at low-cost online providers like Puritan's Pride, Swanson Vitamins, and VitaCost.

More treatment trials for ill Gulf War veterans are listed on the U.S. federal government's website, ClinicalTrials.gov.