CYP7A1, NPC1L1, ABCB1, and CD36 Polymorphisms Are Associated with Increased Serum Coenzyme Q(10) after Long-Term Supplementation in Women

Coenzyme Q(10) (CoQ(10)), an essential component for energy production that exhibits antioxidant activity, is considered a health-supporting and antiaging supplement. However, intervention-controlled studies have provided variable results on CoQ(10) supplementation benefits, which may be attributed to individual CoQ(10) bioavailability differences. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between genetic polymorphisms and CoQ(10) serum levels after long-term supplementation. CoQ(10) levels at baseline and after one year of supplementation (150 mg) were determined, and eight single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in cholesterol metabolism and CoQ(10) absorption, efflux, and cellular uptake related genes were assessed. Rs2032582 (ABCB1) and rs1761667 (CD36) were significantly associated with a higher increase in CoQ(10) levels in women. In addition, in women, rs3808607 (CYP7A1) and rs2072183 (NPC1L1) were significantly associated with a higher increase in CoQ(10) per total cholesterol levels. Subgroup analyses showed that these four SNPs were useful for classifying high- or low-responder to CoQ(10) bioavailability after long-term supplementation among women, but not in men. On the other hand, in men, no SNP was found to be significantly associated with increased serum CoQ(10). These results collectively provide novel evidence on the relationship between genetics and CoQ(10) bioavailability after long-term supplementation, which may help understand and assess CoQ(10) supplementation effects, at least in women.