Effect of Administrating Coenzyme Q10 with Clomiphene Citrate on Ovulation Induction in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Cases with Resistance to Clomiphene Citrate: A Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of combining low dose of Coenzyme Q10 with clomiphene citrate on ovulation induction in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) women with clomiphene resistance. METHODS: A total of 149 women with clomiphene resistant PCOS who needed ovulation induction were randomly allocated to oral clomiphene citrate and Coenzyme Q10 group and oral clomiphene citrate only group using a computer generated allocation sequence. The study was conducted at Aziz Medical Center, Karachi, Pakistan from 1st July 2020 to 1st October 2020. Polycystic ovary syndrome was diagnosed according to Rotterdam criteria. The primary outcome was ovulation and conception rate per cycle. Chi square test and Fischer’s exact test were used to compare these variables at p<0.05 level of significance. RESULTS: Of the 133 women assessed, the proportion of women who ovulated with combination (70% vs., 19%, p=0.001) was greater and the combination group had greater conception rate per cycle than those who received only clomiphene (48.6% vs. 6.3%, p<0.001). When stratified according to obesity, 85.3% of non-obese women who received combination ovulated whereas only 55.6% of obese women ovulated (p=0.002). Moreover, 48.6% of non-obese women conceived in the combination group as compared to 6.3% of obese women (p=0.007). Women who received combination were six times more likely to conceive than women who only received clomiphene citrate (AOR=6.344, 95% CI: 1.452–27.71, p=0.014). CONCLUSION: Coenzyme Q10 is a valuable adjunct in women with PCOS undergoing ovulation induction. It improves ovulation and conception in women with clomiphene resistance.