Water-soluble coenzyme Q10 formulation (Q-TER®) in the treatment of presbycusis.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficiency and applicability of a water-soluble formulation of CoQ10 (Q-TER®) in subjects with presbycusis. Methods: A total of 60 patients with presbycusis were included and divided into three numerically equal groups. Group A underwent therapy with Q-TER®, 160 mg, once a day for 30 days; group B underwent therapy with vitamin E (50 mg), once a day for 30 days; group C received placebo, once a day for 30 days. Before and at the end of the treatment, all patients underwent pure tone audiometry, transient evoked otoacoustic emissions, otoacoustic products of distortion, auditory brainstem response, and speech audiometry. Results: Compared with group B, at the end of the treatment in group A the liminar tonal audiometry showed a significant improvement of the air and bone thresholds at the 1000 (14/20 vs 9/20), 2000 (14/20 vs 7/20), 4000 (15/20 vs 6/20), and 8000 Hz (13/20 vs 5/20). We found no significant differences in the other parameters and in group C. Conclusion: These preliminary data are encouraging for a larger clinical trial to collect additional evidence on the effect of Q-TER® in preventing the development of hearing loss in subjects with presbycusis.