In an earlier experimental study, the Comenius University researchers had demonstrated ubiquinol raised CoQ10 concentrations in individual regions of the brain.2 Based on their initial finding, the researcher sought to determine the effects of ubiquinol supplementation in children with autism. A total of 24 children, aged 3 to 6 years, were involved in the study, and they were diagnosed according to international classification of diseases MKCH and the Childhood Autism Rating Scale. The autistic children were initially administered a daily dose of 50 mg ubiquinol. After seven days of observing a beneficial effect, the scientists increased the dose to 100 mg ubiquinol per day (50 mg in the morning and 50 mg at lunch). The children’s parents evaluated psychological tests before and after a three-month period of ubiquinol supplementation. In addition, the scientists measured total plasma CoQ10 (ubiquinol and ubiquinone combined) and lipid peroxidation by spectrophotometric analysis of TBARS (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances assay).

The study results demonstrated a significant improvement in autistic symptomology after three months of ubiquinol supplementation, only when the plasma concentration of total CoQ10 increased to more than 2.5 micromoles/L.3 Overall, the scientists reported an improvement of communication with parents and playing games with friends, and “nearly all improved verbal communication, interests, activities, sleep and eating.” TBARS levels declined upon ubiquinol supplementation (4.38 ± 1.53 micromole/L to 4.02 ± 0.241 micromole/L), however it was not statistically significant. The findings of this pilot study demonstrate for the first time a beneficial effect by ubiquinol on autistic children, and paves the way for future, larger scale studies.