Coenzyme Q10 in chronic heart failure
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The effectiveness and cost effectiveness of COenzyme Q10 in heaRt fAiLure with reduced ejection fraction (CORAL): a pragmatic, patient-centred, data-enabled trial in primary care
IRAS ID
1006083
Contact name
Rachel Johnson
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Bristol
ISRCTN Number
ISRCTN26946710
Research summary
Heart failure is long-term condition that causes difficult breathing, tiredness and leg swelling, which can all impact on daily life. Between 10 and 15% of people over the age of 75 have heart failure and it is responsible for around 5% of all emergency hospital admissions. Most people with heart failure have two or more long-term medical conditions and usually take a number of different medicines every day.
Co-enzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a vitamin-like substance that is available to buy as a supplement. It is known to remove potentially damaging free radicals that can harm cells and also has an essential role in energy production. We believe that CoQ10 may improve how much energy and exercise people with heart failure can do, which in turn may improve their daily lives.
The CORAL study (The effectiveness and cost effectiveness of COenzyme Q10 in heaRT fAiLure) will have 950 participants in England who are aged 18 or over and have heart failure that impacts their daily lives. Potential participants will be invited to take part in the study via a letter from their GP surgery. Half of the people in the study will be chosen at random (by a computer) to take CoQ10 pill 3 times a day for 12 months and half will have a different pill that looks exactly the same but doesn't contain CoQ10 3 times a day for 12 months. People in the study will not know which type of pill they are taking. We will ask people in the study to complete a questionnaire at the start of the study, and 4 more times over 12 months to record how they are feeling, if they have taken time off work or needed any care. We will also request to look at the information that is normally recorded in medical notes about them, such as time in hospital and the cause, any referrals, emergency admissions or medications that are being taken. Once the results of the study have been looked at, we will know if CoQ10 can benefit people with heart failure and should be recommended by doctors.
REC name
London - Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
24/LO/0249
Date of REC Opinion
3 May 2024
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion