Antioxidants Effect Changes in Systemic Parasympathetic and Sympathetic Nervous System Responses and Improve Outcomes

Parasympathetic and Sympathetic (P&S) imbalance is associated with increased morbidity and mortality risk, including heart failure, coronary artery disease, atrial and ventricular arrhythmias, hypertension and orthostatic disorders, and syncope. Most cardiac medications effect only one or the other of the P&S nervous systems, including: β-blockers, α-blockers, α-agonists, and anti-cholinergics. Non-pharmaceutical treatments also affect the P&S nervous systems; however, nonpharmaceutical treatment is rarely addressed or studied, despite significant evidence-based data demonstrating normalization of Sympathovagal Balance. Fifty consecutive patients from a busy suburban cardiology practice were enrolled in a supplement study. Patients were provided supplements that included 200mg of Alpha-Lipoic Acid (ALA) and 100mg of Co-Enzyme Q10 (CoQ10) which they were instructed to take twice a day, one each with breakfast and dinner. P&S Monitoring (Physio PS, Inc., Atlanta, GA, USA) and Quality of Life (QoL) questionnaires were administered at three month intervals. The combination of supplements, ALA and CoQ10, had a positive effect on the P&S nervous systems as measured directly and also indicated by improvements in BP, HR and reported QoL. The study indicates these supplements help to improve both the resting and challenge P&S responses and resultant physiology. The results suggest antioxidant therapy is a potential complimentary therapy to pharmacological management of patients with poorly controlled BP (i.e., hypertension and possible hypotension) as well as in patients with tachycardia or palpitations. This is a hypothesis generating study of significant importance in an often neglected area of cardiovascular disease in which additional research and studies are needed.