Dr. Peterson collaborates to study improving heart function after a heart attack

Dr. Jonathan Peterson, Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Sciences in the ETSU College of Public Health, is a member of a team of researchers at East Tennessee State University studying whether Coenzyme Q10 could help improve heart function after an individual suffers a heart attack.   Dr. Peterson states, "Muscle fatigue is a common side-effect of statin drug treatment because statins not only reduced cholesterol they also lower Coenzyme Q10 levels, a key metabolic molecule for cellular energy production.”While over-the-counter Coenzyme Q10 currently is available for supplementation, it is fat-soluble, making it difficult to absorb, especially for those who are not eating fatty foods.

The team will be studying how to increase Coenzyme Q10’s absorption ability by making it water-soluble.  According to Dr. Peterson, “This study will provide a fundamental insight into the impact of restoring the muscle energy production capacity on the quality of life and overall health outcomes of patients taking statins.”

One-hundred patients of Dr. Kamesh Sivagnanam, a cardiology fellow at Quillen ETSU Heart, will take part in the research to determine if the water-soluble Coenzyme Q10 impacts the heart’s ability to function.Dr. W. Andrew Clark, associate dean of research in ETSU’S College of Clinical and Rehabilitative Health Sciences and professor in the Department of Allied Health Sciences, is the principal investigator on the project.