1. Science and clinical studies: Idebenone is a synthetic version of Co-Q10 with a molecular weight approximately 60% smaller. A multi-step in vitro process utilizing a variety of biochemical and cell-biological methods combined with in vivo studies was designed to compare the oxidative stress protective capacity of commonly used antioxidants. Summarizing and totaling the data equally weighted for each oxidative stress study, the overall oxidative protection capacity score of 95, 80, 68, 55, 52, and 41 was obtained for idebenone, DL-a – tocopherol, kinetin, ubiquinone, L-ascorbic acid, and DL-a-lipoic acid, respectively. The higher the score the better the overall oxidative stress protection capacity of the antioxidant. This multi-step protocol was thought to serve as a standard when investigating and comparing new putative antioxidants for topical use (34). In a non-vehicle control study, 0.5%, and 1.0% idebenone commercial formulations were evaluated in a clinical trial. Forty-one female subjects, age 30-65, with moderate photodamaged skin completed the study. After six weeks of BID use, the 1.0% idebenone formula produced a 26% reduction in skin roughness/dryness, a 37% increase in skin hydration, a 29% reduction in fine lines/wrinkles, and a 33% improvement in overall global assessment of photodamaged skin. The 0.5% idebenone formulation demonstrated a 23% reduction in skin roughness/dryness, a 37% increase in skin hydration, a 27% reduction in fine lines/wrinkles, and a 30% improvement in overall global assessment of photodamaged skin. Additionally, punch biopsies were taken from random select subjects, baseline at and after six weeks, and stained for certain antibodies Interleukin [(IL)-6, IL-1b, Matrixmetalloprotei- nase (MMP)-1, Collagen I] using immunofluorescence microscopy. The immunofluorescence staining revealed a decrease in IL-1b, IL-6, and MMP-1 and an increase in Collagen I for both concentrations (35).
2. Key benefits: Antioxidant protection against multiple free radical pathways, modulation, and regulation of inflammatory markers, and treatment of photodamaged skin.
3. Primary adverse effects: None known.
4. Practical applications in dermatology: May be useful in treating photodamaged skin.