Watermelon + Coenzyme Q10 for Kidney Transplant Care

(WUBI-Q Trial)

Overseen By Divya Seth, BA

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of California, San Francisco

Disqualifiers: Under 18, Preemptive transplant, others

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: 20 weeks

70 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

The objective of the proposed pilot trial is to determine the feasibility and safety of increasing watermelon consumption, with or without coenzyme Q supplementation in patients after kidney transplantation on kidney function and urinary protein excretion.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It focuses on increasing watermelon consumption and coenzyme Q10 supplementation.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Watermelon + Coenzyme Q10 for kidney transplant care?

Research suggests that consuming fruits and vegetables, which includes watermelon, may help reduce cardiovascular risks in kidney transplant patients. Additionally, natural compounds like polyphenols and vitamins, similar to those found in watermelon and Coenzyme Q10, have shown potential in improving heart health markers in these patients. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is the combination of watermelon and coenzyme Q10 safe for kidney transplant patients?

Coenzyme Q10 has been studied in kidney transplant patients and is generally considered safe, with some studies showing it may help protect against oxidative stress (damage caused by free radicals). However, specific safety data on the combination of watermelon and CoQ10 is not available. ^{1 3 6 7 8}

How does the Watermelon diet with Coenzyme Q10 differ from other treatments for kidney transplant care?

The Watermelon diet combined with Coenzyme Q10 is unique because it uses a natural dietary approach alongside CoQ10, an antioxidant that may help reduce oxidative stress and improve kidney function. This combination is different from standard treatments that typically focus on immunosuppressive drugs to prevent transplant rejection. ^{6 7 8 9 10}

Research Team

Elaine Ku, MD

Principal Investigator

University of California, San Francisco

Eligibility Criteria

Adults over 18 who've had a kidney transplant within the last month can join this trial. They should be on standard post-transplant drugs, not underweight, and have normal potassium levels. They mustn't already eat lots of watermelon or take coenzyme Q10 supplements and should be able to visit UCSF for follow-up.

Inclusion Criteria

Potassium < 4.8 at time of randomization (not having high potassium already)

History of hemodialysis dependency (and not peritoneal dialysis) prior to kidney transplant

Able to provide informed consent

Exclusion Criteria

You have relied on peritoneal dialysis or have had a transplant surgery before.

< 18 years of age at the time of transplant

Potassium >=4.8 meq/L at randomization

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive either a placebo or coenzyme Q10 supplementation with or without a diet high in watermelon

20 weeks

Regular visits for monitoring and assessments

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

4 weeks

Treatment Details

Interventions

• coenzyme Q10
• Placebo
• Usual Diet
• Watermelon diet

Trial Overview The study is testing if eating more watermelon and possibly taking coenzyme Q10 supplements helps kidney function and reduces protein in urine after a transplant. Participants will either add these to their diet or stick with their usual diet or placebo.

Participant Groups

Group I: Watermelon Diet & Coenzyme Q10 Active Control 2 Interventions

800-1200 mg of coenzyme Q10 daily plus diet high in watermelon

Group II: Usual Diet & Coenzyme Q10 Active Control 2 Interventions

800-1200 mg of coenzyme Q10 daily plus no watermelon in diet

Group III: Usual Diet & Placebo Placebo Group 2 Interventions

Placebo pill plus no watermelon in diet

Group IV: Watermelon Diet & Placebo Placebo Group 2 Interventions

Placebo pill plus diet high in watermelon

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of California, San Francisco

Lead Sponsor

Trials

2,636

Recruited

19,080,000+

Findings from Research

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) supplementation in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients showed significant reductions in markers of oxidative stress and inflammation, specifically lowering malonaldehyde and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels.

CoQ10 supplementation also improved glucose metabolism, evidenced by reductions in HbA1c and increases in QUICKI scores, although it did not affect lipid profiles such as total cholesterol or triglycerides.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A systematic review for the efficacy of coenzyme Q10 in patients with chronic kidney disease. Xu, Y., Yang, G., Zuo, X., et al.[2022]

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) supplementation may help reduce cardiovascular events and improve mitochondrial function in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), as plasma levels of CoQ10 are often low in these patients.

This systematic review aims to comprehensively assess the efficacy and safety of CoQ10 in CKD patients, utilizing a thorough methodology that includes independent screening of studies from multiple databases.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Efficacy of coenzyme Q10 in patients with chronic kidney disease: protocol for a systematic review. Xu, Y., Liu, J., Han, E., et al.[2020]

References

1. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Consumption of fruits and vegetables and cardiovascular mortality in renal transplant recipients: a prospective cohort study. [2020]

2. China pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Unfavorable dietary quality and overweight or obesity in kidney transplant recipients as judged by the Chinese diet balance index 2016 (DBI-16). [2023]

3. Slovakia pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Improvement in cardiovascular risk markers by the combined effect of natural polyphenols and vitamins in patients after kidney transplantation. [2022]

4. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Dietary quality indices and recurrent chronic kidney disease in Taiwanese post-renal transplant recipients. [2023]

5. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Ultra-processed foods and risk of all-cause mortality in renal transplant recipients. [2023]

6. Netherlands pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A systematic review for the efficacy of coenzyme Q10 in patients with chronic kidney disease. [2022]

7. Korea (South) pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Water-soluble coenzyme Q10 provides better protection than lipid-soluble coenzyme Q10 in a rat model of chronic tacrolimus nephropathy. [2021]

8. Netherlands pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Oxidative stress and coenzyme Q10 supplementation in renal transplant recipients. [2019]

9. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Efficacy of coenzyme Q10 in patients with chronic kidney disease: protocol for a systematic review. [2020]

10. Germany pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Immunsuppression by vitamin B6-antagonists. Prolonged survival of inbred rats with renal transplants (author's transl)]. [2021]