RESUMO
Background: Fatigue is a common side effect in cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy [RT]. Radiation-induced fatigue affects the quality of life, but there is no definitive treatment option, in this study, the weight-loaded forced swim test was performed to assess the effect of coenzyme QIO [CoQIO] on radiation-induced fatigue
Materials and Methods: A total of 60 rats were divided randomly and equally into four groups: No swim, No RT, RT + placebo, or RT + CoQIO. The No swim, No RT, and RT + placebo groups received 1 ml of soybean oil daily for 14 days. The RT + CoQIO group received 100 mg/kg of CoQIO in soybean oil at the same times. Both RT groups were irradiated with 10 Gy on the 14th day of treatment. The swim test with sinkers weighing 10% of body weight was performed 24 h later in all animals except the No swim group
Results: The level of blood urea nitrogen [BUN] was significantly lower in the No swim than the other groups. The BUN level of the No RT group was significantly decreased compared with the RT + placebo group, but it did not differ from the RT + CoQIO group. Swimming times to complete exhaustion were significantly longer in the No RT and RT + CoQIO groups compared to the RT + placebo group [99.4, 105.9, and 75.7 s, respectively] [P<0.001]
Conclusion: Supplementation with CoQIO can prevent the decrease in endurance capacity caused by radiation