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Coenzyme Q10 mitigates Bempedoic Acid-induced hyperuricemia in hyperlipidemic rats

Saya Mohammed Omar
Department of Pharmacy, College of Medicine, Hawler Medical University, Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq
Nidhal Abdulkader MohammedAli
Department of Pharmacology, Biophysics and Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Hawler Medical University, Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq
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Copyright (c) 2026 Saya Mohammed Omar, Nidhal Abdulkader MohammedAli (Author)

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Abstract

Background and objective: Hyperlipidemia is a key risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Bempedoic Acid (BA) is an ATP-citrate lyase inhibitor indicated for statin-intolerant patients, or patients at high risk of ASCVD with hyperlipidemia. However, BA may raise plasma uric acid levels, potentially causing hyperuricemia and gout. Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), a natural antioxidant, has anti-inflammatory and renal-protective properties. This study evaluates CoQ10's potential to mitigate BA-induced renal side effects in a hyperlipidemic rat model.

Methods: Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into five groups: a negative control (normal), a positive control (hyperlipidemic), a BA-treated group (hyperlipidemic rats on BA monotherapy),a BA + CoQ10 group (hyperlipidemic rats receiving BA and CoQ10 combination), and a BA + Allopurinol group (hyperlipidemic rats receiving BA and Allopurinol combination). The positive control and all treatment groups received a high-fat diet to induce and maintain hyperlipidemia throughout the experiment. After 8 weeks of inducing hyperlipidemia, therapeutic interventions were administered for a further 10 weeks. Renal biomarkers (uric acid, serum creatinine, and blood urea nitrogen) and the oxidative stress biomarker malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured.

Results: BA monotherapy significantly raised mean serum uric acid and creatinine compared with the negative control group. Co-administration of CoQ10 significantly lowered both parameters. Mean serum MDA was significantly reduced in all treatment groups compared with the positive control group.

Conclusion: These findings suggest that combining BA with CoQ10 could serve as a therapeutic strategy for hyperlipidemic patients on BA therapy who have compromised renal function.

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How to Cite
Mohammed Omar, S., & Abdulkader MohammedAli, N. . (2026). Coenzyme Q10 mitigates Bempedoic Acid-induced hyperuricemia in hyperlipidemic rats. Zanco Journal of Medical Sciences (ZJMS), 624–634. https://doi.org/10.15218/zjms.2026.043

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