The effect of acute Coenzyme Q10 on exercise-induced changes in skeletal muscle oxidative stress

There is substantial interest in the potential for CoQ to improve muscle health and function, and delay the onset of age-related decline. Age-related decline in muscle function is associated with an accumulation of oxidative damage to cell structures, unfavourable changes in metabolism, and dysregulation of the protective antioxidant defence system, with CoQ supplementation thought to modulate these processes. Previous research indicated a trend for oral CoQ supplementation to increase skeletal muscle CoQ concentration in a young population (Cooke et al 2008), however, this has not been investigated in aged participants.
AIM
To identify the effect of acute supplementation of CoQ on exercise-induced oxidative stress and CoQ concentration in skeletal muscle of an aged population.
METHODS
Five healthy males (60 ± 6 years) were randomly allocated for supplementation with either 300 mg of CoQ or a placebo capsule (Pharma Nord, Vejle, Denmark) over an acute 24h period and returned for the opposite condition at least 6 weeks later. Following supplementation, participants completed a high intensity intermittent exercise (HIIE) protocol on a cycle ergometer (5 minute incremental warm up, then three bouts of four minutes at 90 – 95% HRmax interspaced with three minute at 70-75% HRmax). Skeletal muscle biopsies were taken at baseline, immediately post-exercise (0 min) and three hours post exercise (180 min). Skeletal muscle samples were analysed for protein carbonyls (PC) and CoQ concentration.
RESULTS
Mean skeletal muscle PC concentration was shown to increase immediately post exercise (mean difference = 43 ± 24% vs baseline) and increased further at 180 min post-exercise (mean difference = 51 ± 98% vs baseline) with placebo supplementation. However, this was attenuated following CoQ supplementation with PC concentrations tending to decline after exercise (mean difference = 20 ± 9% immediately post exercise and 1 ± 6% at 180 min post-exercise, vs baseline). Mean muscle concentrations of CoQ were slightly elevated in the supplemented trial (364 ± 74 pmol/mg protein) at baseline in comparison to the placebo trial (320 ± 89 pmol/mg).
CONCLUSION
Supplementation with 300 mg/day CoQ for 24 hours shows a trend towards increased CoQ concentration in skeletal muscle in a healthy aged population, and also appeared to limit the post-exercise protein carbonyl increase in the skeletal muscle of a healthy aged population compared with placebo supplementation.