Effect of Coenzyme Q10 supplementation on exercise-induced muscular injury of rats

Abstract

Aim: We aimed to examine the effect of Coenzyme Q(10) (CoQ(10)) supplementation on the exhaustive exercise-induced injury and oxidative stress in skeletal muscle and liver. Methods: Rats were divided into four groups: rest group [control (Con)-Rest; n = 6)], exercise group (Con-Ex; n = 6), rest group with CoQ(10) supplement (CoQ(10)-Rest; n = 6), and exercise group with CoQ(10) supplement (CoQ(10)-Ex; n = 6). The exercise groups were run on a treadmill until exhaustion. The CoQ(10) supplemented groups received an oral administration of CoQ(10) (300 mg kg(-1), 4 weeks). After 4 weeks, total CoQ concentration, creatine kinase (CK), glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), malondialdehyde (MDA), scavenging activity against reactive oxygen species [ROS; superoxide anions (0(2)(.-)) and hydroxyl radicals (HO.)] were measured. Results: Total CoQ concentration in plasma, slow-twitch muscles (soleus and gastronemius deep portion), and liver were significantly increased by CoQ(10) supplementation. Plasma CK was significantly higher in Con-Ex compared with Con-Rest, whereas there was no difference between CoQ(10)-Rest and CoQ(10)-Ex. There were no significant differences in muscle MDA in each group. Plasma GOT and liver MDA in exercise groups were significantly higher than that of rest groups, but not significantly different between CoQ(10) supplemented groups and control groups. CoQ(10) supplementation was not able to favorably influence ROS scavenging activity in skeletal muscle and liver Conclusions: These data indicated that CoQ(10) supplementation increased total CoQ concentration in the slow-twitch muscles, and was useful for reducing exhaustive exercise-induced muscular injury by enhancing stabilization of muscle cell membrane.