Does Exogenous Coenzyme Q10 Affect Aerobic Capacity in Endurance Athletes?

Coenzyme Q10 in health and disease

“…Several randomised experimental studies on Q 10 supplementation and physical capacity have been undertaken (Braun et al, 1991;Snider et al, 1992;Porter et al, 1995;Laaksonen et al, 1995;Malm et al, 1997;Weston et al, 1997;Ylikoski et al, 1997). Out of 11 studies, ®ve indicated a positive effect of Q 10 on physical capacity, ®ve indicated no effect and one study a negative effect of Q 10 .…”

Ergogenic Aids in Aerobic Activity

“…The study sample size, however, was relatively small (15 placebo and 10 experimental). Coenzyme Q10 for 28 days did not effect aerobic capacity (VO 2max ), heart rate, blood pressure, or anaerobic respiratory threshold in a study of male cyclists and triathletes (eight experimental, 10 placebo) [16]. A large dose of vitamin C (400 mg daily) for 2 weeks did not improve muscle soreness, muscle damage (measured by creatine kinase), or lipid peroxidation (measured by malondialdehyde) in active male runners [17].…”

Antioxidants and Skeletal Muscle Performance: “Common Knowledge” vs. Experimental Evidence

“…However, the greater exercise capacity was more likely a function of decreased fatigability based on the muscle properties (e.g., oxidative capacity) and not ubiquinone-10 content. Whereas supplementation with ubiquinone-10 may provide assistance to individuals with mitochondrial disease (Glover et al, 2010), most investigations on healthy individuals show no effect (Braun et al, 1991; Mizuno et al, 1997; Weston et al, 1997; Bonetti et al, 2000) or a deleterious effect (Laaksonen et al, 1995; Malm et al, 1997) on exercise performance. The lone exception is a recent study with a dose ∼3× that used in previous studies (Mizuno et al, 2008).…”