Short‐term ubiquinol supplementation reduces oxidative stress associated with strenuous exercise in healthy adults: A randomized trial

Abstract

Studies about Coenzyme Q (CoQ ) supplementation on strenuous exercise are scarce, especially those related with oxidative stress associated with physical activity and virtually nonexistent with the reduced form, Ubiquinol. The objective of this study was to determine, for the first time, whether a short-term supplementation with Ubiquinol can prevent oxidative stress associated to strenuous exercise. The participants (n = 100 healthy and well trained, but not on an elite level) were classified in two groups: Ubiquinol (experimental group), and placebo group (control). The protocol consisted of conducting two identical strenuous exercise tests with a rest period between tests of 24 h. Blood and urine samples were collected from the participants before supplementation (basal value) (T1), after supplementation (2 weeks) (T2), after first physical exercise test (T3), after 24 h of rest (T4), and after second physical exercise test (T5).The increase observed in the lactate, isoprostanes, DNA damage, and hydroperoxide levels reveals the severity of the oxidative damage induced by the exercise. There was a reduction in the isoprostanes, 8-OHdG, oxidized LDL, and hydroperoxydes in the supplemented Ubiquinol group, an increase in total antioxidant status, fat soluble antioxidant (both plasma and membrane), and CAT activity. Also, NO in the Ubiquinol-supplemented group was maintained within a narrow range. Oxidative stress induced by strenuous exercise is accumulative and increases transiently in subsequent sessions of physical activity. A short-term supplementation (2 weeks) with Ubiquinol (200 mg/day) before strenuous exercise, decreases oxidative stress and increases plasma NO, fact that could improve endothelial function, energetic substrate supply, and muscle recovery after strenuous exercise. © 2016 BioFactors, 42(6):612-622, 2016.

Beneficial Effect of Ubiquinol on Hematological and Inflammatory Signaling during Exercise

“…Characteristics, intensity, and muscle damage (loss of skeletal muscle function and soreness) of this protocol was previously reported by measuring blood myoglobin and CK [32] and similar increases have been observed in other strenuous exercise tests [34]. After two-weeks period of ubiquinol or placebo supplementation, subjects performed the strenuous exercise protocol in order to induce muscle damage.…”

“…No statistically significant differences between both groups were found for weight, age, height, and BMI (Table 1). In addition, no significant differences were recorded between groups for the short form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire [32]. The subjects of both experimental groups were categorized as "Health Enhancing Physical Activity" (HEPA Active): Category 3, the highest measurement threshold of total physical activity of the questionnaire.…”

“…The rest time between sets was five minutes to allow recovery and complete the designed workout [35]. Both strenuous exercise tests consisted of performing a circuit composed of 10 bodybuilding exercises (1. athletic press; 2. chest press in Smith Machine; 3. seated oar; 4. shoulders press; 5. femoral biceps flexion; 6. chest press in Smith Machine; 7. step with weight; 8. surveyor's pole chest; 9. shove with weight; 10. quadriceps extension) [32]. In order to establish the minimum magnitude of the load to be displaced for each subject, one week before strenuous exercise protocol, a session of pre-training was held with the subjects to conform the load individually in terms of two parameters in each exercise: (a) Scale OMNI-RES [36] values of perceived exertion between 6-7, and (b) 10 repetitions.…”

Effect of ubiquinol supplementation on biochemical and oxidative stress indexes after intense exercise in young athletes

“…Therefore we cannot exclude that the positive effect of ubiquinol in this respect could have been amplified in the presence of a higher threshold of stress, as demonstrated by Sarmiento et al [76]. In fact, in the present study we used a high intensity, mainly aerobic and endurance exercise, while the study by Sarmiento et al implemented an aerobic and anaerobic resistance exercise at high intensity (60-70% dynamic maximum force).…”

Physiological Changes after One Month of Exclusive Supplement Consumption and Exercise: A Case Study

“…BCAA (Branched Chain Amino Acids) is considered by some researchers as both anti-catabolic and anabolic [21]. Other ergogenic aids and/or protective agents used included ubiquinol, acetyl L-carnitine, alpha lipoic acid, and beta-alanine [22][23][24][25][26][27]. A third group of nutrients had Table 1 Daily intake of all nutrients, taken as supplements (see next table) resulting in an 1,300 calories energy-intake per day.…”