The Effect of Oral Coenzyme Q₁₀ on the Exercise Tolerance of Middle-Aged, Untrained Men

In order to determine the effect of oral Coenzyme Q₁₀ (CoQ₁₀) dosing on exercise capacity, 15 middle-aged men (44.7 + 2.0 years) received either CoQ₁₀ (150 mg/day × 2 months-QIO GRP) or placebo (2 months-CON GRP). Blood CoQ₁₀ levels increased (p < 0.05) during the treatment in the Q10 GRP (Pre = 0.72 ± 0.06, 2 month = 1.08 ± 0.14 μg/ml) and were unchanged in the CON GRP (Pre = 0.91 ± 0.05, 2 month = 0.69 ± 0.05 μg/ml). Similarly, the subjective perception of vigor (visual analog scale 1-10 where, 10 = very energetic, and 0 = very, very unenergetic) increased (p < 0.05) in the Q10 GRP (Pre = 5.73 ± 0.35, 2 month = 6.64 ± 0.45). However, maximal oxygen consumption (VO₂max Pre = 2.97 ± 0.18, 2 month = 3.05 ± 0.15 l/min) and lactate threshold (LT Pre = 2.04 ± 0.12, 2 month = 2.08 ± 0.12 l/min), as measured on the cycle ergometer, were unchanged as a result of the CoQ₁₀ treatment, Neither forearm oxygen uptake, nor forearm blood flow was found to be affected by the CoQ₁₀. Although lactate release during hand-grip testing tended to decrease in the Q10 GRP (Pre = 227 ± 49, 2 month = 168.3 ± 40 ?mole/min) this was not significant (p > 0.05). It can be concluded that short-erm (2 months) oral dosing with CoQ₁₀ increases circulating blood levels of CoQ₁₀ and the subjective perceived level of vigor in middle-aged men. However, short-term dosing does not improve aerobic capacity or frearm exercise metabolism as measured in this investigation.

Key words

Lactate threshold - maximal oxygen consumption - angiodynography - forearm metabolism - hand dynamometry