Effect of Coenzyme Q ₁₀ supplementation on, exercise-induced muscular injury of rats

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 (O 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.