Ubiquinol supplementation enhances peak power production in trained athletes: a double-blind, placebo controlled study
Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition
Ubiquinol supplementation enhances peak power production in trained athletes: a double-blind, placebo controlled study
Dietmar Alf 2
Michael E Schmidt 1
Stefan C Siebrecht 0
0 Health Ingredient Consultant , Gustavstr. 36, Schwelm 58332 , Germany
1 Biostatistics , Roentgenstr. 25, Planegg 82152 , Germany
2 Olympiastutzpunkt Rhein - Ruhr , Wittekindstrasse 62, Essen 45131 , Germany
Background: To investigate the effect of Ubiquinol supplementation on physical performance measured as maximum power output in young and healthy elite trained athletes. Methods: In this double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 100 young German well trained athletes (53 male, 47 female, age 19.9 2.3 years) received either 300 mg Ubiquinol or placebo for 6 weeks. Athletes had to perform a maximum power output test and the performance in W/kg of bodyweight was measured at the 4 mmol lactate threshold on a cycling ergometer before the supplementation treatment (T1), after 3 weeks (T2) and after 6 weeks (T3) of treatment. In these 6 weeks all athletes trained individually in preparation for the Olympic Games in London 2012. The maximum power output was measured in Watt/kilogram body weight (W/kg bw). Results: Both groups, placebo and Ubiquinol, significantly increased their physical performance measured as maximum power output over the treatment period from T1 to T3. The placebo group increased from 3.64 0.49 W/kg bw to 3.94 0.47 W/kg bw which is an increase of +0.30 0.18 W/kg bw or +8.5% (5.7). The Ubiquinol group increased performance levels from 3.70 W/kg bw (0.56) to 4.08 W/kg bw (0.48) from time point T1 to T3 which is an increase of +0.38 0.22 W/kg bw or +11.0% (8.2). The absolute difference in the enhancement of the physical performance between the placebo and the Ubiquinol group of +0.08 W/kg bodyweight was significant (p < 0.03). Conclusions: This study demonstrates that daily supplementation of 300 mg Ubiquinol for 6 weeks significantly enhanced physical performance measured as maximum power output by +0.08 W/kg bw (+2.5%) versus placebo in young healthy trained German Olympic athletes. While adherence to a training regimen itself resulted in an improvement in peak power output, as observed by improvement in placebo, the effect of Ubiquinol supplementation significantly enhanced peak power production in comparison to placebo.
Ubiquinol; Reduced CoQ10; Peak power output; Performance; Elite athletes
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Background
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is synthesized in the human
organism and is a fat soluble, vitamin-like substance
which can exist as Ubiquinone (oxidized CoQ10) or as
Ubiquinol (the unoxidized, reduced form). It plays
various roles in the energy production of the muscles cells.
The concentration of the coenzyme in the tissue can
decline, and thus be suboptimal, as a consequence of
different pathological changes. In addition, additional
* Correspondence:
3Health Ingredient Consultant, Gustavstr. 36, Schwelm 58332, Germany
Full list of author information is available at the end of the article
factors that can negatively influence CoQ10 levels
include intensive training and aging. Long lasting and
intensive efforts by sport training likewise contribute to
this reduction. Some existing studies have already shown
that CoQ10 can mitigate muscle damage after high level
training [1]. Previous studies have been conducted
utilizing differing dosage levels of CoQ10 and have shown
conflicting results. Coenzyme Q10 was previously
considered to be an ineffective substance for athletes, as
past studies with CoQ10 did not give consistent results.
This may have been caused by the study design or by an
insufficient dosage of CoQ10.
Energy production in mitochondria via CoQ10 and
Ubiquinol
CoQ10 is an integral component of the mitochondrial
oxidative phosphorylation system, where it serves as an
essential carrier of reducing equivalents in electron
transport. Oxidative phosphorylation harnesses energy
from nutrients to produce ATP, the energy in each of
our cells and all of our life processes. CoQ10 is critical
for the synthesis of ATP, as 96% of all aerobically
produced energy involves CoQ10. Though it is
endogenously synthesized, a small amount of CoQ10 is always
degraded and thus must be replenished from dietary
sources. Organs like the heart and muscles, which
require consistent and robust bioenergetics, depend on a
sufficient supply of CoQ10 and produce less energy and
strength if they are deficient in CoQ10.
Antioxidant function of CoQ10 and Ubiquinol in cell
membranes
CoQ10 is the most important lipid soluble antioxidant
in the body along with vitamin E. They are structurally
linked to one another and both are part of the cell
membranes which they protect from deleterious radicals. In
fact, CoQ10 in the Ubiquinol form is depleted before
vitamin E, as it reacts first with radicals and is destroyed
by them [2]. CoQ10 in the Ubiquinol form is a potent
antioxidant that has the c (...truncated)