THE EFFECT OF ORAL COENZYME Q(10) ON THE EXERCISE TOLERANCE OF MIDDLE-AGED, UNTRAINED MEN

In order to determine the effect of oral Coenzyme Q(10) (CoQ(10)) dosi ng on exercise capacity, 15 middle-aged men (44.7 +/- 2.0 years) recei ved either CoQ(10) (150 mg/day x 2 months-Q10 GRP) or placebo (2 month s-CON GRP). Blood CoQ(10) levels increased (p<0.05) during the treatme nt in the Q10 GRP (Pre = 0.72 +/- 0.06, 2 month = 1.08 +/- 0.14 mu g/m l) and were unchanged in the CON CRP (Pre = 0.91 +/- 0.05, 2 month = 0 .69 +/- 0.05 mu g/ml). Similarly, the subjective perception of vigor ( visual analog scale 1 - 10 where, 10 = very energetic, and 0 = very, v ery unenergetic) increased (p<0.05) in the Q10 GRP (Pre = 5.73 +/- 0.3 5, 2 month = 6.64 +/- 0.45). However, maximal oxygen consumption (VO(2 )max Pre = 2.97 +/- 0.18, 2 month = 3.05 +/- 0.15 l/min) and lactate t hreshold (LT Pre = 2.04 +/- 0.12, 2 month = 2.08 +/- 0.12 l/min), as m easured on the cycle ergometer, were unchanged as a result of the CoQ( 10) treatment, Neither forearm oxygen uptake, nor forearm blood flow w as found to be affected by the CoQ(10). Although lactate release durin g hand-grip testing tended to decrease in the Q10 GRP (Pre = 227 +/- 4 9, 2 month = 168.3 +/- 40 mu mole/min) this was not significant (p>0.0 5). It can be concluded that shortterm (2 months) oral dosing with CoQ (10) increases circulating blood levels of CoQ(10) and the subjective perceived level of vigor in middle-aged men. However, short-term dosin g does not improve aerobic capacity or frearm exercise metabolism as m easured in this investigation.