Coenzyme Q10 supplementation protects athletes and exercisers from muscle injury and also acts as a powerful antioxidant
May
13,
2008
Creatine kinase is an enzyme involved with energy production in muscles. When muscle is damaged it leads to elevating levels of creatine kinase and an elevated level is related to muscle breakdown. Lipid peroxidation refers to the degradation of lipids (fats) usually caused by oxidation. An increase in the level of lipid peroxide indicates a high level of free radical activity because of inadequate antioxidant protection in a particular situation. Myoglobin is the muscles equivalent of hemoglobin; it carries oxygen in the muscle. Myoglobin levels increase with muscle deterioration and injury.
In their study researchers from various universities in Japan placed elite athletes, in this case students of the marshal art kendo, on Coenzyme Q10 at a dosage of 300mg a day or inactive placebo for 20 days. The students trained for five and a half hours per day during the study. Predictably the level of Creatine kinase jumped in the students. But the increase was much lower in those athletes supplemented with Coenzyme Q10. The increase in myoglobin was also significantly lower with Coenzyme Q10 supplementation. Coenzyme Q10 also decreased the level of lipid peroxides meaning it also gave powerful antioxidant protection during exercise. The study is published online ahead of print in the British Journal of Nutrition.