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Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)2023; 12(2); 263; doi: 10.3390/antiox12020263

Impact of Coenzyme Q10 Supplementation on Skeletal Muscle Respiration, Antioxidants, and the Muscle Proteome in Thoroughbred Horses.

Abstract: Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is an essential component of the mitochondrial electron transfer system and a potent antioxidant. The impact of CoQ10 supplementation on mitochondrial capacities and the muscle proteome is largely unknown. This study determined the effect of CoQ10 supplementation on muscle CoQ10 concentrations, antioxidant balance, the proteome, and mitochondrial respiratory capacities. In a randomized cross-over design, six Thoroughbred horses received 1600 mg/d CoQ10 or no supplement (control) for 30-d periods separated by a 60-d washout. Muscle samples were taken at the end of each period. Muscle CoQ10 and glutathione (GSH) concentrations were determined using mass spectrometry, antioxidant activities by fluorometry, mitochondrial enzyme activities and oxidative stress by colorimetry, and mitochondrial respiratory capacities by high-resolution respirometry. Data were analyzed using mixed linear models with period, supplementation, and period × supplementation as fixed effects and horse as a repeated effect. Proteomics was performed by tandem mass tag 11-plex analysis and permutation testing with FDR < 0.05. Concentrations of muscle CoQ10 ( = 0.07), GSH ( = 0.75), and malondialdehyde ( = 0.47), as well as activities of superoxide dismutase ( = 0.16) and catalase ( = 0.66), did not differ, whereas glutathione peroxidase activity ( = 0.003) was lower when horses received CoQ10 compared to no supplement. Intrinsic (relative to citrate synthase activity) electron transfer capacity with complex II (E) was greater, and the contribution of complex I to maximal electron transfer capacity (FCR and FCR) was lower when horses received CoQ10 with no impact of CoQ10 on mitochondrial volume density. Decreased expression of subunits in complexes I, III, and IV, as well as tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA) enzymes, was noted in proteomics when horses received CoQ10. We conclude that with CoQ10 supplementation, decreased expression of TCA cycle enzymes that produce NADH and complex I subunits, which utilize NADH together with enhanced electron transfer capacity via complex II, supports an enhanced reliance on substrates supplying complex II during mitochondrial respiration.
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Publication Date: 2023-01-24 PubMed ID: 36829821PubMed Central: PMC9951987DOI: 10.3390/antiox12020263Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research explores the influence of Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) supplementation on muscle health and performance in thoroughbred horses, focusing specifically on factors such as antioxidant balance, muscle proteins, and respiratory abilities of mitochondria. The findings suggest that CoQ10 supplementation contributes to an increased reliance on substrates supplying complex II during mitochondrial respiration.

Methodology

  • The study utilized a randomized cross-over design, where six Thoroughbred horses were either given a supplement of 1600 mg/day of CoQ10 or no supplement (control) over periods of 30 days, separated by a 60-day washout period.
  • Tissue samples from the muscles of the horses were gathered at the end of both periods.
  • Using various scientific techniques like mass spectrometry, colorimetry, and tandem mass tag 11-plex analysis, different measurements such as muscle CoQ10 concentrations, antioxidant activities, mitochondrial enzyme activities, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial respiratory capacities were determined.

Results

  • There was no significant difference in the muscle concentrations of CoQ10, glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde, as well as the activities of superoxide dismutase, and catalase when comparing the supplemented horses to the non-supplemented ones.
  • However, the study showed that the activity of the enzyme glutathione peroxidase was lower when horses received CoQ10 supplementation compared to when they didn’t receive any.
  • The horse’s capacity for electron transfer with complex II increased when CoQ10 was supplemented which in turn lowered the contribution of complex I to the maximum electron transfer capacity.
  • While the volume density of the mitochondria was unaffected by the supplementation of CoQ10, there was a decrease in the expression of subunits in complexes I, III, and IV, as well as tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle enzymes, as determined by proteomics.

Conclusion

  • The researchers inferred that CoQ10 supplementation causes a decrease in the expression of TCA cycle enzymes that produce NADH and complex I subunits which utilize NADH. This alteration promotes enhanced electron transfer capacity via complex II and ultimately an increased reliance on substrates supplying complex II during mitochondrial respiration.

Cite This Article

APA
Henry ML, Wesolowski LT, Pagan JD, Simons JL, Valberg SJ, White-Springer SH. (2023). Impact of Coenzyme Q10 Supplementation on Skeletal Muscle Respiration, Antioxidants, and the Muscle Proteome in Thoroughbred Horses. Antioxidants (Basel), 12(2), 263. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox12020263

Publication

Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)
ISSN: 2076-3921
NlmUniqueID: 101668981
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 12
Issue: 2
PII: 263

Researcher Affiliations

Henry, Marisa L
  • Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.
Wesolowski, Lauren T
  • Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Texas A&M University and Texas A&M AgriLife Research, College Station, TX 77843, USA.
Pagan, Joe D
  • Kentucky Equine Research, Versailles, KY 40383, USA.
Simons, Jessica L
  • Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Texas A&M University and Texas A&M AgriLife Research, College Station, TX 77843, USA.
  • Kentucky Equine Research, Versailles, KY 40383, USA.
Valberg, Stephanie J
  • Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.
White-Springer, Sarah H
  • Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Texas A&M University and Texas A&M AgriLife Research, College Station, TX 77843, USA.

Grant Funding

  • none / Kentucky Equine Research
  • none / Mary Anne McPhail Endowment, Michigan State University

Conflict of Interest Statement

Joe Pagan, a co-author, is the president of KER. He was involved in the randomized design, owned the horses used in the study, provided all the product supplementation and funding for care and feeding of the subjects, and partially funded some of the analyses. Pagan had no role in the skeletal muscle data analysis and interpretation; he did review the manuscript prior to submission. KER commercially offers CoQ10 for sale to horse owners.

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