Antifatigue effect of coenzyme Q10 in mice

The aim of this study was to investigate whether coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) has an antifatigue effect in mice. ICR male mice were orally given CoQ10 in the form of Bio-Quinone (Pharma Nord, Vejle, Denmark) at doses of 0, 1.5, 15, or 45 mg/kg/day for 4 weeks. Mice were made to perform swimming exercise with loads attached to their tails, corresponding to approximately 5% of their body weights, and the total swimming time until exhaustion was measured. Furthermore, the post-exercise concentration of serum urea nitrogen (SUN), pre-/post-exercise and post-rest concentration of lactic acid (LA), and pre-exercise hepatic glycogen were determined. Mice treated with CoQ10 showed a significantly prolonged exhaustive swim time (15 mg/kg/day; P < .05), increased liver glycogen contents (15 and 45 mg/kg/day; P < .01 and P < .05, respectively), and decreased SUN levels (1.5, 15, and 45 mg/kg/day; P < .01) compared to control animals. The LA level was not significantly changed. These results suggest that CoQ10 improves swimming endurance and has an antifatigue effect.