Ubiquinol boosts effects of training in athletes

Kaneka Corporation (headquarters: Osaka, Japan; President: Mr. Kimikazu Sugawara) announced today that a double-blind study*1 conducted by Dr Alf revealed that ubiquinol (reduced form of coenzyme Q10) boosted the effect of training in German Olympic young elite athletes. The study was supported by Kaneka Pharma Europe N.V. (Head Office: Brussels, Belgium; President: Mr. Yoshitomo Sakamoto), a European subsidiary of Kaneka Corporation. The study was also supported by Capsugel Inc. (Head Office: Morristown, USA; CEO: Mr. Guido Driesen). The results were published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition on April 29, 2013 (http://www.biomedcentral.com/content/pdf/1550-2783-10-24.pdf).

One hundred athletes (53 males and 47 females, average age: 19.2), training individually at the Olympic Training Center (Essen) in preparation for the Olympic Games in London 2012 were randomly assigned to a ubiquinol group and a placebo*2 group with 50 athletes each. The athletes were treated with ubiquinol (300 mg/day) or placebo for 6 weeks. Maximum power output in performance*3, expressed as exercise intensity (W/kg body weight) when plasma lactic acid level reached the 4mmol/mL, was determined using bicycle ergometer before the supplement treatment and after 6 weeks.
As a result, a training effect was observed in both groups. The average increase in enhancement of physical performance *3 between before and after the 6 week supplementation was +0.38 W/kg bw and +0.30 W/kg bw in the ubiquinol and placebo group, respectively. The absolute difference of 0.08 W/kg bw between the two groups was statistically significant. The results suggest that ubiquinol supplementation in athletes further enhances the effect of training. In addition, it was confirmed that ubiquinol is a non-doping substance according to the Kölner List and Anti-doping Agency (WADA).

*1, 2 Double-blind study is an experimental technique in clinical research in which neither the researcher nor the patient knows whether the treatment administered is inactive (placebo) or active (medicinal).
*3 Lactic acid is generated in muscles by exercise. If the intensity of exercise increases, the amount of lactic acid in blood will also increase. In this study, the exercise intensity expressed as the loading dose (watt/kg of body weight) of a bicycle ergometer (stationary bicycle with an ergometer to measure the work done by the exerciser) when the lactate concentration in blood reaches 4 mmol/mL is defined as the “maximum performance output”. The output is considered as the maximum exercise intensity in which the trained athlete of endurance sport can maintain exercise, and if exercise intensity becomes large rather than this, it becomes impossible for the athlete to maintain exercise.

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