Nano-Q10 Supplementation Improves Skeletal Muscle Mitochondrial Capacities in Equine Athletes

Coenzyme-Q is vital for mitochondrial respiration, but the impact of coenzyme-Q supplementation on equine skeletal muscle mitochondria is unknown. Exercising Thoroughbred horses (8.7±2.2 yr) were used in a cross-over design to test the hypothesis that supplementation of highly bioavailable coenzyme-Q (Nano-Q10, Kentucky Equine Research) would improve mitochondrial metrics in the gluteus medius. Muscle samples collected after two 30-d periods (P1 and P2) of horses receiving either 1,600 mg ubiquinone/d through 15 ml of Nano-Q10 (n=3) or no supplementation (control; n=3) were analysed for mitochondrial volume density and function via colorimetry and oxidative phosphorylation (P) and electron transfer (E) capacities via high-resolution respirometry. Periods were separated by a 60-d washout of only the control diet and continued exercise. Data were analysed using PROC MIXED in SAS v9.4; period, treatment, and period×treatment were fixed effects and horse was a repeated effect. Intrinsic (relative to citrate synthase activity) maximal P and E tended to be greater (P≤0.08) while contribution of P with complex I (PCI) to overall E was lower (P≤0.03) when horses received Nano-Q10 compared to no supplementation. Intrinsic complex II-supported E was greater in Nano-Q10-supplemented horses in P1 (P=0.005) but not different in P2. All horses had greater contribution of total P to maximal E (P=0.05) and tended to have lower integrative (per mg tissue) PCI (P=0.07) following P2 compared to P1. There was no effect of supplementation on mitochondrial volume density or function. The results of this study suggest short-term Nano-Q10 supplementation may improve intrinsic mitochondrial capacities in mature, exercising horses.

Wesolowski, L.T., C.P. Guy, J.L. Simons, J.D. Pagan, and S.H. White-Springer. 2022. Nano-Q10 supplementation improves skeletal muscle mitochondrial capacities in equine athletes. {In: Proceedings of the International Conference on Equine Exercise Physiology.} Comparative Exercise Physiology 22(Suppl. 1):S29.