Abstract
Coenzyme Q (CoQ) was previously demonstrated in vitro to indirectly act as an antioxidant in respiring mitochondria by regenerating α-tocopherol from its phenoxyl radical. The objective of this study was to determine whether CoQ has a similar sparing effect on α-tocopherol in vivo. Mice were administered CoQ10 (123 mg/kg/day) alone, or α-tocopherol (200 mg/kg/day) alone, or both, for 13 weeks, after which the amounts of CoQ10, CoQ9 and α-tocopherol were determined by HPLC in the serum as well as homogenates and mitochondria of liver, kidney, heart, upper hindlimb skeletal muscle and brain. Administration of CoQ10 and α-tocopherol, alone or together, increased the corresponding levels of CoQ10 and α-tocopherol in the serum. Supplementation with CoQ10 also elevated the amounts of the predominant homologue CoQ9 in the serum and the mitochondria. A notable effect of CoQ10 intake was the enhancement of α-tocopherol in mitochondria. α- Tocopherol administration resulted in an elevation of α-tocopherol content in the homogenates of nearly all tissues and their mitochondria. Results of this study thus indicate that relatively long-term administration of CoQ10 or α-tocopherol can result in an elevation of their concentrations in the tissues Of the mouse. More importantly, CoQ10 intake has a sparing effect on α-tocopherol in mitochondria in vivo.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 1375-1382 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Free Radical Biology and Medicine |
Volume | 26 |
Issue number | 11-12 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jun 1999 |
Keywords
- Antioxidants
- Coenzyme Q
- Dietary intake
- Free radicals
- Mitochondria
- Serum
- Tissues
- α-Tocopherol