MitoQ clinical trial: MitoQ® Mitoquinol prevents damage to mitochondrial DNA after exercise

What you’ll learn:  

• How high-intensity intermittent exercise can cause mitochondrial DNA damage through reactive oxygen species (ROS). 
• The role of MitoQ® Mitoquinol as a mitochondria-targeted antioxidant in supporting recovery, endurance and cellular protection. 
• The design of the clinical trial investigating MitoQ® Mitoquinol’s effects on exercise-induced mitochondrial damage. 

MitoQ® Mitoquinol prevents damage to mitochondrial DNA after exercise 

In in a 2020 study, published by the Sport and Exercise Research Institute at Ulster University, lead author Dr Josh Williamson and his team investigated MitoQ^® Mitoquinol's potential benefits to mitigating damage caused by high-intensity intermittent exercise (HIIE) to mitochondrial DNA in humans. HIIE exercise is a type of training which involves repeated bouts of high intensity effort followed by varied recovery times. Cardio and strength training are combined to create a well-rounded workout which puts a large amount of stress on your muscles.

As a mitochondria targeted antioxidant, MitoQ® Mitoquinol is increasingly being studied for its ability to improve endurance, recovery and physical performance. Anecdotally, some athletes have reported improvements in HRV (heart rate variability) and shortened recovery periods after intense physical training, though these observations have yet to be confirmed in controlled studies.

Can exercise cause cell damage?

Exercise is one of the most powerful things you can do for your health - but it also places real demands on your cells. During intense physical activity, your mitochondria ramp up energy production to meet the demand, which increases the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) - molecules that, in excess, can interact with and damage cellular structures, including DNA.  

Mitochondrial DNA appears to be particularly susceptible to this kind of oxidative stress. It sits close to the inner mitochondrial membrane - the site where ROS are generated - and has fewer of the protective proteins and repair mechanisms that help shield DNA elsewhere in the cell. Research suggests that repeated oxidative stress in this area may affect mitochondrial function over time, which can have implications for energy production and how well the body adapts to ongoing training. 

This is a normal part of the physiological response to exercise, and the body has natural antioxidant systems designed to manage it. However, high-intensity or prolonged exercise can sometimes generate oxidative load beyond what these systems can buffer alone. 

The Sport and Exercise Research Institute study on MitoQ® Mitoquinol specifically looked at whether our revolutionary antioxidant could help to prevent these damaged cells. 

How it was done

The study was split into two trials where participants took MitoQ® Mitoquinol in two different ways. 

In the first trial, participants took either MitoQ® Mitoquinol or a placebo just once before exercise. Blood samples were taken pre-supplementation, after supplementation (but before the exercise) and post-exercise. 

In the second trial, the same participants took either MitoQ® Mitoquinol or a placebo for a further 21 days. Blood samples were taken after exercise to investigate whether MitoQ® Mitoquinol could prevent DNA damage in our white blood cells (lymphocytes). A muscle sample was also provided at baseline and pre- and post- exercise during the 21-day supplementation to analyse the effect of MitoQ on DNA in muscle tissue. 

The results

People taking MitoQ ® Mitoquinol long-term showed significantly less DNA damage than those on placebo (15.9% versus 28.9%) pointing to real protective benefits for both blood cells and muscle tissue.  

Long-term MitoQ ® Mitoquinol use significantly reduced DNA damage caused by exercise, protecting both nuclear and mitochondrial DNA, while short-term use showed no benefit. This comes down to how MitoQ ® Mitoquinol works: it needs time to build up inside the mitochondria before it can effectively neutralize oxidative stress. A single dose does not allow enough accumulation to make a difference during an intense workout. 

Protecting nuclear and mitochondria DNA damage produced from exercise is important for ensuring that our mitochondria remain healthy and functioning optimally. This in turn ensures that the numerous roles mitochondria are involved in such as controlling cell growth, survival and death, assisting calcium storage for cell signaling and regulating the immune system continue optimally, while we continue to enjoy the benefits of exercise such as muscular endurance and increased stamina. 

If you’re looking for extra support to boost your fitness, increase stamina, and improve cardiovascular efficiency, MitoQ® Mitoquinol could be a targeted strategy to help you get more out of every workout. 

To read the full study, click here