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Nutrient Metabolism

Coenzyme Q Intake Elevates the Mitochondrial and Tissue Levels of Coenzyme Q and -Tocopherol in Young Mice¹

Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles CA 90089-9121 and ^* Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth, TX 76107

²To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: sohal{at}usc.edu.

The main objective of this study was to resolve the issue of whether the amounts of Coenzyme Q (CoQ), which is endogenously synthesized in cells, can be elevated in tissues and mitochondria of young mice by dietary supplementation with CoQ₁₀. The prevalent view is that the uptake of exogenous CoQ by tissues other than plasma and liver either does not occur or is quite minimal. Mice, 6 mo of age, were fed 0, 148 or 654 mg CoQ₁₀/(kg body · d) in their diets for 11 wk. CoQ₁₀ intake enhanced both CoQ₉ and CoQ₁₀ homologues in the plasma, and in homogenates and mitochondria of liver, heart and skeletal muscle. CoQ was elevated in brain mitochondria, but not in the brain homogenate. The uptake of exogenous CoQ was higher in mitochondria of heart and skeletal muscle than those in liver. CoQ₁₀ administration also elevated the -tocopherol concentration in tissue homogenates and their mitochondria, thereby providing an in vivo indication of the "sparing" effect of CoQ on -tocopherol. Results of this study demonstrate that, contrary to the historical view, both total and mitochondrial CoQ concentrations in the heart and skeletal muscle and in the mitochondria of brain of young mice can be augmented by dietary supplementation. Furthermore, CoQ intake enhances the antioxidative potential of tissues by elevating the endogenous amounts of -tocopherol.

KEY WORDS: • coenzyme Q • mitochondria • -tocopherol • aging • oxidative stress • antioxidants

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