Exp Gerontol. 2014 Oct;58:208-18. doi: 10.1016/j.exger.2014.08.007. Epub 2014 Aug 19.

Coenzyme Q10 and α-tocopherol reversed age-associated functional impairments in mice.

Shetty RA¹, Ikonne US¹, Forster MJ¹, Sumien N².

Author information

1: Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth, Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA; Institute for Aging and Alzheimer's Disease Research, University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth, Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA.
2: Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth, Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA; Institute for Aging and Alzheimer's Disease Research, University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth, Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA. Electronic address: nathalie.sumien@unthsc.edu.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine if intake of the antioxidants coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) or α-tocopherol (Toc), either alone or in combination, could ameliorate cognitive and psychomotor impairments of aged mice, as well as reduce oxidative burden in tissues. For a period of 10 weeks, male C57BL/6J mice (3 or 18 months) were fed either a control diet, or one of three diets supplemented with Toc, CoQ10 or their combination, and were tested for cognitive and psychomotor functions. Old mice on the Toc or Toc/CoQ10 diets showed improved coordinated running performance. Mice on the diet containing Toc/CoQ10 demonstrated improved performance in the discriminated avoidance task. CoQ10 and Toc alone also resulted in improved performance, albeit to a lesser degree. Protein damage was decreased especially when the mice received Toc+CoQ10 combination. Overall, these results suggest that, Toc and CoQ supplementation can ameliorate age-related impairment and reduce protein oxidation. Moreover, concurrent supplementation of CoQ10 and Toc may be more effective than either antioxidant alone.