Glycemia is related to energy production during exercise. Coenzyme Q10 is an antioxidant that participates in adenosine triphosphate synthesis in mitochondria. The aim of this study was to investigate the level of coenzyme Q10, glucose parameters, and antioxidant capacity in athletes. This study was designed as a cross-sectional study. Well-trained college athletes (n = 43) and age-gender matched healthy subjects (n = 25) were recruited from a college. The levels of glucose parameters, oxidative stress, antioxidant enzymes activity, Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TAC), and coenzyme Q10 status were measured in the present study. The athletes had a significantly lower level of white blood cells (WBC) coenzyme Q10 than the healthy subjects (0.34 ± 0.24 vs. 0.65 ± 0.43 nmol/g, p < 0.01); however, no significant difference was detected in plasma coenzyme Q10 between the two groups. Regarding the glucose parameters, the athletes had significantly higher values for HbA1c (5.5 ± 0.3 vs. 5.3 ± 0.3%, p < 0.05) and quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI, 0.37 ± 0.03 vs. 0.34 ± 0.03, p < 0.05), and lower homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR, 1.5 ± 0.8 vs. 2.9 ± 3.8, p < 0.05) than the healthy subjects. A higher level of TAC was found in the athletes (serum, 5.7 ± 0.3 vs. 5.4 ± 0.2 mM Trolox; erythrocyte, 10.5 ± 0.6 vs. 10.0 ± 0.5 mM Trolox, p < 0.05). In addition, WBC coenzyme Q10 status was significantly correlated with catalase activity (r = 0.56, p < 0.01), GPx activity (r = 0.56, p < 0.01), serum TAC (r = 0.54, p < 0.01), fasting glucose (β = − 1.10, p < 0.01), HbA1c (β = − 0.82, p < 0.01), HOMA-IR (β = − 1.81, p < 0.01), and QUICK (β = 0.08, p < 0.01). Athletes may suffer from a marginal coenzyme Q10 deficiency, and the level was related to glycemic control and antioxidant capacity. Further interventional studies are needed to clarify an adequate dose of coenzyme Q10 supplementation in athletes to optimize their coenzyme Q10 status and athletic performance or recovery during exercise.

中文翻译：

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大学运动员的辅酶 Q10 状态、葡萄糖参数和抗氧化能力

血糖与运动期间的能量产生有关。辅酶 Q10 是一种抗氧化剂，参与线粒体中三磷酸腺苷的合成。本研究的目的是调查运动员的辅酶 Q10 水平、葡萄糖参数和抗氧化能力。本研究设计为横断面研究。从一所大学招募了训练有素的大学运动员 (n = 43) 和年龄性别匹配的健康受试者 (n = 25)。本研究测量了葡萄糖参数、氧化应激、抗氧化酶活性、Trolox 等效抗氧化能力 (TAC) 和辅酶 Q10 状态的水平。运动员的白细胞 (WBC) 辅酶 Q10 水平显着低于健康受试者（0.34 ± 0.24 vs. 0.65 ± 0.43 nmol/g，p < 0.01）；然而，两组血浆辅酶Q10无显着差异。关于葡萄糖参数，运动员的 HbA1c（5.5 ± 0.3 与 5.3 ± 0.3%，p < 0.05）和定量胰岛素敏感性检查指数（QUICKI，0.37 ± 0.03 与 0.34 ± 0.03，p < 0.05）的值显着更高，以及比健康受试者更低的稳态模型评估 - 胰岛素抵抗（HOMA-IR，1.5 ± 0.8 vs. 2.9 ± 3.8，p < 0.05）。在运动员中发现了更高水平的 TAC（血清，5.7 ± 0.3 对 5.4 ± 0.2 mM Trolox；红细胞，10.5 ± 0.6 对 10.0 ± 0.5 mM Trolox，p < 0.05）。此外，WBC 辅酶 Q10 状态与过氧化氢酶活性（r = 0.56，p < 0.01）、GPx 活性（r = 0.56，p < 0.01）、血清 TAC（r = 0.54，p < 0.01）、空腹血糖（ β = - 1.10，p < 0.01），HbA1c（β = - 0.82，p < 0.01)、HOMA-IR (β = − 1.81, p < 0.01) 和 QUICK (β = 0.08, p < 0.01)。运动员可能患有边缘辅酶 Q10 缺乏症，其水平与血糖控制和抗氧化能力有关。需要进一步的干预研究来明确运动员补充足够剂量的辅酶 Q10 以优化他们的辅酶 Q10 状态和运动表现或运动恢复。