The effect of eight-weeks of resistance training a long with coenzyme Q10 supplementation on some factors of mitochondrial biogenesis in young male rats

The mitochondrial biogenesis-regulating protein of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC-1α) acts as a major signaling pathway for controlling of mitochondrial metabolism. Meanwhile, a transcription factor namely nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is recognized that also associated with PGC1α activation, and it has been shown to some extent to the pathway of one of these two transcription factors can affect the other. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of eight weeks of resistance training a long with coenzyme Q10 supplementation on Nrf2 and PGC-1α levels in male Sprague-Dawley rats.

In this experimental study, 36 rats were randomly divided into six equal groups including resistance training, two resistance training and Q10 supplement (200 and 300 mg/kg/body weight), two supplement (200 and 300 mg/kg/body weight) and control group. The all supplements were applied as a gavage to the exercise-supplement and gavage supplement groups. Resistance training consisted of three sessions and five repetitions which were performed three days a week for eight weeks. One-way analysis of variance and Tukey tests at the significant level of p<0.05 were used to extract the results.

Nrf2 and PGC-1α expression increased significantly in resistance training and resistance training+supplement (200 mg/kg) groups (p<0001), while in resistance training group+supplement a dose of 300 mg/kg (p<0.07) and two groups of supplements (p<0.09) no significantly changes were observed.

Due to the additive effect of resistance training combined with Q10 supplementation (a dose of 200 mg/kg) in improving Nrf2 and PGC-1α; it can be considered as a effective method in mitochondrial biogenesis.