title: Physical activity affects plasma coenzyme Q10 levels differently in young and old humans.
abstract: Coenzyme Q (Q) is a key lipidic compound for cell bioenergetics and membrane antioxidant activities. It has been shown that also has a central role in the prevention of oxidation of plasma lipoproteins. Q has been associated with the prevention of cholesterol oxidation and several aging-related diseases. However, to date no clear data on the levels of plasma Q during aging are available. We have measured the levels of plasmatic Q10 and cholesterol in young and old individuals showing different degrees of physical activity. Our results indicate that plasma Q10 levels in old people are higher that the levels found in young people. Our analysis also indicates that there is no a relationship between the degree of physical activity and Q10 levels when the general population is studied. However, very interestingly, we have found a different tendency between Q10 levels and physical activity depending on the age of individuals. In young people, higher activity correlates with lower Q10 levels in plasma whereas in older adults this ratio changes and higher activity is related to higher plasma Q10 levels and higher Q10/Chol ratios. Higher Q10 levels in plasma are related to lower lipoperoxidation and oxidized LDL levels in elderly people. Our results highlight the importance of life habits in the analysis of Q10 in plasma and indicate that the practice of physical activity at old age can improve antioxidant capacity in plasma and help to prevent cardiovascular diseases.
authors.affiliation: Dpto. Fisiología, Anatomía y Biología Celular, Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo, CIBERER, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Universidad Pablo de Olavide-CSIC-JA, Carretera de Utrera km. 1, 41013, Seville, Spain.
authors.forename: Jesús
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Del Pozo-Cruz
authors.forename: Elisabet
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Bies
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ballesteros-Simarro
authors.forename: Ignacio
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Navas-Enamorado
authors.forename: Bui Thanh
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Tung
authors.forename: Plácido
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Navas
authors.forename: Guillermo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: López-Lluch
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000097:blood*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D050050:Protein Carbonylation; D014451:Ubiquinone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D001798:Blood Proteins; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; C099252:oxidized low density lipoprotein; D014451:Ubiquinone; D002784:Cholesterol; C024989:coenzyme Q10