Articles
Publication Date: 2025
Nutrients (20726643)17(24)
Objectives: This study investigated whether CoQ10 supplementation enhances physical adaptations to high-intensity interval training (HIIT) in muscular strength, power, and physical function in older adults. Method: In a double-blind, randomized controlled trial, 38 adults aged 65–75 were assigned to either a CoQ10 (Females: 8; Males: 11) or placebo (Females: 8; Males: 11) group and completed an 8-week supervised HIIT program. Lower- and upper-body strength (30s 5-repetition chair stand [5XSST], chair standing [30CST], handgrip strength [HGR/L]), balance (single-leg stand [SLS], timed up and go [TUG]), mobility (25-foot walk [25FW]), and aerobic endurance (6-minute walk [6MWT]) were assessed pre- and post-intervention. Results: The CoQ10 group demonstrated significantly greater improvements in 5XSST and 30CST compared to the placebo group (p < 0.05). Both groups showed significant within-group improvements in right and left handgrip strength, SLS, 6MWT, and TUG (all p < 0.001), with no significant between-group differences observed for these outcomes (p > 0.05). No adverse events were reported. Conclusion: While CoQ10 supplementation enhanced improvements in lower-body strength and power, as indicated by the greater gains in 5XSST and 30CST performance compared to the placebo, no between-group differences were observed in TUG, grip strength, or other functional outcomes. This suggests that the performance-related effects of CoQ10 may be more specific to muscular power output and fatigue resistance, rather than general mobility or balance-related tasks. These findings highlight the potential of CoQ10 as a targeted adjunct in exercise for supporting lower-body function and physical performance in older adults. © 2025 by the authors.
Bagheri, N.,
Bagheri, R.,
Mesinovic, J.,
Ghobadi, H.,
Scott, D.,
Kargarfard, M.,
Dutheil, F. Publication Date: 2025
Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise (15300315)57(3)pp. 600-612
Purpose Obesity may blunt exercise responsiveness to improve muscular adaptations. The effect of resistance training (RT) targeting different body regions on muscle and inflammatory markers is unclear. This study aimed to investigate the impact of upper (upper body exercises), lower (lower body exercises), or combined (upper body + lower body exercises) RT on muscle and inflammatory markers, body composition, and performance in overweight and obese men. Methods Sixty overweight and obese men (age, 31 ± 4 yr) were randomly assigned to one of four groups: upper-body RT (UB; n = 15), lower-body RT (LB; n = 15), combined RT (UB + LB; n = 15), or control (C; n = 15). The training protocol consisted of three exercise sessions per week for 12 wk. Blood samples for measuring serum markers (follistatin, myostatin, C-reactive protein (CRP), adiponectin, tumor necrosis factor (TNF-), and irisin) were obtained at baseline and 48 h after the final training session. Fat mass (FM), body fat percentage, skeletal muscle mass (SMM), and fat-free mass were measured using bioelectrical impedance analysis (InBody 720). Results SMM, fat-free mass, UB and LB strength and power, follistatin, follistatin/myostatin ratio, adiponectin, and irisin significantly increased, whereas FM, body fat percentage, myostatin, CRP, and TNF- significantly reduced from pre- to post-training in all training groups (P < 0.05). Changes in LB muscle power (r = 0.558), both UB (r = 0.518) and LB (r = 0.419) muscle strength, and follistatin (r = 0.545) had moderate positive relationships with ΔSMM, whereas changes in myostatin (r = -0.585) had a moderate negative relationship with ΔSMM. Also, changes in myostatin (r = 0.825) and CRP (r = 0.715) had a strong positive relationship with ΔFM, whereas TNF- (r = 0.467) had a moderate positive relationship with ΔFM. Follistatin (r = -0.789) and adiponectin (r = -0.713) had a strong negative relationship with ΔFM, whereas irisin (r = -0.426) had a moderate negative relationship with ΔFM. Conclusions Combined RT elicits the greatest increases in follistatin, follistatin/myostatin ratio, and adiponectin, and decreases in myostatin and CRP compared with other training groups in overweight and obese men. However, systemic improvements may be achieved through performing UB or LB RT alone. © Lippincott Williams Wilkins.
