Vitamin E with Coenzyme Q10: Combine for Peak Antioxidant Effect

Free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced during normal cellular metabolism are typically controlled by antioxidants generated naturally within the body. In certain situations, however, overproduction and accumulation of these byproducts results in a state of oxidative stress. A new study shows that vitamin E and coenzyme Q10 help prevent lipid peroxidation, a sign of oxidative stress.

Cell membranes are made of lipid bilayers. ROS produced in muscle cells during exercise, for example, can damage those membranes through lipid peroxidation. Without an intact membrane, muscle cells disintegrate, spilling their contents into the surrounding tissue. Antioxidants minimize lipid peroxidation.

Oxidative stress occurs in certain exercise scenarios—high-intensity exercise (e.g., endurance, show jumping, racing) or in untrained horses unaccustomed to exercise.

“Many performance supplements promote antioxidant benefits of certain ingredients but lack evidence supporting their efficacy,” explained Catherine Whitehouse, M.S., a Kentucky Equine Research nutritionist. “This is not the case with vitamin E and coenzyme Q10.”

According to Whitehouse, past studies in both exercising humans and horses revealed conflicting results regarding the benefits of antioxidants. Those disparities could be attributable to differences in the type, dose, and length of supplementation.

“Kentucky Equine Research has invested in the development of vitamin E and coenzyme Q10 products with innovative delivery technology to ensure optimal bioavailability and efficacy,” Whitehouse advised.

Other researchers have also investigated these antioxidants. Hoping to shed more light on the effects of vitamin E and coenzyme Q10 on exercise-induced oxidative stress in horses, researchers recruited 40 healthy, untrained leisure horses. Those horses were divided into one of four treatment groups:

• Unsupplemented control;
• Vitamin E-only group, receiving natural vitamin E oil at a dose of 1.8 IU/kg/day;
• Coenzyme Q10 group, receiving 800 mg/day; and
• A combination vitamin E and coenzyme Q10, receiving the same doses mentioned above.

Supplements were offered twice daily for 14 days to all horses along with their regular diet of oats, hay, and water. After the two-week supplementation period, all horses participated in moderate exercise. Blood samples were collected at four predetermined time points: (1) baseline prior to antioxidant supplementation, (2) 14 days after supplementation but before exercise, (3) at the end of the exercise program, (4) and 24 hours after exercise.

The blood samples were evaluated for various measures of oxidative stress, including total antioxidant capacity (TAC), superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase (both natural antioxidants normally found in cells), and malondialdehyde (MDA) as a measure of lipid peroxidation. Vitamin E and coenzyme Q10 levels were also assessed.

“The researchers found that supplementing horses with vitamin E alone or in combination with coenzyme Q10 prevented lipid peroxidation in the untrained leisure horse introduced quickly to moderate exercise,” summarized Whitehouse.

Because recovery is an important part of conditioning, all performance horses should be offered antioxidants to support rebound after exercise. Nano-E and Nano-Q10 fit perfectly into the nutrition program of most performance horses, explained Whitehouse. Nano-E is a natural-source vitamin E supplement that features nanodispersion technology, and Nano-Q10 is a source of coenzyme Q10; both of these supplements have superior bioavailability.

“This study suggests that Nano-E and Nano-Q10 are appropriate for horses getting back into work following downtime as well as for those that are engaged in more rigorous training schedules,” Whitehouse concluded.

*Svete, A.N., T. Vovk, M.B. Topolovec, and P. Kruljc. 2021. Effects of vitamin E and coenzyme Q₁₀ supplementation on oxidative stress parameters in untrained leisure horses subjected to acute moderate exercise. Antioxidants (Basel) 10(6):908.