Effect of MitoQ supplementation on muscle recovery following exercise in men

INTERVENTION: The study is a parallel design study and participants will be randomly assigned to the MitoQ and placebo groups. Participants in the MitoQ group will consume one oral tablet containing 20 mg mitoquinol per day, for three weeks. Participants in the placebo group will also consume one oral tablet per day for three weeks, which will not contain mitoquinol. Following two weeks of supplementation with either MitoQ or placebo tablets, participants will complete a bout of eccentric exercise using their knee extensor muscles on their dominant leg. Participants will perform 300 (20 sets of 15 repetitions separated by 30 seconds of rest) eccentric contractions using an isokinetic dynamometer and the exercise session will last 35 minutes. Participants will record their dietary intake using a food diary the day before, day of and day after the exercise bout. Participants will also collect all urine produced the day before, day of and day after exercise. Measures of muscle function and soreness will be measured before, immediately after, and 2, 24, 48, 72 and 168 hours post‐exercise. Markers of exercise‐induced oxidative stress will be measured in plasma samples collected before exercise and immediately and 2 hours post‐exercise. Markers of exercise‐induced oxidative stress will also be measured in urine samples collected the day before, day of and day after exercise. Adherence to the supplementation protocol will be measured by oversupplying the participants with tablets and counting how many are returned at the end of the trial. CONDITION: Exercise‐induced oxidative stress; ; Exercise‐induced oxidative stress Musculoskeletal ‐ Normal musculoskeletal and cartilage development and function Physical Medicine / Rehabilitation ‐ Other physical medicine / rehabilitation PRIMARY OUTCOME: Muscle soreness measured using a visual analogue scale[Muscle soreness will be measured before, immediately after and 2, 24, 48, 72 and 168 hours after completion of the exercise. The primary time point for measurement of muscle soreness will be 48 hours post‐exercise.] Peak knee extensor isometric torque, measured using an isokinetic dynamometer [Peak knee extensor isometric torque will be measured before, immediately after and 2, 24, 48, 72 and 168 hours after completion of the exercise. The primary time point for measurement of peak isometric torque will be 24 hours post‐exercise.] INCLUSION CRITERIA: Male 20‐35 years Sedentary to moderately active (no regular lower body resistance training in the previous 6 months) BMI between 18.5 and 30 kg/m2 SECONDARY OUTCOME: Markers of exercise‐induced oxidative stress measured by urine F2‐isoprostanes[Urine F2‐isoprostanes will be measured in urine samples collected the day before exercise, the day of exercise and the day after exercise] Oxidative stress levels assessed by plasma protein carbonyls[Plasma protein carbonyls will be measured in plasma samples collected before exercise and immediately and 2 hours post‐exercise] Peak knee extensor concentric torque measured using an isokinetic dynamometer[Peak knee extensor concentric torque will be measured before, immediately after and 2, 24, 48, 72 and 168 hours after completion of the exercise.] Peak knee extensor eccentric torque measured using an isokinetic dynamometer[Peak knee extensor eccentric torque will be measured before, immediately after and 2, 24, 48, 72 and 168 hours after completion of the exercise.] Vertical jump height measured using a Vertec[Vertical jump height will be measured before, immediately after and 2, 24, 48, 72 and 168 hours after completion of the exercise.]