The effect of supplementation with a mitochondrial-targeted antioxidant (MitoQ) on training induced adaptations and sport performance in healthy adult males.

INTERVENTION: The study contains two arms; treatment (Arm 1) and placebo (Arm 2). Participants in Arm 1 will be asked to consume one MitoQ oral capsule (containing mitoquinol mesylate equivalent to 20mg mitoquinol) per day for 5 weeks. Adherence to the supplement protocol will be monitored via tablet return. Participants in both arms will undergo high intensity interval exercise training. Participants will be asked to come to the University of Auckland Grafton campus to complete 10 face‐to‐face training sessions over a period of 3 weeks, which will be supervised by the researcher. During the first week participants will complete 3 sessions of 8 repeated 60s intervals of high‐intensity stationary cycling (at 100% peak power output determined from VO2max test) with 75 s of recovery between each repetition .Training sessions in the first week are expected to last around 30 minutes, including a 5 minute warm‐up and 5 minute cool down. During the second week participants will complete 3 sessions of 10 repeated 60s intervals of high‐intensity stationary cycling (at 100% peak power output determined from VO2max test) with 75 s of recovery between each repetition. Training sessions in the second week are expected to last around 35 minutes, including a 5 minute warm‐up and 5 minute cool down. During the third week participants will complete 4 sessions of 12 repeated 60 s intervals of high‐intensity stationary cycling (at 100% peak power output determined from VO2max test) with 75 s of recovery between each repetition. Training sessions in the third week are expected to last around 40 minutes, including a 5 minute warm‐up and 5 minute cool down. Training sessions will be separated by at least one day and no more than 4 days, CONDITION: mitochondrial function PRIMARY OUTCOME: The effect of MitoQ supplementation on exercise performance measured by change in time to complete a 500 kj work trial on a stationary cycle ergometer ; The effect of MitoQ supplementation on protein expression in skeletal muscle measured using skeletal muscle biopsies and immunoblotting. The effect of MitoQ supplementation on reduced glutathione/oxidised glutathione ratio in blood samples using commercially available assay kits. SECONDARY OUTCOME: (Primary outcome) The effect of MitoQ supplementation on VO2 max measured during a maximal exercise test on a cycle ergometer (Primary outcome) The effect of MitoQ supplementation on gene expression in skeletal muscle using muscle biopsies and real time PCR analysis INCLUSION CRITERIA: Male 35‐60 years Sedentary to moderately active (no running or cycle training and no more than 3 hours of sport per week. No more than 2 resistance training sessions per week) Healthy BMI between 20 and 30