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Chronic Supplementation With a Mitochondrial Antioxidant (MitoQ) Improves Vascular Function in Healthy Older Adults.

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

Change log

Authors

Rossman, Matthew J 
Santos-Parker, Jessica R 
Steward, Chelsea AC 
Bispham, Nina Z 
Cuevas, Lauren M 

Abstract

UNLABELLED: Excess reactive oxygen species production by mitochondria is a key mechanism of age-related vascular dysfunction. Our laboratory has shown that supplementation with the mitochondrial-targeted antioxidant MitoQ improves vascular endothelial function by reducing mitochondrial reactive oxygen species and ameliorates arterial stiffening in old mice, but the effects in humans are unknown. Here, we sought to translate our preclinical findings to humans and determine the safety and efficacy of MitoQ. Twenty healthy older adults (60-79 years) with impaired endothelial function (brachial artery flow-mediated dilation <6%) underwent 6 weeks of oral supplementation with MitoQ (20 mg/d) or placebo in a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, crossover design study. MitoQ was well tolerated, and plasma MitoQ was higher after the treatment versus placebo period (P<0.05). Brachial artery flow-mediated dilation was 42% higher after MitoQ versus placebo (P<0.05); the improvement was associated with amelioration of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species-related suppression of endothelial function (assessed as the increase in flow-mediated dilation with acute, supratherapeutic MitoQ [160 mg] administration; n=9; P<0.05). Aortic stiffness (carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity) was lower after MitoQ versus placebo (P<0.05) in participants with elevated baseline levels (carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity >7.60 m/s; n=11). Plasma oxidized LDL (low-density lipoprotein), a marker of oxidative stress, also was lower after MitoQ versus placebo (P<0.05). Participant characteristics, endothelium-independent dilation (sublingual nitroglycerin), and circulating markers of inflammation were not different (all P>0.1). These findings in humans extend earlier preclinical observations and suggest that MitoQ and other therapeutic strategies targeting mitochondrial reactive oxygen species may hold promise for treating age-related vascular dysfunction. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT02597023.

Description

Keywords

aging, arterial stiffness, endothelium, mitochondria, reactive oxygen species, Aged, Antioxidants, Brachial Artery, Cross-Over Studies, Dietary Supplements, Double-Blind Method, Endothelium, Vascular, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Healthy Volunteers, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Mitochondria, Oxidative Stress, Reactive Oxygen Species, Vascular Stiffness, Vasodilation

Journal Title

Hypertension

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0194-911X
1524-4563

Volume Title

71

Publisher

Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Sponsorship
Medical Research Council (MC_U105663142)
Medical Research Council (MC_UU_00015/3)
Wellcome Trust (110159/Z/15/Z)
This work was supported by National Institutes of Health (NIH) awards AG049451, AG000279, AG053009, Colorado CTSA UL1 TR001082, and an industry contract with MitoQ Limited (MitoQ Limited provided MitoQ and some financial support). M.P. Murphy is supported by UK MRC MC_U105663142 and as a Wellcome Trust Investigator (110159/Z/15/Z).