Coenzyme Q10 Group:
The work of this group is to investigate the effects of Coenzyme Q10 administration on both people and animals. Coenzyme Q10, also called ubiquinone due to its ubiquitous occurrence in all cells of the body, is a naturally occurring lipid compound that plays a pivotal role in the mitochondrial respiratory chain. As it acts as a link between three of the protein complexes in the respiratory chain, the presence of appropriate amounts of coenzyme Q10 is critical for efficient energy production within cells.
Most recently, we have been investigating the rate of uptake of various formulations of Q10 into the blood following oral administration. This work is important for the determination of the most efficacious therapeutic administration of Q10. Long term animal (rat) experiments to determine tissue distribution of administered coenzyme Q10 and its beneficial effect on over-all animal health are planned.
The group will also be involved in future work examining the beneficial effects of coenzyme Q10 administration on patients who are hospitalized for orthopedic surgery. This work will be carried out as part of our collaboration with the Orthopedics Department at the Epworth Hospital, aimed at improving patient muscle strength recovery.
Mr Hayden Eastwood in the process of extracting and purifying coenzyme Q10
Ms Voula Kanellakis separating blood samples into various fractions in preparation for coenzyme Q10 analysis