Co-enzyme Q10 – also known as ubiquinone – is a powerful antioxidant found in every cell of the body, where it has important functions within the mitochondria – the “powerhouses” of cells.  Javier Diaz-Castro, from the University of Granada (Spain), and colleagues studied elite runners participating in a 50-kilometer run across Europe's highest road in the Sierra Nevada. Twenty athletes participated in the study, who were divided into two groups: one group received one 30 mg capsule of Q10 two days before the run, three 30 mg capsules the day before the run, and one capsule one hour prior to the run. The other group received placebo at the same time. Whereas the placebo group displayed a 100% increase in oxidative stress markers, only 37.5% of the Q10-supplemented runners experienced the same stresses. Suggesting that Q 10 countered the overexpression of certain pro-inflammatory compounds after exercise, the researchers conclude that: "Co Q10 supplementation before strenuous exercise decreases the oxidative stress and modulates the inflammatory signaling, reducing the subsequent muscle damage.”