The Role of the Mitochondria in Sports and Cellular Health

Every organ relies on the mitochondria for energy making cellular health crucial to be aware of. The modern active nutrition consumer has changed from bodybuilders seeking a pre-workout to daily joggers, recreational athletes, and adults simply staying active. While exercise is beneficial, it places a greater demand on the body’s cells. Kyle Erny, Senior National Sales Manager at Kaneka Nutrients, explains the mitochondria are the cellular machinery responsible for converting nutrients into usable energy. As exercise intensity rises, mitochondrial activity and oxygen utilization increase. This intensity creates the production of free radicals, which during strenuous, prolonged exercise can contribute to oxidative stress and fatigue.

Kaneka Ubiquinol® is a bioidentical form of coenzyme Q10 that the body can readily use. Located within the mitochondrial membrane and used along the electron transport chain, Ubiquinol has been studied for its role in exercise recovery; it can reduce exercise-related oxidative stress and help maintain nitric oxide levels, while a separate study at 200 mg daily examined how it helped limit the decline in cardiorespiratory fitness at high altitudes.^1,2 The supplement does not replace hydration or a healthy diet. Rather, it offers support for the cellular systems involved in energy production and natural recovery.

References

1. Liu Z, Yang J, Yang B, et al. Effect of ubiquinol on electrophysiology during high-altitude acclimatization and de-acclimatization: a substudy of the Shigatse CARdiorespiratory fitness (SCARF) randomized clinical trial. Int J Cardiol. 2024;401:131817. doi:10.1016/j.ijcard.2024.131817
2. Lv H, Liu Z, Sun M, et al. Cardiorespiratory fitness and effects of ubiquinol during high-altitude acclimatization and deacclimatization: The SCARF trial. iScience. 2025;28(3):112112. doi:10.1016/j.isci.2025.112112T