Expert insights on MitoQ, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial health: Q&A with Dr. Siobhan Mitchell, PhD

The full episode explores crucial areas such as brain energy, gut health, appetite, and the serotonin-mood connection areas that Dr. Mitchell has been studying for over 20 years. They also discuss misconceptions surrounding oxidative stress and the impact of mitochondria-targeted vs. non-targeted antioxidants.

You can find the full episode here, or keep reading for some of our key takeaways from Dr. Mitchell's insights.

What is oxidative stress and why should you care?

“Oxidative stress helps with keeping your muscles maintained and all the rest. But I would say oxidative stress, especially around the mitochondria, can be super bad. And this happens more and more as you age that you have more oxidative stress that goes beyond anything beneficial. And so I think anyone after around age 35 has to start thinking about oxidative stress as something they have to take care of.”

Oxidative stress can lead to mitochondrial dysfunction, which is linked to various age-related health issues. Mitochondrial health is crucial, and oxidative stress can impair the body’s ability to manage it.

How does MitoQ^® Mitoquinol compare to other antioxidants?

Dr. Mitchell explains, “Many antioxidants, such as vitamin C or selenium, aren’t targeted to the right areas. MitoQ, however, is the only mitochondrial-targeted antioxidant available as a supplement, making it far more effective.”

MitoQ’s ability to target the mitochondria directly is what sets it apart. Non-targeted antioxidants may not reach the mitochondria in sufficient quantities, leaving them ineffective for addressing the root causes of oxidative stress.

How does MitoQ^® Mitoquinol support muscle growth and exercise recovery?

“MitoQ has been shown to improve exercise recovery and enhance performance during high-power workouts,” says Dr. Mitchell. “When you take MitoQ during exercise, it helps manage oxidative stress, allowing your muscles to recover better and perform at their best.”

By managing oxidative stress in the muscles, MitoQ supports exercise recovery and can improve overall workout performance, especially in high-intensity exercises.

Can MitoQ^® Mitoquinol support post-menopausal women?

“We have one study right now that I think is really cool where they're giving MitoQ to women who are postmenopausal*. Estrogen is really good at helping mitochondria deal with oxidative stress, and once you lose that estrogen, the heart health effects of exercise go way, way down. So all those heart health benefits [of exercise], like helping with aortic stiffness, almost completely disappear in post-menopausal women. And so, the MitoQ intervention is about making exercise more beneficial for post-menopausal women by helping the body deal with oxidative stress when estrogen isn’t doing its job anymore.”

This study suggests that MitoQ^® Mitoquinol for post-menopausal women can enhance the benefits of exercise by supporting mitochondrial function, particularly in the absence of estrogen.

*Study contained a high dose of Mitoquinol. MitoQ^® is commercially available as a dietary supplement and is Self-Affirmed GRAS up to 20mg per day.

Siobhan’s supplement stack

As a neuroscientist, Dr. Mitchell is particularly focused on brain health.

“I do love my brain as a neuroscientist. I am into protecting my brain in any way I can, so along with taking krill oil, that means that I also take curcumin. I take a bioavailable form, so something that's emulsified, and something that has black pepper in it so that helps get into the brain more. Curcumin has got anti-inflammatory effects, it helps make new neurons, it’s got all sorts of wonderful things that it does.”

Curcumin, in a bioavailable form with black pepper, supports anti-inflammatory effects and promotes neurogenesis. Meanwhile, collagen has significantly improved Dr. Mitchell’s joint health, especially after running. MitoQ^® Mitoquinol energy benefits are a game-changer for many people looking to improve their daily vitality.

“...And then something that I have really got into in the last few years is collagen. I religiously take collagen every day and I have upped my dose again. And I first started taking it, I think because I heard it was good for skin health, and then what I really noticed was that my joints felt so much better after running - I did not have that pain at all. And I didn't have that kind of feeling like I'm about to get injury, which was such a problem for me all my life. For that to suddenly go away was magical. So, I became a believer in collagen. I will say that I take collagen with vitamin C and I would take the collagen peptides, because collagen itself just gets degraded.”

“I liked the look of MitoQ 10 years ago when I was at Nestle, and I was looking at it thinking that this was the only mitochondrial targeted antioxidant I really believe would probably work in the mechanism that it's described in. I took it and I noticed a little bit of effect, but it was only 10 years later when I started taking it again that I really noticed an effect of having a lot more energy than I used to. I’m having less moments of ‘I'm done for the day, I don't want to do anything anymore’. Now I feel like I can get through the whole day and if I skip the MitoQ, then it feels like I cannot get through the whole day as well. I know energy is something everybody needs more of right now, so I think that MitoQ is the main supplement I have found works for energy.”

How can MitoQ^® Mitoquinol help with aging and mitochondrial health?

Dr. Mitchell stresses, “Aging can be challenging, but managing oxidative stress can slow down its effects. If you don’t actively address it, aging will have a bigger impact on your body.”

The role of MitoQ^® Mitoquinol in supporting mitochondrial health is crucial for mitigating the effects of aging. By reducing oxidative stress at the mitochondrial level, MitoQ^® Mitoquinol can help maintain overall health and well-being as you age.

Learn more about the science of MitoQ