Eight weeks of MitoQ supplementation does not alter kidney function or urinary kidney injury biomarkers in middle-aged and older adults.

Several human trials have used the mitochondrial antioxidant mitoquinol mesylate (MitoQ). There are no apparent negative consequences on the kidneys following an acute high dose of MitoQ in young adults; however, it remains unclear whether chronic MitoQ influences kidney function. Therefore, we examined whether 8 wk MitoQ supplementation (20 mg/day) impacts kidney function and kidney injury biomarkers using a randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover study in middle-aged and older adults (n = 30, 8 males/22 females, 57 ± 8 yr). Participants completed four visits (pre- and postplacebo; pre- and post-MitoQ) where we collected serum samples (creatinine and cystatin c) and 24-h urine samples to assess general kidney function [estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and creatinine clearance], and kidney injury markers [neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1), nephrin, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2), and insulin-like growth factor binding protein-7 (IGFBP7)]. We used mixed-effects models to examine time, condition, and interaction effects. We observed no alterations in glomerular filtration measures (Ps ≥ 0.309) or kidney injury markers when indexed to flow rate, osmolality, or creatinine (Ps ≥ 0.198). For example, TIMP-2 × IGFBP7 was not different between groups (preplacebo: 114 ± 162, postplacebo: 138 ± 161; pre-MitoQ: 162 ± 238, post-MitoQ: 127 ± 137 ng2/min; interaction P = 0.754). Eight weeks of MitoQ supplementation does not appear to benefit or harm kidney function or kidney injury markers in middle-aged and older adults.NEW & NOTEWORTHY To our knowledge, this is the first study to examine extended mitoquinol mesylate (MitoQ) supplementation on kidney health in humans. Eight weeks of MitoQ (20 mg/day) produced no meaningful changes in kidney function or urinary biomarkers of tubular injury in middle-aged and older adults. Although no benefit was observed, the absence of harm is reassuring given existing evidence that MitoQ improves peripheral vascular endothelial function, a primary antecedent to cardiovascular disease, in multiple human studies.