Former world champion Ironman Trevor Hendy AM will highlight the role of mitochondrial health and endogenous Ubiquinol in healthy ageing at the upcoming Complementary Medicines Australia (CMA) Annual Conference.
New research led by molecular geneticist Dr Denise Furness shows participants following a structured diet, lifestyle and supplementation regimen experienced measurable improvements in biological age markers within three months, with benefits maintained at 12 months.
The findings, to be presented at the CMA Conference, strengthen the evidence linking mitochondrial efficiency, Ubiquinol and long-term resilience.
“I used to chase performance. Now I chase presence,” Hendy said.
“Energy that is sustainable not just for race day, but for every day of life.”
Hendy’s focus is now on maintaining physical function into older age or, as he describes it, being able to “walk up any mountain, ski down any hill and surf any wave” with his grandchildren.
Central to that goal is supporting the body’s own energy systems, particularly the mitochondria: the microscopic powerhouses in our cells that generate the energy needed for life.
At the heart of this cellular story is endogenous Ubiquinol, a naturally occurring antioxidant found in the mitochondria that fuels the body’s energy production and defends against oxidative stress.
It plays a pivotal role in how well our cells and, by extension, our bodies perform, repair and recover.
Yet, levels of endogenous Ubiquinol naturally decline from around age 20, reducing the energy available to the cells most reliant on it, including those in the heart, brain and muscles.
Hendy says the emerging science has changed the way he thinks about training and recovery.
“Earlier in my career, I saw energy as purely about effort and how hard I could push,” he says. “
Now I look at how effectively my body can generate and sustain energy over time.”
The link between mitochondrial efficiency and healthspan, known as the years lived in good health, is now well-established.
Recent research published in the BioMolecular Concepts Journal has shown that maintaining mitochondrial function supports energy, endurance and recovery.
Exercise itself can stimulate mitochondrial biogenesis, the creation of new mitochondria, strengthening the body’s energy network and reinforcing the foundation of metabolic resilience.
“Endogenous Ubiquinol is central to how we create and sustain life’s energy,” says Dr Furness.
“It powers the mitochondria that fuel every cell and protects them from oxidative damage. By supporting these systems, we are supporting vitality at its most fundamental level.”
This cellular approach to longevity, combining lifestyle, mindset and mitochondrial science, will take centre stage when Dr Furness and Hendy present “The Science and Soul of Longevity: Fuelling Your Body and Spirit for a Healthier Future” at the Complementary Medicines Australia (CMA) Annual Conference on 26 November.
“Longevity is not about counting years,” Dr Furness adds.
“It is about amplifying the energy and vitality we bring to them."
"By nurturing mitochondrial health, exercising and supporting our nutrition, we give every cell and every generation the foundation to thrive.”