The relationship between the rate of superoxide production by complex I and NAD(P) H redox state was investigated in rat skeletal muscle mitochondria. A high rate of superoxide production was observed during succinate oxidation; the rate during pyruvate oxidation was over fourfold lower. However, the NAD(P) H pool was significantly less reduced during succinate oxidation than during pyruvate oxidation. We conclude that there is no unique relationship between superoxide production by complex I and the reduction state of the NAD(P) H pool. Our data suggest that less than 10% of the superoxide originates from the flavin site during reverse electron transport from succinate. (C) 2008 Federation of European Biochemical Societies. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.