Why Mitochondria Are Much More than Powerhouses

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As holistic practitioners, we pride ourselves on the assessment of the whole body and our ability to make connections between systems. We have the time to fully investigate our patients and understand that many health concerns are deeply rooted. We tend to see the cases that haven’t found success in conventional therapies and the cases where nobody has any idea why the symptoms are happening at all. For us, this means going beyond symptoms and sometimes even to the basics of cellular biology. 

Energy is the driving force for every living being. If you think back to the basic structure of a cell, all components or organelles play a role in producing energy. Without energy, the cell can’t continue its basic functions and will eventually die. The mitochondria is the organelle commonly known as the “powerhouse” of the cell because of its unique structure in making adenosine triphosphate (ATP) energy. We credit the mitochondria as the location for the famous Krebs cycle, but rarely discuss its other activities.

Mitochondrial Importance

This unique organelle of a cell is much more than a factory for energy. Mitochondria have been linked to the production of essential cholesterol in the body. They are important for calcium signalling, which we know to be important in initiating muscle contractions. As a muscle hypertrophies with weight training, the number of mitochondria increase to promote metabolism and energy production within that tissue. This means mitochondria also play a key role in growth and management of metabolic functions. In the brain, the mitochondria create important neurological connections between different areas of cognitive function.[1] They are directly stimulated by hormones produced in the hypothalamus and pituitary, and they will fluctuate as hormone levels change in the body. This means that energy production in the body is affected by stress and the levels of cortisol, thyroid hormone, DHEA, estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone.

Mitochondria and the Stress Response

The human body strives to maintain homeostasis no matter what amount of physical, mental, or emotional stress we put it through. The stress response can be broken down into three distinct phases. The alarm phase is the part where the stressor has presented itself. Immediately, the body may shift to the production of cortisol and adrenaline. These hormones are meant to activate the fight-or-flight response and evade danger. The next phase is the resistance phase. This is the phase that differs for each person and can be longer or shorter depending on the strength of the individual. The phase of burnout is the third and final stage. This is the moment when all organ systems are depleted and can no longer keep up with the stressor. For the most part, our bodies are highly effective at maintaining balance, whether a stressor is acute or chronic. However, someone with a short resistance phase will crash into exhaustion quickly. Someone with a strong and lengthy resistance phase will be able to sustain a much higher amount of stress before it overcomes them.[2] The length of an individual’s resistance phase is determined by their resiliency. People of high resilience are able to adapt and recover from these stresses very quickly. Those with low resilience to stress are less capable. They often find themselves ill and exhausted with even the smallest amount of stress. These people tend to recover very slowly or contract a simple virus that lingers for weeks. So, what is the difference between these two types of people? Well, in order to be resilient to stress, you need the energy to get up and keep going. The mitochondria in our cells produce energy as long as they have a healthy environment. This means the cell must be full of nutrients and free of toxins. In an unhealthy environment, mitochondria become damaged and ATP production begins to decline.

Mitochondrial Toxicity

A very small percentage of the population may be born with a rare genetic defect which results in mitochondrial dysfunction. At the time of conception, mitochondria are supplied by the maternal egg. This means a genetic mitochondrial defect is likely to be X‑linked or of maternal inheritance.[3] A large contributing factor to mitochondrial damage is via environmental toxicity. This includes exposure to:

• pesticides, fungicides, and herbicides in food;
• chemical cleaning agents;
• air pollution from cars, factories, etc.; and
• heavy metals.

While many of these things are difficult to avoid, awareness is key to taking the proper precautions. Pharmaceutical medications are the next most common way of damaging mitochondria. Because the cell wall of a mitochondria has similar components to a bacteria cell wall, it can be easily damaged by rounds of antibiotics and antivirals. HMG‑CoA reductase inhibitors (cholesterol-lowering statins), analgesics, and NSAIDS taken over time can also directly damage the mitochondria and result in muscle pain and inflammation.[4]

The Result of Mitochondrial Damage

When mitochondria are damaged, the production of ATP energy decreases and everything downstream begins to decline. Chronic diseases consume valuable energy and accelerate the aging process. Neurological disease is common, including Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and Parkinson’s disease. Low mitochondrial function has been associated with insulin resistance and can lead to the development of metabolic disorders such as obesity and diabetes. Cancerous growth are largely energy-consuming and can breed well in an environment of mitochondrial toxicity.[5] Other conditions with links to mitochondrial damage include:

• Fibromyalgia;
• Chronic fatigue syndrome;
• Cardiovascular disease;
• Liver disease;
• Chronic migraines; and
• Generalized muscles pain.

How to Repair Damaged Mitochondria

There is no diagnostic test to prove mitochondrial dysfunction. A diagnosis is made largely based on symptoms, past medical history, and lack of success with other treatment directions. Most often, symptoms are unexplained by the medical community, and patients are left without answers. Many natural health products have been shown to improve mitochondrial function. These are largely antioxidants that can scavenge dangerous free radicals and prevent further damage. The top ones on the list are taurine, alpha-lipoic acid, ubiquinol, and grapeseed extract. All of these antioxidants play an important role in antiaging, repairing damaged blood vessels, and supporting the nervous system. However, none of these nutraceutical supports can be effective without a proper dietary habit. There is no specific diet for supporting the mitochondria, but avoidance of known food triggers and following an anti-inflammatory diet can greatly benefit.
No mitochondrial treatment plan can be complete without a discussion on building resilience. Many of us can agree that when it comes to stress, eliminating our stressors is not always possible. Most of the time, the only way we can better manage our stress is to change our perspective of it. When we begin to realize how much our stress affects us on a physical level, we must decide what stressors are worth the physical ailments. Indeed, many people spend their retirements suffering the effects of their working career. At this age and stage of life, it takes much longer to heal and recover from the effects of stress.
A positive social network can help. Having a support structure in place for the stressful times is an important differentiating factor between those with high and low resilience. Moderate levels of exercise can improve circulation around the body and improve the stress response. As mentioned previously, weight training encourages muscle growth, which improves mitochondrial efficiency. Supporting metabolism in this way can encourage weight loss and eliminate inflammatory mediators. This can result in a decrease in muscle pain and an increase in energy. The final step in improving resilience is to ensure a regular sleep routine. Everybody requires a different number of hours of rest, but the importance of recovery remains the same.

Stress is good! It motivates us and helps us live with passion. But when our stressors outweigh our ability to cope, we end up creating more harm than good. Mitochondria are a hub for metabolism, and a key factor in signalling and communication within the body. In order to continue producing energy, they need to live in a healthy environment just like we do.