Marty Ross, MD Discusses Mitochondria Energy
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Mitochondria Create Cell Energy
It is possible to improve your energy and fatigue in chronic Lyme disease, tick-borne infections, mold toxicity, and other illnesses by improving the function of the cell power factories called mitochondria. For many with fatiguing illnesses, the mitochondria get injured and do not produce enough energy. However, there are effective steps that fix the damage and give energy back.
Mitochondria are the energy factories found in every cell in the body. By some estimates, there are nearly 400 per cell. In chronic Lyme disease or in toxicity issues, due to oxidative stress the mitochondria can be injured, leading to fatigue that will not improve. In oxidative stress, chemicals build up that can damage membranes and even the DNA genetic material of mitochondria.
As power factories, mitochondria create a type of cell fuel called ATP. The fuel sources for mitochondria are fat and sugar, and both need to be transported to the inside of the mitochondria. ATP is created when fat and sugar are burned through several chemical reactions called the citric acid cycle and another process called oxidative phosphorylation.
Transport of fat and sugar into mitochondria requires a healthy mitochondria membrane. Oxidative phosphorylation also requires a healthy membrane. When the membranes are injured through oxidative stress, sugar and fat fuel sources for ATP cannot reach the inside of the mitochondria. Electron transfer in oxidative phosphorylation that leads to most ATP production is also blocked. Mitochondria membrane injury leads to low cell ATP and thus, fatigue.
When To Fix or Repair Mitochondria
Take steps to improve mitochondrial function if essential steps to manage Lyme do not provide good improvements in energy by 6-9 months. For these essential steps, see Fix Fatigue Boost Your Energy: The Basic Steps.
How to Improve Mitochondria Energy Production
Temporarily Patch Mitochondria Oxidative Phosphorylation with Methylene Blue
It is possible to patch electron transfer in oxidative phosphorylation using methylene blue.
The methylene blue patch leads to quick improvements in mitochondrial production of ATP. With increased levels of ATP, cells run better. This can result in improved fatigue, but it also improves thinking, brain fog, and even immune function. Usually energy improvements will occur within a month using methylene blue
This methylene blue patch does not fix the damaged mitochondria. So it is a temporary fix that you can use while you also take steps to repair mitochondrial damage I describe below.
- Methylene blue 25 or 50 mg 1 pill 2 times a day (this is made by a compounding pharmacy and requires a prescription). Caution: Before starting methylene blue get a blood test for G6PD. If your G6PD is low, methylene blue could break apart your red blood cells.
Methylene blue has many additional benefits. Read more about methylene blue in Mighty Methylene Blue for Tick-borne Infections and More.
Repair Mitochondria
Part A—Basic Steps for Mitochondria Repair
Below I describe four steps that you should do together during the same time period to repair your mitochondria. These four steps include
- repairing mitochondrial membrane phospholipids,
- increasing glutathione,
- supplementing carnitine if you do not eat red meat, and
- eating a mitochondrial support diet.
Step One—Fix Mitochondrial Membrane Phospholipids
In mitochondrial dysfunction, the outer and inner membranes may be injured. These membranes are composed of phospholipid fats called phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylserine.
Healthy mitochondria membranes are needed for two reasons.
- First, these coverings transport fat and sugar to the inside to be burned into cell fuel.
- Second, several reactions take place on the inside of the covering, requiring electrons to be transferred to them during oxidative phosphorylation.
Phospholipid Repair, Nutrients, and PQQ
For injured mitochondrial membranes use a phospholipid matrix complex, mitochondrial nutrients including CoQ10, and PQQ. PQQ supports mitochondrial biogenesis. If you are on atovaquone to manage Babesia, do not use CoQ10. As an alternative use a phospholipid matrix complex without CoQ10.
- Phospholipid Mix + CoQ10 + PQQÂ 3 pills 1 time a day.
- Phospholipid Mix 2 pills 3 times a day for 2 months, then 1 pill 3 times a day.
Step Two—Increase Glutathione
Glutathione is a powerful antioxidant that repairs cell injury. It is made in every cell. Liposomal glutathione is best because it is microscopically wrapped in phospholipid fats, which increases its absorption. One can also breathe glutathione using a nebulizer, or take it by IV. The nebulizer and IV versions may work more effectively than the liposomal oral form in some patients. Read more about the nebulizer and IV versions, including dosing and how frequent to take them, in the article, Glutathione: The Great Fixer.
An alternative to glutathione is to take a building block of glutathione called N acetyl-cysteine (NAC). NAC is used to make glutathione inside cells. My preference is the glutathione, but in some cases it does not work or is too expensive.
- Liposomal Glutathione 500 mg/5 ml take 5ml 1 or 2 times a day, or
- N Acetyl-Cysteine (NAC) 500 mg 1 pill 3 times a day.
Step Three—Use Acetyl-L-Carnitine if You Are Vegetarian or Don’t Eat Red Meat
Carnitine is a transport vehicle that carries fat to the inside of a mitochondria so that it can be burned into cell fuel through chemical reactions. The key source of carnitine is red meat. So if a person does not eat red meat, they may not be able to fuel up mitochondria. The most absorbed and used source of carnitine is acetyl-L-carnitine.
- Acetyl-L-Carnitine 500 mg 1 pill 2 times a day for 1 month and then 1 pill daily.
Step Four—Eat Healthy Foods that Support Mitochondria
To repair mitochondria and to boost energy, try the Mito Food Plan developed by the Institute for Functional Medicine. This diet is a modified paleo diet. For more information about this diet and how to build it for you, read The Best Brain, Inflammation, Pain, Energy, and Detox Diet Ever.
Give The Basic Steps Time
Mitochondria repair takes time. Give the basic steps at least two months to see if they will help. If they are helping, then continue this protocol for four more months.
Part B—Enhanced Mitochondria Repair
If the Basic Steps for Mitochondria repair do not give some energy improvement by two months, then I suggest stopping them and starting the peptide called BPC-157. BPC-157 is a peptide made in stomach lining. Think of BPC-157 as the Swiss Army Knife of peptides. The key ingredient may:
- promote healthy mitochondria function,
- promote healthy intestinal function,
- improve leaky gut,
- modulate healthy Th1 and Th2 immune function,
- aid in tissue repair of joints, tendons, ligaments, and nerves,
- balance mast cell activation, and
- have antimicrobial effects.
Suggested Dosing
- BPC-157 Extended Release 500 ug 1 pill or 2 sprays 2 times a day for a month, if no improvement in energy, then increase to 2 pills or 4 sprays 2 times a day. Take for up to six months if you are noticing improvements in your energy by two months.
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