Mitochondrial Health - AIMA · 2020-03-10 · –Magnesium (for the final ATP production) Strategies to improve mitochondrial function •Pick the right mother (mtDNA is transferred

Mitochondrial Health

DR KAMAL KARL

AIMA MARCH 2020 - AUCKLAND

Slides: Dr Kiran Krishnan


How much ATP does the body produce every day?

• A healthy person at rest produces an equal amount of ATP to the body weight

• At maximal exercise, this can increase to 0.5 – 1kg per minute, which is a truly remarkable increase

• A large amount of ATP is produced by the mitochondria every second because it cannot be stored

• At any one time there is only about 250 mg of ATP in the cells

• As this function is very important, mitochondria can take up as much as 25% of the cell volume, and each cell may contain between 1000-2000 mitochondria

ATP production

• Production of ATP is quite a complex process, starting in the Krebs cycle (TCA cycle)

• More important than direct ATP production, the TCA produces high energy molecules. The TCA provides for the electron transport chain, producing 90% of the ATP by aerobic metabolism

• This action occurs across the mitochondrial membranes and is highly dependent on nutritional factors, toxic load and the redox potential of the cell and mitochondria



Assessing mitochondrial function

• There are several indirect measures of mitochondrial dysfunction

– Urine Organic Acid analysis for determining enzyme dysfunction in TCA cycle

– 8-OHdG in the urine to quantify the damage of mtDNA

Factors associated with increased mitochondrial damage

• Antioxidants leaked when ATP is produced

• Aging (accumulated damage to mtDNA)

• Genomic susceptibility (especially ApoE4)

• Toxic metals

• Persistent organic pollutants

• Several medications like aspirin, griseofulvin, l’dopa, NSAIDS, antibiotics like ampicillin, statins, AZT etc















Mitochondrial function and protection

• Mitochondria are especially susceptible to:

– Nutrient deficiencies

– Environmental toxins

– Oxidative damage

• The primary source of oxidative stress in cells is leakage of oxygen and high energy electrons from the mitochondria. This leakage increases when key nutrients are missing, including the dose dependent depletion of CoQ10 and patients taking statin drugs.

Essential nutrients for ATP production

• For beta oxidation of fats– FAD (riboflavin)– NADH (niacin)– CoQ10– Carnitine to transport the fatty acids

• Citric acid cycle– Iron, magnesium, manganese– B1, B2 & B3– Cysteine (glutathione)– Lipoic acid

• ETC– CoQ10 (transports high energy electrons)– Riboflavin (complex 2)– NADH (niacin)– Magnesium (for the final ATP production)

Strategies to improve mitochondrial function

• Pick the right mother (mtDNA is transferred only by the mother)

• Optimise nutrient status

• Limit oxygen high energy electron leakage in the ETC

• Decrease toxin exposure

• Provide nutrients that protect the mitochondria from oxidative stress

• Utilise nutrients that facilitate mitochondrial ATP production

• Build muscle mass by strength training

Documents

Mitochondrial Health - AIMA · 2020-03-10 · –Magnesium (for the final ATP production) Strategies to improve mitochondrial function •Pick the right mother (mtDNA is transferred