Zeitschrift für metabolisches Syndrom

Membrane lipid replacement for enhancing mitochondrial function and improving fatigue, pain and other symptoms in aging patients

Abstract

Garth L Nicolson

Loss of function of mitochondria, the key cell organelle responsible for approximately 90% of cellular energy production, can result in cell death, excess fatigue, pain, and other symptoms that are common problems in almost if not all age-related chronic diseases as well as advanced age. These diseases include neurodegenerative diseases, diabetes and metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular diseases, autoimmune diseases, neurobehavioral and psychiatric diseases, musculoskeletal and gastrointestinal diseases, fatiguing illnesses, cancer and chronic infections, among others. The mitochondrial function also declines in advanced age. At the molecular level reductions in mitochondrial function occur when there is a loss of mitochondrial maintenance of inner membrane trans-membrane potential due to oxidative damage by Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) as well as loss of critical mitochondrial co-factors, resulting in reduced efficiency of the electron transport chain and less generation of ATP.