The energy that our bodies require to live and function is produced in tiny organelles in our cells called mitochondria. Each of our cells has many, sometimes thousands, of mitochondria (the only exception being red blood cells which have none). Mitochondria are what burns the fuel in the food we eat and the oxygen that we breathe to produce energy in a complicated process called cellular respiration. This process results in ATP, a molecule that stores this energy in its chemical bonds, and which can transport that energy to the part of the cell where the energy is needed to power the many activities of the cell. Mitochondria are damaged by some of the byproducts of cellular respiration that cause oxidative stress. There are also many substances that we are exposed to and ingest that cause oxidative stress, including pesticides, herbicides, preservatives and other artificial food additives, many medicines, fragrances, infections, and more. Mitochondria are believed to be the descendants of ancient bacteria that evolved a symbiotic relationship with cellular life far back in the history of life on earth and as such are prone to damage from things that also damage bacteria.
When muscle cells don't have enough energy, they hurt, which is caused by a buildup of lactic acid. Lactic acid is produced when oxygen levels become low in cells within the areas of the body where metabolism takes place.
Mito Disease is Common (with list of symptoms) By Art Caylor, MD
Mitochondrial Diseases and Disorders:
Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome
"Cyclic vomiting syndrome, or CVS, is a disorder that causes sudden,
repeated attacks—called episodes—of severe nausea and vomiting. Episodes
can last from a few hours to several days. Episodes alternate with
longer periods of no symptoms."
MELAS (Mitochondrial Encephalomyopathy Lactic Acidosis and Stroke-like Episodes)
"MELAS is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder with typical onset
between the ages of 2 and 15, although it may occur in infancy or as
late as adulthood. Initial symptoms may include stroke-like episodes,
seizures, migraine headaches, and recurrent vomiting.
Usually, the
patient appears normal during infancy, although short stature is common.
Less common are early infancy symptoms that may include developmental
delay, learning disabilities or attention-deficit disorder. Exercise
intolerance, limb weakness, hearing loss, and diabetes may also precede
the occurrence of the stroke-like episodes.
Stroke-like episodes, often accompanied by seizures, are the hallmark symptom of MELAS and cause partial paralysis, loss of vision, and focal neurological defects. The gradual cumulative effects of these episodes often result in variable combinations of loss of motor skills (speech, movement, and eating), impaired sensation (vision loss and loss of body sensations), and mental impairment (dementia). MELAS patients may also suffer additional symptoms including: muscle weakness, peripheral nerve dysfunction, diabetes, hearing loss, cardiac and kidney problems, and digestive abnormalities. Lactic acid usually accumulates at high levels in the blood, cerebrospinal fluid, or both."
MNGIE (Mitochondrial Neurogastrointestinal Encephalopathy)
“Additional
findings may occur in some cases. MNGIE is caused by changes (mutations) in the
TYMP gene encoding thymidine phosphorylase (TP) and is inherited as an
autosomal recessive trait.”
