Charge Up Your Mitochondrial Energy Production by Dr David N. Ilfeld, MD
| Charge Up Your Mitochondrial Energy Production |
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 David N. Ilfeld, M.D.Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Rheumatology, Allergy & Immunology, & NSI Scientific Advisory Board Member August 14, 2008 - If you have been feeling less than energetic lately, the reason may come from deep within, at your body's cellular level. Fortunately, replenishing a depleted energy supply and getting back on track is easier than you may think. Studies have shown that several nutrients work synergistically to boost cellular energy production and protect cells from the damaging effects of free radicals, so you can recharge and remain active, healthy and vital. |
Mitochondria are energy-producing structures inside our cells that break down food to produce a biochemical storage form of energy called adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Approximately 95% of our cellular energy is produced inside mitochondria which also produce high levels of free radicals that can damage mitochondria. Energy is critical for cellular function, especially for the heart and the brain.
Aging causes damage to proteins by protein oxidation and by the cross-linking of sugar with protein. Aging is associated with a loss of mitochondrial energy and an increase of systemic inflammatory reactions. Aging is often associated with increased levels of blood glucose which can increase systemic damage. Nutraceutical Sciences Institute® (NSI®) has a very interesting multi-nutrient product called NSI® Mitochondrial Renew & Energy Complex which may help to protect against age-related changes by improving mitochondrial energy production and protecting cells from free radical damage.
Acetyl L-Carnitine: NSI® Mitochondrial Renew & Energy Complex provides acetyl L-carnitine (which crosses the blood-brain barrier better than carnitine), in which carnitine helps transport fatty acids into mitochondria, increases mitochondrial energy production, and may also help protect the heart and the brain. Acetyl L-carnitine HCl (750 mg) and acetyl L-carnitine arginate dihydrochloride (750 mg) are both included in the formula. There are preliminary studies suggesting that acetyl L-carnitine arginate dihydrochloride may improve nerve cell function even better than acetyl L-carnitine HCl.
R-Lipoic Acid: R-Lipoic Acid is the active antioxidant component in alpha lipoic acid. NSI® Mitochondrial Renew & Energy Complex has 150 mg of R-lipoic acid using the stable form of Na-RALA®. R-lipoic acid is a powerful antioxidant which is active in both water-soluble and fat-soluble areas in our bodies. Alpha lipoic acid is unique since it can regenerate oxidized, inactive vitamin C, vitamin E, coenzyme Q10, and other molecules of alpha lipoic acid back to active antioxidants. R-lipoic acid can boost the levels of glutathione in our bodies which is critical because glutathione is one of the strongest antioxidants in our body.
Acetyl L-Carnitine and R-Lipoic Acid, when taken together, provide a synergistic effect which is greater than the sum effect of each antioxidant alone. The combination of acetyl L-carnitine and R-lipoic acid has been shown to be synergistic for improving mitochondrial energy production as well as protecting from free radical damage to the mitochondria in vitro (in test tubes)1, in elderly rats2, and in elderly dogs. The elderly rats and elderly dogs were more active physically and also improved their cognitive function when given acetyl L-carnitine together with R-lipoic acid.
Benfotiamine: When glucose cross-links to protein, the protein's function is disrupted and the protein cross-linked with sugar generates a large amount of free radicals. Excessive levels of protein-sugar cross-linking are typically seen in older people and in people with high blood sugar.
Benfotiamine is a fat-soluble form of vitamin B1 which has been shown to decrease the formation of protein-sugar cross-linking in people with high blood sugar3. The combination of benfotiamine together with alpha lipoic acid was reported to normalize the increased protein-sugar cross-linking formation in people with high blood sugar4. People with high blood sugar and peripheral nerve discomfort have had significant improvement with less nerve discomfort by taking either benfotiamine or alpha lipoic acid. Furthermore, this raises the possibility that NSI® Mitochondrial Renew & Energy Complex, which has both benfotiamine and R-lipoic acid, may decrease the formation of protein-sugar cross-linking and may help with peripheral nerve discomfort.
Carnosine: Carnosine is a dipeptide of two amino acids beta-alanine and L-histidine which is present in large amounts in muscle and nervous tissue. Vegetarians do not appear to live much longer than people who regularly eat beef. This surprising observation may, in part, be due to vegetarians' lack of carnosine whereas beef has large amounts of carnosine. Eating 7 ounces of beef, which contains about 250 mg of carnosine, only raises blood levels of carnosine for a few hours. One problem is the body has an enzyme which degrades carnosine. It appears that an optimal effect may be reached by taking 500 mg of carnosine twice daily which is the dosage used in NSI® Mitochondrial Renew & Energy Complex.
Carnosine is a free radical scavenger and possesses antioxidant properties. Carnosine reduces pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic cytokines (such as TGF-beta, IL-1, and TNF-alpha) and thus can protect organs—such as protecting from bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis5. Carnosine is a strong anti-glycation agent for blocking protein-sugar cross-linking. Carnosine can also protect the brain and other organs from damage caused by blockage of blood flow. For example, carnosine significantly decreased the size of permanent brain damage when given to mice both before and after the induction of ischemia (reduced blood flow) to selected areas in the brain6. Carnosine also decreased reactive oxygen species levels in the ischemic brain and preserved normal glutathione levels.
The large majority of human cells have a limited number of times they can multiply. For example, human skin fibroblasts can multiply about 50 times in a test tube. As these in vitro fibroblasts multiply they have gross changes of aging and eventually stop multiplying. When carnosine is added to these vitro aged fibroblasts, the human fibroblasts have a younger, healthier appearance (seen through a microscope) and regain their ability to multiply.
Rhodiola Rosea: Rhodiola Rosea increased the resistance to stress and increased the mean lifespan of the worm C. elegans by 10-20% which suggests a modulation of the aging process7. One of the active extracts in Rhodiola Rosea, salidroside, has been shown to protect mitochondrial energy function8. In humans, Rhodiola Rosea is an adaptogenic herb that may increase the body's resistance to stress such as from anxiety, fatigue or physical causes.
Luteolin: This is an antioxidant with anti-inflammatory activity that is found in high concentrations in perilla leaf, green pepper, parsley, thyme, peppermint, basil, celery and artichoke. Luteolin protected mice from radiation-induced free radicals. In this model, luteolin was better than any other plant derivative tested. Luteolin has also been reported to protect the liver from chemically-induced damage9. Mice fed luteolin were protected from bacterial toxin-induced brain damage10.
Mice can be induced by a chemical to have abnormal colon cell growth. When these mice are also given luteolin, there is a reduction in chemically-induced abnormal colon cell growth11. Furthermore, luteolin improved antioxidant levels in these mice. Luteolin also protected from chemically-induced abnormal fibroblast growth. Thus luteolin may be useful for reducing systemic inflammation and may help protect from the development of abnormal cell growth.
SODzyme™: This proprietary antioxidant blend features soy, corn and wheat sprouts that may increase levels of the natural antioxidant Super Oxide Dismutase (SOD) and decrease levels of free radicals in our body.
NSI Mitochondrial Renew & Energy Complex has several unique nutrients which combined in one product are probably even more effective for improving and protecting mitochondrial energy production, protecting from free radical damage, reducing the dangerous formation of protein-sugar cross-linking, and for protecting the heart and the brain. I would recommend that you also take coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) which is also important for improving mitochondrial energy production, protecting from free radical damage, and protecting the heart and brain. I highly recommend NSI ToCoQ10 which has CoQ10 together with gamma-tocopherol, delta-tocopherol and tocotrienols (potent forms of vitamin E), plus Bioperine® in softgels for better absorption.
1. Zhang H, Jia H, Liu J, et al., Combined R-alpha-lipoic acid and acetyl-L-carnitine exerts efficient preventative effects in a cellular model of Parkinson's disease, J Cell Mol Med. 2008 Jun 20. [Epub ahead of print].
2. Liu J, Head E, Gharib AM, et al., Memory loss in old rats is associated with brain mitochondrial decay and RNA/DNA oxidation: Partial reversal by feeding acetyl-L-carnitine and/or R-α-lipoic acid, PNAS. 2002 Feb 19;99(4):2356-61.
3. Stirban A, Negrean M, Stratmann B, et al., Benfotiamine prevents macro and microvascular endothelial dysfunction and oxidative stress following a meal rich in advanced glycation end products in individuals with type 2 diabetes, Diabetes Care, 2006 Sep;29(9):2064-71.
4. Du X, Edelstein D, Brownlee M, Oral benfotiamine plus alpha-lipoic acid normalises complication-causing pathways in type 1 diabetes, Diabetologia, 2008 Jul 29. [Epub ahead of print]
5. Cuzzocrea S, Genovese T, Failla M, et al., Protective effect of orally administered carnosine on bleomycin-induced lung injury, Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol, 2007 May;292(5):L1095-104. 6. Rajanikant GK, Zemke D, Senut MC, et al., Carnosine is neuroprotective against permanent focal cerebral ischemia in mice, Stroke, 2007 Nov;38(11):3023-31. 7. Wiegant FA, Surinova S, Ytsma E, et al., Plant adaptogens increase lifespan and stress resistance in C. elegans, Biogerontology, 2008 Jun 7. [Epub ahead of print] 8. Cao LL, Du GH, Wang MW. Effect of salidroside on mitochondria injury induced by sodium azide . Yao Xue Xue Bao, 2005 Aug;40(8):700-4.
9. Domitrović R, Jakovac H, Grebić D, Milin C, Radošević-Stašić B, Dose- and Time-Dependent Effects of Luteolin on Liver Metallothioneins and Metals in Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Hepatotoxicity in Mice, Biol Trace Elem Res, 2008 Jul 24. [Epub ahead of print]
10. Jang S, Kelley KW, Johnson RW, Luteolin reduces IL-6 production in microglia by inhibiting JNK phosphorylation and activation of AP-1, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 2008 May 27;105(21):7534-9.
11. Ashokkumar P, Sudhandiran G, Protective role of luteolin on the status of lipid peroxidation and antioxidant defense against azoxymethane-induced experimental colon carcinogenesis, Biomed Pharmacother, 2008 Jul 9. [Epub ahead of print]
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