Importance of Mitochondria for Overall Health

Type 2 Diabetes, Cardiovascular Disease, Neurodegenerative Diseases… there are so many chronic illnesses tied to poor mitochondrial function. Mitochondria are the power plants of our cells; they take the food we eat and turn it into energy called ATP. But they do more than just produce energy – they help keep our cells healthy by breaking down waste and making sure everything runs smoothly.

With about 100,000 trillion mitochondria in our bodies, it’s no wonder they’re involved in so many important processes that affect our overall health. So, what happens when these little powerhouses start to struggle?

In this blog, we’ll dive into why mitochondria are crucial for our health and how their dysfunction is linked to chronic diseases.

As explained in a previous blog, mitochondria are essential for energy production in our bodies. These small, bean-shaped structures break down the food we eat through a process called cellular respiration. However, what folks do not realize is that the functions of these powerhouses go beyond energy production. As rightly mentioned by Dr. Patel, to carry out its functions, a mitochondrion ‘needs to survive, and in order to ensure survival, it regulates key processes that are tied to cell death and survival.’

One cool way they do this is by ‘talking’ to the gut microbiome. The gut microbiome refers to the diverse community of microorganisms living in our digestive tract, playing a crucial role in digestion, metabolism, and immune function. Check out more about the importance of this community for our overall well-being through our previous blog.

When the gut microbiome breaks down our food, it creates special substances called metabolites that travel through our blood to the mitochondria. These metabolites are ‘fuel’ for the mitochondria – they help them produce energy and keep everything running smoothly. For example, good bacteria in our gut can turn dietary fats into something called short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which give mitochondria extra energy.

Interestingly, Dr. Patel’s research has also shown that temporary changes in the gut microbiome, such as those experienced during a week-long meditation retreat, can significantly affect our metabolite profile. By altering the metabolites released, there will be an improvement to mitochondrial health. 

So, the relationship between our gut microbiome and mitochondria is established. Lifestyle factors like diet, aging, sleep, exercise and supplements can steer your gut microbiome profile in either positive light or down a black hole, with consequences that target the mitochondria.

To understand this, let us direct our attention to the cells in your colon (which is part of your digestive system). Colonic cells help maintain a stable gut wall, similar to the way bricks build the walls of a castle. When you keep eating harmful fats (like an unhealthy load of sunflower seeds), these walls start to crumble and expose our gut to excessive levels of oxygen. This ultimately gives bad bacteria that like oxygen (oxygen-tolerant bacteria) more room to grow, while the good bacteria that don’t like oxygen (oxygen-intolerant bacteria) struggle to survive.  Sounds counter-intuitive that bad bacteria likes oxygen right?

Now, when the good bacteria ‘get kicked to the curb’ – they simply cannot produce the necessary metabolites required for mitochondria to sustain proper function.  

Then, mitochondrial dysfunction sets in and gives rise to a range of health problems:

• Type 2 Diabetes: In Type 2 diabetes, the body has trouble using insulin, the hormone that helps glucose enter cells for energy. This can be a major problem in the setting of mitochondrial dysfunction – not only do our working muscle and fat tissue receive less glucose, but our mitochondria fail to generate sufficient energy from this limited pool. This can create a compounded effect where energy levels drastically fail to meet our daily requirements.

• Alzheimer’s Disease: Alzheimer’s is a brain disorder that causes memory loss and cognitive decline. When mitochondria become defective, they do not produce sufficient energy to sustain the activities of our brain cells. This lack of energy leads to the buildup of toxic proteins (like beta-amyloid), which further damages brain cells and accelerates memory loss.

• Heart Failure: The heart requires a lot of energy to function. When mitochondria don’t supply enough energy, the heart muscles weaken, making it harder for the heart to pump blood. This, in turn, leads to fatigue, shortness of breath, and swelling.

Unfortunately, this is just the tip of the iceberg. This is because mitochondrial dysfunction does not only impact energy levels, but other key functions like calcium balance in the cells. In addition, as mitochondria get damaged, they accumulate in our body cells and do not get removed. Why? Because healthy mitochondria are responsible for clearing out the damagedones. Hence, when we have dysfunctional mitochondria, we lose the ability to clear damaged mitochondria. This, combined with calcium imbalances, make us more prone to a host of other chronic diseases:

• Parkinson’s Disease (PD): Parkinson’s is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects movement, often causing tremors and stiffness. When mitochondria become damaged, they collect in brain cells and produce harmful substances called reactive oxygen species (ROS). Faulty mitochondria can also lead to abnormal calcium levels in these brain cells, disrupting communication between them and contributing to cell death. Collectively, both ROS and impaired communication trigger death of brain cells and worsen PD symptoms.

• Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD): NAFLD is a condition where excess fat builds up in the liver, leading to liver inflammation and damage. When mitochondria in liver cells are damaged and not removed, they become inefficient. This leads to increased fat accumulation, inflammation, and liver cell damage. One way by which they elicit such damage is by affecting the ways our body burn fat. We see more fat collect in liver cells, and this contributes to further liver damage and disease progression.
• Osteoporosis: Osteoporosis is a condition where bones become weak and fragile, increasing the risk of fractures. Dysfunctional mitochondria can lead to poor calcium regulation, making it harder for bones to maintain density and strength. In addition to calcium, damaged and uncleared mitochondria can also produce excess ROS, contributing to bone cell damage and reducing the activity of osteoblasts (cells responsible for forming new bone), thus further weakening bones. This is a major concern, especially since the risk for osteoporosis increases significantly with age. If you are interested in learning more about the condition and ways to mitigate it, do not forget to check out our previous blog.

It is clear that the health of our mitochondria plays a crucial role in many chronic diseases, from diabetes to neurodegenerative disorders. These tiny powerhouses do more than just provide energy; they impact everything from cell survival to calcium balance. Understanding how lifestyle factors influence both the gut microbiome and mitochondrial function can help us take proactive steps towards better health.