Hey All, Great read on mitochondria and problems associated mitochondrial dysfunction here: www.lef.org/magazine/mag2005/feb2005_report_mitochon_01.htm
or google: \"Promoting Mitochondrial Health\" and click on the Le Magazine, February 2005 Report: Promoting Mitochondrial Health. The article is on three different pages, so look for the \"continued on\" links.

Mitochondria are the little power stations in every cell of your body that generate the energy that powers our cells (and life!). They have their own DNA, which can be damaged by chemicals and oxidative stress as well as delicate membranes that are also susceptible. Once damaged, they can leak highly reactive ROS \"reactive oxygen species\" (free radicals) which can create havoc in both body and mind; and when mitochondria with damaged DNA reproduce, their \"offspring\" will also be damaged, thus producing a permanent change in physiology from a single initiating event. Sound familiar?

When chemicals have been \"cleared\" as not known to cause genetic damage by the boffins, they are referring to nuclear genetic material (genes/chromosomes in the nucleus of the cell), not mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). This may explain how permanent whole body injury can occur from substances that are not known to cause chromosomal/genetic damage. These chemicals are not being tested for effects to mitochondrial DNA!

I stumbled into this subject because, after experimenting with antioxidants for over a year, the only ones I found that helped my MCS were those that supported mitochondrial membrane health (Polyenylphosphatidylcholine or PPC, brand name PolyPC or PhosChol) and those that support glutathione production (Trimethylglycine or TMG) and reduce glutathione loss (alpha-lipoic acid, CoQ 10 and acetyl-L-carnitine). Glutathione is what the mitochondria use to clean up the oxygen radicals they produce while generating energy.

I don't know if this fits in with Dr Pall's NO/ONOO cycle theory or not... If anyone can shed some light on this, please do! There may also be connections here to potential cause/effect for autism and chronic fatigue.

There's a great program on how changes in the \"epigenome\" can change your life/health. \"Ghost in Your Genes\" PBS/NOVA. Seek it out. You won't believe what you learn. Also... A good book on mitochondria is: \"Power, Sex, Suicide: Mitochondria and the Meaning of Life\" by Nick Lane . You can read a lot of this book for free searching google books!

A little disclaimer here: We all need to be careful when experimenting with supplements! Do your research, ask your doctor (if you can find one who will listen!), start with small test doses...

Good Luck and God Bless,
B56

Have you tried generating more glutathione by NAC+glutamine+glycine? Any luck with d-ribose? I have sustained liver damage from solvents and notice that large doses of lecithin (4-10g of phosphatidylcholine in divided doses) has helped reduce the adrenal stress that seems to be caused by my liver. However any further insults to my liver (from food, supplements, chemical exposure) seem to swamp the effect of the phosphatidylcholine. I haven't tried PPC yet but will try it out soon. I have not noticed improvement from trying to generate more glutathione but unfortunately I have excess cysteine so I cannot tolerate NAC, plus glutamine exacerbates excess ammonia in me.

I too have pretty severe liver impairment (mine due mainly to yeast overgrowth and leaky gut) and have had very limited success raising glutathione levels with NAC, glutamine and glycine. I also have the ammonia problem with glutamine. SAMe and PPC may be more effective but oral supplements of both irritate by gut so much that I can't take them. Both SAMe and PPC seem to be the nutrients with the most research supporting their use in liver disorders.

One thing I have found very useful and which might be perfect for you jayttt is the herb Tribulus Terrestris. It has been shown to significantly raise glutathione over a period of weeks in a few small research studies and is has positive effects on hormone balance so is used to promote well-being and stress resistance. I have found it to be a very powerful treatment for improving both liver function and the symptoms of adrenal fatigue.

Thanks for the tribulus suggestion.. my free testosterone was at the bottom of the range, though total testosterone was in the middle. I'll consider trying this.

I've had some good luck lately with introducing ox bile salts and artichoke. I have had pale stools for the last few months and these have helped immensely. I was already taking huge doses of milk thistle with little effect on bile production. The ox bile salts seem to cause adaptation in the body (negative feedback) and I have found from experimentation that I have to be very careful not to reduce the dose too suddenly, as it stresses my liver and causes a lot of adrenal stress as a result.

No problem, I too have had pale stools due to a combination of having gut dysbiosis and leaky gut and then using hormone replacement (DHEA & hydrocortisone). Tribulus gave my stools a healthy dark brown colour after the first day or two and relieved symptoms of abdominal pain, fatigue and aches/pains etc that go along with the pale stools. Really is worth a try. It has not been shown to raise testosterone dangerously in any studies so no need to worry about that (in fact in most studies it hasn't done anything to testosterone!)

Glad you've found bile salts and artichoke to be beneficial. I've also tried these but didn't find them too helpful. Perhaps I didn't give them long enough however. I expect fast results now after discovering tribulus!

If you wouldn't mind it would be fantastic if you'd write a quick review of artichoke. I have added a page to the reveiews section of the site today at:
Artichoke Extract Reviews

Thanks <br /><br />Post edited by: Maff, at: 2008/11/06 17:12