CFS is Heart Failure Due to Mitochondrial Malfunction

An article found on the Alternative Medicine Forum explains the mechanism behind Chronic Fatigue (CFS) in terms of the function of mitochondria's cellular energy production cycle. A definite must read for anyone who suffers exhaustion and fatigue that cannot be explained.

"I think this is one of the most important handouts I have ever produced in terms of my understanding of CFS and what to do in order to recover! So please read this very carefully and several times over because for many sufferers it contains the keys to unlock their illness!

Two papers have come to my notice recently which make great sense of both my clinical observations and also the idea that CFS is a symptom of mitochondrial failure. The two symptoms I am looking for in CFS to make the diagnosis is firstly very poor stamina and secondly delayed fatigue. I think I can now explain these in terms of what is going on inside cells and the effects on major organs of the body (primarily the heart). More importantly, there are major implications for a test for CFS and of course management and recovery."

Quoted from: CFS is Heart Failure Secondary to Mitochondrial Malfunction

No sooner did I post a pointer to this article than I received a reply from Ingrid in Sweden which I would like to share, as further confirmation. Ingrid writes:

- - -

Interesting article. Certainly similar to the way we work, though I think it would be hard for anyone to guess their way to this simply by using blood tests. But with kinesiology and a good knowledge of relevant biochemisty it is possible to get good solid results. As far as I am concerned I have learnt this from Richard Holding a UK kinesiologist with an amazing understanding and ability to practically apply biochemistry.

Last summer I read some other fascinating work on CFS by Marty Pall. He has now done a lot of research into what lies behind CFS and is hoping to start some clinical research on a remedy he has developed. I have used references to his research in my book.

During the last few years campaigning for freedom to make, distribute, reccommend and use supplements, there has been one big missing link: the explanation of why we suddenly need more nutrients than before. In writing this book I have attempted to connect the dots. The book comes out in the beginning of December.

One of the joys in writing it was the connection with Marty Pall. He has also had CFIDS. He has been working to prove his discovery that environmental illness: MCS, fibromyalgia, CFIDS, PTSD and Gulf War syndrome and some other illnesses may all start differently, but they all lead to one biochemical abnormality, high (or low) nitric oxide and/or peroxinitrite.

He reckons that this is the 10th paradigm, the 9 other groups of illnesses being treated by traditional medicine. As the 10th group of illness is caused in addition to virus, bacteria and parasites, almost solely by environmental illness - these people do not respond to drugs, and indeed often get worse on drugs. In other words this group of people are in dire need of nutrition. And the only group of "doctors" able to handle these illnesses are those who can use nutritional and alternative, funcitional and/or environmental medicine.

We have all talked about the lack of nutrients in our food, which is of course a huge problem. But when you add in the fact that our detox systems are becoming more and more overloaded and that nutrients are needed to handle the extra need for detox due to the environment, you are now looking at a new situation.

(end of Ingrid's message)

The article by Martin L. Pall Ph.D. is
Multiple Chemical Sensitivity: Towards the End of Controversy

See also:

A Hummingbirds Guide to ME

New test identifies mysterious disorder
According to the Statistics Canada 2003 Canadian community health survey, some 341,126 Canadians have chronic fatigue syndrome, a debilitating disorder characterized by extreme, long-lasting exhaustion and flu-like symptoms. Since it was identified in 1984 by Drs. Dan Peterson and Paul Cheney in Incline Village, Nev., the syndrome has been accompanied by confusion and controversy. Many people -- including some health-care professionals -- don't believe it exists, attributing the symptoms to a variety of other causes, ranging from influenza to depression.

Fatigue relief drug's heart hope
A Columbia University team found fatigue following exercise is caused by calcium leaking inside muscle cells.

This is interesting in that it may be applicable to fatigue that is not connected with exercise, such as increasingly common 'chronic fatigue'. Finding what causes a leak of calcium from the cells in those cases might lead to an effective preventive strategy.

 

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posted by Sepp Hasslberger on Thursday November 10 2005
updated on Saturday December 4 2010

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Readers' Comments

The astute observation to "the likeness of our mitochondrial DNA to that of bacteria" explained so well in ENVIRONMENTAL DISEASE dove tail, so clearly with "CFS is Heart Failure Due to Mitochondrial Malfunction" that it is uncanny. These two papers combined could and should, with one felled swoop, revolutionize treatment methods to deal with Environmental and many other diseases.

Posted by: Chris Gupta on November 16, 2005 04:46 AM

 

Croft Woodruff, commenting from Canada, says:

Sepp: I can name several drugs (anti-cholesterol, anti blood pressure, anti psychotic, anti diabetic and anti cancer) that may be prescribed - singly or in combination - to patients that can and will deplete their tissues of Co Enzyme Q 10. Depletion of Co Enzyme Q 10 results in mitochondrial dysfunction leading to muscle weakness and wasting, decreased body function, decreased cardiac output and congestive heart failure. - Croft

Posted by: Sepp on November 16, 2005 09:43 PM

 

Yes that is correct - CFS is a symptom of low ATP output resulting in low cellular energy - and it is due to oxidative stress in the mitochondria and acting on the Krebs cycle. It is associated with excess hydroxyl ions that deplete the natural antioxidant enzymes, and when the SOD (superoxide dismutase) levels fall below 60%, there is a lowering in cellular ability to convert the hydroxyl ions into the less reactive and less damaging hydrogen peroxide which is later converted into water. Excess hydrogen peroxide in cells tends to inactivate the enzymes involved in the Krebs cycle while excess hydroxyl ions can deplete mDNA leading to its dysfunction and a decrease in the number of mitochondria, finally precipitating muscular pains due to a very low energy output that is below the natural requirement. There is more info on chronic fatigue in my articles on AIDS. (AIDS, NON-HIV AIDS AND PRESCRIPTION AIDS - VACCINES, ANTIBODIES AND THE HIV RIDDLE)

When cellular function is restored by relieving oxidative stress and a supply of bioavailable micronutrients (from natural sources such as fruits or their refined extracts etc) is made avaliable to the cells, cellular function improves and perks up and energy output is resumed to meet the natural requirement levels and the pains disappear. Where there is mitochodrial damage, it will take a few days for the pain to disappear and to 'feel good'.

Excess nitric oxide, induced by oxidative disturbances to the cellular biochemistry in the endothelial linings of major arteries is also a major factor because, in excess it acts as an oxidative stresor causing depletion of natural antioxidant enzymes, such as glutathione and coenzyme Q10, affecting the heart and slowly precitate a cluster of diseases (the NO cluster) such as MS, ED, arthritis wherein degenerative cellular changes produce disease symptoms.

Since coenzyme is involved in producing energy in cells, severe oxidative stress in the heart cells can cause arrythmia etc while prolonged stress on the mitochondria in heart cells can deplete its antioxidant enzyme levels to below 80% and it stops beating altogether. Sadly, the depletion of these enzymes in the heart cells can be brought about my many allopathic drugs, including those prescribed for the heart.

It is a natural phenomenon that when a person is diagnosed with cardiovascular disease or arthritis, the nitric oxide stress, if left unchecked - not properly treated with antioxidant therapeutic interventions - will over time show symptoms of the disease conditions in the NO cluster or NO family of diseases associated with excess nitric oxide secretions from the endothelium. This progression is more common among smokers.

BELDEU SINGH

Posted by: BELDEU SINGH on November 18, 2005 05:41 AM

 

WHY WE NEED MORE ANTIOXIDANTS THAN BEFORE....?

That is a good question raised by Ingrid in her paragraph above... "During the last few years campaigning for freedom to make, distribute, reccommend and use supplements, there has been one big missing link: the explanation of why we suddenly need more nutrients than before. In writing this book I have attempted to connect the dots. The book comes out in the beginning of December."

The answer may be found in my article titled "THE RISE OF MODERN ILLNESSES". Basically, the free radical generating population of drugs and chemicals have risen many fold over the last thirty years and we now have smog citites, too whereas, the antioxidant levels in our food, including fruits have been declining over the last 100 years due to the use of NPK fertilizers. Plants need more than NPK (nitrogen, phosporus and potassium) for the complex array of biocemical reactions to produce more than 80 bioavailable micronutrients and antioxidants. TY

BELDEU SINGH

Posted by: BELDEU SINGH on November 18, 2005 06:00 AM

 

Found on the Alternative Medicine Yahoo Group:

Date: Sun, 20 Nov 2005
From: "Craig Edwin Olson"
Subject: Schizophrenia

Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Schizophrenia
by Craig Olson

Introduction

Several reports have appeared in the professional literature implicating mitochondrial dysfunction as causing schizophrenia. In March 2001 a report appeared in Schizophrenia Research by Maurer et al of Germany. This paper reported "evidence for a mitochondrial
oxidative defect in brains of patients with schizophrenia".

Maurer et al (2001)

This report claims "an impairment of energy metabolism in brains of patients with schizophrenia". "Decreased oxidative metabolism has been consistently documented in the frontal lobes." Measurements by the German group "confirm a defect of oxidative phosphorylation in brains from patients with schizophrenia, which may contribute to impaired energy generation". Post-mortem brain specimens were used. The maximum reductions were in the frontal cortex, the temporal cortex, and the basal ganglia. There was no reduction in the cerebellum.

Ben-Shachar (2002)

This report came from Israel. Ben-Shachar recommended ""novel treatment approaches". The author suspected "linkage to dopamine". The author claimed "altered cerebral energy metabolism".

Uranova and Aganova (1989)

This report related the results of microscopic analysis of autopsy specimens. They reported deformation and reduction in the number of mitochondria. Similar results were reported by Kung and Roberts (1999). Kolomeet and Uranova (1999) reported similar findings.

Prabakaran et al (2004)

This report appeared in Molecular Psychiatry. The University of Cambridge group in England reported "mitochondrial dysfunction in schizophrenia". They used techniques called transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics. They reported "confounding drug effects could be ruled out".

Conclusions
"Altered proteins" were reported by the British group. They suggested "compromised brain metabolism". This is certainly food for thought. What to do in the way of treatment is not yet clear, unfortunately. My own opinion is that a diet might help.

Posted by: Sepp on November 21, 2005 03:51 PM

 

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