ABOUT OUR CELLS AND ITS MITOCHONDRIA:
What are Mitochondria?
Mitochondria are small “organs” in our cells. They are the cell’s power plant. They use oxygen, fat and sugar to produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP). This process is called “cellular respiration.” When the cell needs energy, it breaks down molecules of ATP to release the stored energy.
The more energy the cell needs, the more mitochondria it contains. One cell can have anywhere from a few mitochondria up to thousands. The highest numbers are found in nerve, muscle, and liver cells.
Some scientists believe that mitochondria are the key to aging. As we grow older, our mitochondria collect more and more mutations. Our cells have a way to check for mistakes (mutations) when they multiply, but mitochondria don’t.
What is Mitochondrial Toxicity?
Mitochondrial toxicity (MT) is damage that decreases the number of mitochondria. If there are too few mitochondria in a cell, it might stop working properly. It’s not clear how much loss of mitochondria can occur before there is loss of cell function.
What are the signs of MT:
One of the most common signs of MT is muscle weakness (myopathy). If muscle cells can’t get enough energy through cellular respiration, they have to get energy without oxygen. This “anaerobic” energy production creates lactic acid as a waste product.
Lactic acid can cause sore muscles. For example, the soreness people feel after running a marathon is caused by a buildup of lactic acid. Some people with MT have very high levels of lactic acid in their blood. This rare condition is called lactic acidosis. There is a blood test for lactic acid levels, but experts disagree on how to interpret the results. Physical exertion before the blood test – including climbing stairs or walking quickly – can increase lactic acid levels and throw off the test results.
It’s difficult to know if you have MT. However, you can look for the following signs of lactic acidosis:
Source: http://aidsinfonet.org/fact_sheets/view/556?lang=eng#_WHAT_IS_MITOCHONDRIAL_TOXICITY_
