Can mitochondrial dysfunction cause fatigue?

Fatigue is a hallmark symptom of mitochondrial disease. Fatigue is often described by patients as a lack of energy, mental or physical tiredness, diminished endurance, and the need for a prolonged recovery after physical activity [35]. Fatigue is reported by patients to be unrelieved by rest [16], [35].

Is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome a mitochondrial disease?

Although mitochondrial DNA analysis is not yet comprehensive, from looking at the variants that can be studied, it doesn’t appear that mutations in mitochondrial DNA are involved in the pathogenesis of ME/CFS. Therefore, it is unlikely that ME/CFS is a form of mitochondrial disease.

What is PEM fatigue?

Post-exertional malaise (PEM) is one symptom of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), but is itself more complex than a single symptom. Patients experience fatigue, pain, cognitive difficulties, sore throat, and/or swollen lymph nodes after previously tolerated Page 5 physical or mental activity.

Why a person with mitochondrial disease is fatigued?

Nearly all of our cells have mitochondria, which are known as the “energy factories” of the cells. They produce energy from the food we eat. For people with mitochondrial diseases, this “factory” is inefficient in that it takes more input than normal to create the same amount of energy.

How do you fix mitochondrial dysfunction?

Treatments for mitochondrial disease may include:

  1. Vitamins and supplements, including Coenzyme Q10; B complex vitamins, especially thiamine (B1) and riboflavin (B2); Alpha lipoic acid; L-carnitine (Carnitor); Creatine; and L-Arginine.
  2. Exercises, including both endurance exercises and resistance/strength training.

What are PEM symptoms?

Some of the most common symptoms that increase with PEM include:

  • pain.
  • sleep problems.
  • brain fog (problems with concentrating, processing information and memory)
  • flu-like symptoms (sore throat, muscle pain, increased fatigue)
  • muscle weakness.
  • increase in sensitivity to noise, light or touch.

Can mitochondrial dysfunction reversed?

By administering nutritional supplements with replacement molecules and antioxidants, oxidative membrane damage and reductions of cofactors in normal tissues can be reversed, protecting and restoring mitochondrial and other cellular functions and reducing chemotherapy adverse effects.