MITOBIOM® CONCEPT
Mitochondria—a key pillar of the MitoBiom® concept
Mitochondria—just like the microbiome—are highly sensitive to stress. This has consequences for the entire body. Cardiovascular diseases, neurological disorders such as migraines, Parkinson’s, or Alzheimer’s, as well as burnout, type 2 diabetes, autoimmune diseases, and nearly all other lifestyle-related diseases usually originate from mitochondrial dysfunction or an unhealthy gut. Furthermore, an unhealthy gut is very often the trigger for mitochondrial dysfunction, which leads to secondary mitochondriopathies—unlike primary, congenital mitochondriopathies—that are acquired over the course of a person’s life.
Here, you’ll gain an initial overview of how mitochondrial dysfunction develops, what comprehensive testing and measures to strengthen the mitochondria entail, and why gut treatment is an important complement. Both approaches—treating the mitochondria and the gut, including the microbiome—are combined in the MitoBiom® concept. This can help people with chronic illnesses, in particular, achieve better health. You can learn more in the seminars on the MitoBiom® concept offered by the TISSO Academy.
Why Mitochondria Are So Important
A number of key metabolic processes take place in the mitochondria. Particularly well-known is the mitochondrial respiratory chain, which supplies about 90% of our body’s energy in the form of ATP—and this energy-rich molecule can hardly be stored. The amount of ATP consumed each day is roughly equivalent to one’s own body weight. For a person weighing 70 kg, the cells therefore produce about 70 kg of ATP every day!
In addition to energy production, mitochondria are also responsible for a wide range of other functions. These include, in particular:
- Citric Acid Cycle
- β-Oxidation of Fatty Acids
- Biosynthesis of, among other things, membrane lipids, steroid hormones, hemoglobin, and iron-sulfur proteins
- part of the urea cycle
- Calcium stores in the cell
- Regulation of Apoptosis in Damaged Cells
- Replication and transcription of mitochondrial DNA, as well as protein biosynthesis
For these processes to run smoothly, the proteins, enzymes, mitochondrial DNA, and membranes—especially the inner mitochondrial membrane, where energy production takes place—must be intact.
However, the following factors can lead to damage and, as a result, to mitochondrial dysfunction:
- silent inflammation
- unhealthy diet
- Food additives
- Declining CoQ10 production starting around age 20
- intestinal dysbiosis
- physical and mental stress
- Environmental toxins (e.g., heavy metals, pesticides)
- UV rays
- certain medications, such as antibiotics, statins, and chemotherapy
When mitochondria are damaged, both their functional capacity and their number decrease. This leads to metabolic disturbances, particularly reduced ATP production. As a result, overall cellular function declines. At the same time, the burden of reactive oxygen species(ROS) increases, since less oxygen is consumed in the respiratory chain and can easily react further to form ROS. Furthermore, reactive oxygen species are constantly produced as a natural byproduct in the respiratory chain. Any existing inflammation also exacerbates the formation of reactive oxygen species. If this flood of reactive oxygen species is not counteracted by a sufficient amount of antioxidants, oxidative stress occurs. Superoxide anions (O2-) can also react with nitric oxide (NO) to form the highly reactive peroxynitrite (ONOO-). This results in additional nitrosative stress.
Both oxidative and nitrosative stress lead to further damage to the mitochondria and to inflammatory reactions that further impair ATP production and, ultimately, cellular functions. This ultimately results in chronic diseases, also known as secondary or acquired mitochondriopathies.
What are the signs of mitochondrial dysfunction?
Mitochondrial dysfunction can manifest itself in a variety of ways throughout the body in the form of chronic diseases. These include, among others:
- Neurological Disorders
- Lung Diseases
- Autoimmune Diseases
- Metabolic Disorders
- Symptoms of exhaustion
- Eye and Ear Disorders
- Skin Diseases
- Heart and Circulatory Diseases
- Digestive and Intestinal Disorders
- Cancer
- Muscle Disorders
- Joint Diseases
Mitochondrial Check — with Comprehensive Testing
For your patients, you can easily have their mitochondrial function tested in a lab using a blood sample.
The following parameters are of particular importance in this context:
- Lactate/Pyruvate Ratio
- Whole-Blood Mineral Analysis: Potassium, Calcium, Sodium, Magnesium, Iron, Zinc, Selenium, Copper, Manganese, Chromium
- Coenzyme Q10
- 25(OH) vitamin D3
- antioxidant capacity
- highly sensitive CRP
- Heavy Metal Analysis
- Omega-3 Index
You can learn more about the sophisticated analytics and the precise relationships in the seminars on the MitoBiom® concept offered by the TISSO Academy.
Restoring Healthy Mitochondria
Based on the analysis, individual goals and measures are identified to regenerate mitochondria that have suffered reversible damage. At the same time, the intact mitochondria are strengthened.
The specific goals include, above all:
- Correcting Deficiencies
- Reduction of oxidative and nitrosative stress
- anti-inflammatory measures
- Elimination of Heavy Metals
- Stimulation of mitochondrial biogenesis
Intestinal Treatment: The Second Key Pillar of the MitoBiom® Approach
One of the most common causes of mitochondrial dysfunction is an unhealthy gut. Persistent dysbiosis of the microbiome usually leads to dysfunction and inflammation of the intestinal mucosa, which can progress to leaky gut. Food antigens or bacterial components can then pass unimpeded through the intestinal wall and activate the immune system. Ultimately, this leads to systemic, silent inflammation, which can trigger mitochondrial dysfunction due to the resulting oxidative and nitrosative stress.
In a holistic approach to treating chronic diseases, building and maintaining a healthy microbiome is therefore the second key pillar, alongside mitochondrial treatment. The MitoBiom® approach is based precisely on this combined strategy.
MitoBiom® Concept — Continuing Education Courses
Would you like to learn more about the MitoBiom® concept and start applying it right away? In the seminars offered by the TISSO Academy, experienced and knowledgeable instructors will provide you with the theoretical and practical knowledge you need to implement the MitoBiom® concept confidently and routinely. After just one seminar, you’ll be able to start applying it right away—even in combination with other methods.
You’ll learn how to apply this concept in practice and master the associated analytical methods through hands-on, module-based seminars that we offer regularly at various locations. In addition, specialized seminars and free webinars provide you with a wide range of professional insights and perspectives on the MitoBiom® concept. In our media library, you’ll find recordings of all our webinars as well as videos about our products.
The TISSO Academy service team ensures a pleasant atmosphere and excellent support before, during, and after our training courses (seminare@tisso.de). Our customer service team, our seminar service, and the experts on our technical hotline are happy to assist you with advice and support.
