The incredible bottom of growing t...

The incredible bottom of growing things never ceases to amaze me especially this time of year. The mind-boggling activity stored in seeds and in plants. The aromatic power of blooming herbs, tree and flowers. A time of year when we can walk around outside in les than polar expedition gear. Running, hiking, cayaking, and frisbee-playing with your dog.

Seemingly unrelated to these May musings (or in like manner I thought) was a headline I stumbl across in the March 5 1999 issue of the journal, Science: "Mitochondria Make A Comeback."

Far be it for me to question the prestigious American Association for the Advancement of Science (the publisher of Science). My instinct was prodding me with "Didn't know mitochondria were forward the skids," or "What's it to me?" or calm "What's this have to do with Better Nutrition, this issue, or vigor for playing frisbee?"

The humorous thing is: mitochondria -- those organelles which hang abroad in the cytoplasm of small rooms -- have everything to do with the intensity we need every second of each day, in May or otherwise.

According to German molecular biologist, Matti Saraste (in that same issue of Science), "mitochondria generate in the greatest degree of the energy in animal cells"

Interestingly enough, this fact neatly ties together three of the rows in this very issue: Dr Murray's Natural Healing (on "the profitable fats"), Patty Andersen-Parrado's "Supplement Update" file (on NADH for chronic fatigue, and more), and Robert Crayhon's "Natural Energy" round pillar (on carnitine's energy-creating, fat-burning roles)

Mitochondria & fats. According to Zubay's classic tome, Biochemistry (Addison-Wesley, 1983) "fatty acids cannot be utilized for the efficiency requirements of cells until they have been transported into the mitochondria." This point out tos how immensely important mitochondria are for life.

Mitochondria & NADH. The electron produc between the sides of the process of mitochondrial power production (called "oxidative phosphorylation") are actually generated from NADH (reduc nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) which, itself, is produc by dint of the "burning" of nutrients (such as glucose); these electron ultimately wind up as molecular oxygen

Mitochondria & carnitine. Fatty acid (acyl) coenzyme (fatty acyl-CoAs), which realize a stop sign stuck in assurance of their faces when they put to the test to enter the mitochondria's innermost "factory" (through the inner membrane), are re-createed to their carnitine derivatives, which can cros this membrane. L-carnitine, then, makes the mitochondrial energy-production (and fat burning) actually happen.

In general, barely a few nutrients, or combines can make it through the mitochondria's inner membrane to move "energy assistance," including: pyruvate, citrate, isocitrate, malate, fumarate, succinate, and glutamate, many of which are also available as add tos or forms ingredients come in.

The comeback kid? Considering to what extent intricately intertwined our macronutrient and micronutrient intake (eg omega-3 fats and NADH) is with our ability to make mechanical value it's easy to see with what intent scientists are saying "Wow!" again about mitochondria more than 50 years after science was first electrified according to them.

Now in what manner about asking your dog for that game of frisbee?

James Gormley has serv as a managing editor for couple of the most respected medical journals in the U and as a social sciences/medical editor in main division publishing. His award-winning articles shield important issues, keeping readers informed of the latest breakthroughs in nutritional approaches to optimal health and ongoing research into vitamins, botanicals, minerals, and other supplements

COPYRIGHT 1999 PRIMEDIA Intertec, a PRIMEDIA Company. All Rights Reserved

COPYRIGHT 2000 Gale Group