Melatonin Affects Muscle and Exercise

Impact of Melatonin on Skeletal Muscle and Exercise – free full-text /PMC7072499/ – Cells. Feb 2020

Skeletal muscle disorders are dramatically increasing with human aging with enormous sanitary costs and impact on the quality of life.

Melatonin, the indole produced at nighttime in pineal and extra-pineal sites in mammalians, has recognized anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidant properties.

Mitochondria are the favorite target of melatonin, which maintains them efficiently, scavenging free radicals and reducing oxidative damage. Here, we discuss the most recent evidence of dietary melatonin efficacy in age-related skeletal muscle disorders in cellular, preclinical, and clinical studies.

How the loss of estrogen impacts muscle strength

Here are 3 studies on how estrogen can prevent muscle wasting and improve mitochondrial function.

Aging of the musculoskeletal system: How the loss of estrogen impacts muscle strength. – PubMed – NCBI – Jun 2019 

Skeletal muscle weakness occurs with aging and in females this is compounded by the loss of estrogen with ovarian failure.

Estrogen deficiency mediates decrements in muscle strength from both

1. inadequate preservation of skeletal muscle mass and
2. decrements in the quality of the remaining skeletal muscle.

Anxiety Disorders Linked to Mitochondria

Anxiety Disorders Linked to Disturbances in the Cells’ Powerhouses [Mitochondria]  19-Sep-2019 1 Newswise

The powerhouse of the cell, the mitochondria, provides energy for cellular functions. But those activities can become disturbed when chronic stress leads to anxiety symptoms in mice and humans. Iiris Hovatta of the University of Helsinki and colleagues report these findings in a new study published 26th September in PLOS Genetics.

Chronic stress due to stressful life events, such as divorce, unemployment, loss of a loved one and war, are a major risk factor for developing panic attacks and anxiety disorders. 

This is not only proven, but also intuitively true, as we know from our own lives, once beset by chronic pain. 

Suicides Have Abnormal Chromosomes, Mitochondria

People Who Commit Suicide Have Abnormal Chromosomes, Mitochondria | American Council on Science and Health – By Alex Berezow — June 14, 2017

Views toward suicide have changed in recent decades. Once largely perceived as a selfish act and a “permanent solution to a temporary problem,” society has become more compassionate toward those who suffer in silence. This is an enormously positive development, and it is likely an outgrowth of our greater understanding of mental illness.

The causes of suicide are complex, but they seem to involve some combination of nature (genetics) and nurture (culture and environment).

According to the CDC, the suicide rate in the U.S. in 2015 grew to 15.7 per 100,000, sparking fears of a “suicide epidemic.” 

“Bad Energy” is Core Problem in Fibromyalgia and CFS

Study Suggests “Bad Energy” is Core Problem in Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) – Health Rising – by Cort Johnson | May 31, 2017

Lactate has become a big deal in both chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and fibromyalgia (FM).  A by-product of anaerobic energy metabolism, lactate ordinarily gets pumped out of our cells in large amounts during exertion.

The lactate findings suggest that the energy needs of ME/CFS/FM patients are largely being addressed by glycolysis or anaerobic energy production.

Anaerobic energy production plays an important role in energy production, but when aerobic energy production is not available and it becomes the major source of energy it produces metabolites that produce the burning muscles, fatigue and other symptoms we associate with over-exercise. 

Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Post-Exertional Malaise

Mitochondrial Dysfunction, Post-Exertional Malaise and CFS/ME

Though this article refers to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, these symptoms often overlap with other chronic conditions, like Fibromyalgia.  Also, people with EDS are often suspected of having mitochondrial issues.

It has been well documented that there is an abnormal increase in cytokines (chemicals released by the immune system) in CFS/ME patients following mild exercise. This causes another type of fatigue on top of the mitochondrial dysfunction fatigue discussed below. Cytokines in general, without the exercise trigger, can cause fatigue.  There are probably additional causes of fatigue (such as orthostatic intolerance) as well.

Role of mitochondria in cellular function

Burning Muscles Could be Caused by Lactate

Lactate – Is it Everywhere in Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS)? – Health Rising

Lactate (L-lactate) is an organic compound produced during anaerobic energy metabolism.  

It’s constantly being formed – even when we are at rest – but is formed in higher quantities when ATP levels are low and anaerobic energy metabolism is high. Several forms of lactate are also produced by anaerobic bacteria in the gut.

Lactate is not bad – it actually reduces muscle fatigue – but the presence of high levels of lactate (lactic acid) signal that the anaerobic energy production process – which produces toxic metabolites that cause pain and fatigue – is in full bore.  

Statin Adverse Effects: Evidence for a Mitochondrial Mechanism

Statin Adverse Effects: A Review of the Literature and Evidence for a Mitochondrial Mechanism | 2008 | Free Full Text

HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) are a widely used class of drug, and like all medications have potential for adverse effects (AEs).

Here we review the statin AE literature, first focusing on muscle AEs as the most reported problem both in the literature and by patients.

Evidence regarding the statin muscle AE mechanism, dose effect, drug interactions, and genetic predisposition is examined. 

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome / FMS Symptoms Caused by Lactic Acidosis

Is Lactic Acidosis Behind Many Chronic Fatigue Syndrome / Fibromyalgia Symptoms? By Ken Lassesen | October 12, 2015

As a person who’s been gifted with being in remission from chronic fatigue syndrome (for the third time), I adhere to a model of what I believe causes typical ME/CFS in hope of staying in remission.

The model is stable and consistent with the latest (and older) research studies. It follows William Osler’s principle basing diagnosis and treatment on a strict observation of symptoms (not forgone conclusions and KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid).

“Listen to your patient, he is telling you the diagnosis”
– William Osler

The role of mitochondrial function in fatigue

Abundant Energy Summit: Dr. Myhill speaks about the role of mitochondrial function in ME/CFS

This is from an interview with Dr. Myhil about the central role of mitochondria in fatigue. She believes that  CFS/ME is a cluster of symptoms that can have many causes. She’s the  author of the book, It’s Mitochondria Not Hypochondria

Q: You have a car analogy in your book. Please explain that.

Let’s start from the beginning. The first and most important thing to grasp about Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is that it is not a diagnosis, it is a clinical picture that may have many causes.