Effective Treatment for Mitochondrial Disease

Jessica Lim

Author: not given (info provided by the University of Helsinki)

Published: April 7, 2014

Link: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/04/140407090403.htm

Summary: 

     The mitochondria within cells create fuel or energy that power all functions of the body, also known as ATP. Mitochondrial disorders are caused by the malfunction of the mitochondria, and therefore mitochondrial myopathy, a form of mitochondrial disorders, results in muscle weakness, cramps, and pain. These diseases are inherited, and they are the most common form of a mitochondrial disorder found in adults. There is currently no cure for these diseases. 

     Recently, researchers from the University of Helsinki and École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne announced that Vitamin B3 is a possible therapy that could be used for treating adults with mitochondrial myopathies because researchers were able to conclude, by testing Vitamin B3 on mice that had the disease, that the vitamin can slow down the progress of mitochondrial myopathies. "These results clearly showed the potential of this vitamin B form, a natural constituent of milk, to activate dysfunctional mitochondrial metabolism" (sciencedaily.com).

Connection: 

     This article connects to what we learned about the muscular system and homeostatic imbalance because mitochondrial myopathies cause muscle weakness, cramps, and pain which affect the muscular system. Within the muscular system, there are muscles that carry out the daily activities that we perform everyday, and if these diseases cause muscle weakness, it will affect the way you move and it will cause you to feel tired easily which prevents you from performing your normal activities. This results in homeostatic imbalance, and it creates an unsteady environment within your body because your body can no longer function properly due to the loss of strength in your muscle and pain.