Mitochondria skipping a beat! The relationship between mitochondria and oxidative stress

February 25, 2021

Mitochondria skipping a beat! The relationship between mitochondria and oxidative stress

This topic has not been published anywhere. However, it is an extremely interesting theory, so I will outline it here.

First, let’s review mitochondria.

I’m sure you’ve heard of mitochondria before. They are cells that perform their own functions within the cell, or what we call “intracellular organelles”. Mitochondria are found in almost all cells except red blood cells, and they are especially abundant in organs that use a lot of energy, such as the liver, kidneys, muscles, and brain.

The mitochondria provide most of the energy (ATP = adenosine triphosphate) that the cells of the body need to operate, using nutrients taken in from the diet and oxygen taken in from the air.

The mitochondria are the little powerhouses that produce the energy for activity by using all the carbohydrates taken into the body and the oxygen taken in through respiration.

In our research, we had confirmed through experiments that oxidative stress also increases when blood glucose levels rise, but we had no idea why oxidative stress increases when blood glucose levels rise.

That’s why I asked Professor Emeritus Hirokazu Tsubone, who was working at the Laboratory of Biological Effects Evaluation, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, the University of Tokyo, to teach me.

“That’s because eating carbohydrates makes your mitochondria slack off”, Dr. Bure said.

“What? Sabotage?”, my eyes lit up.

After listening to what Dr. Bureau had to say, I was convinced.

First of all, carbohydrates (glucose) can be easily converted into energy.

So mitochondria can do it easily. However, mitochondria also have the ability to produce enough energy when there is a lack of energy. Naturally, the body also takes in the oxygen it needs to do so.

However, if you consume a lot of carbohydrates, which make energy production easier, you will be able to generate energy without using much oxygen. What happens to the excess oxygen?

Yes! It turns into reactive oxygen species.

Our human history has been a battle against hunger, just as it is for wildlife. The body is designed to cope with starvation.

However, in the last few decades to 100 years, people in developed countries have overcome starvation and have been able to consume plenty of carbohydrates.

This affluent lifestyle is one of the causes of excess reactive oxygen species production. The relationship between elevated blood sugar levels and oxidative stress can be clearly seen.

According to Dr. Bureau, we have all the data to prove this theory. It’s so interesting that I’ve asked Dr. Bureau to write a paper on it. I am looking forward to the future.