Mitochondria are the energy furnaces in the cell. When they don’t work you run out of “gas” and the cells get sick. Degenerating mitochondrial, low levels of mitochondrial supporting CoEnzyme Q10 (tissues not blood) and overwork excessive oxidation are seen in Fibromyalgia biopsies.
Clin Biochem. 2010 Jul 1. [Epub ahead of print]
Mitochondrial dysfunction in skin biopsies and blood mononuclear cells from two cases of fibromyalgia patients.
Cordero MD, Moreno-Fernández AM, Carmona-López MI, Sánchez-Alcázar JA, Rodríguez AF, Navas P, de Miguel M. abstract here
- Deltoid muscle biopsies
- Low levels of coenzyme Q10 in muscle tissues and white blood cell monocytes suggest some disease of the mitochondria itself. Blood Coenzyme Q10 levels could range from high to low.
- over-oxygenization of Lipids – “peroxidation” suggested a biochemical system that was overstressed and unbalanced.
Comment – this is not the first time that sick mitochondria have been found in fibromyalgia. Interestingly, their is another disease in which sick mitochondria are found:
Bipolar disease:
Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Psychiatric Disorders
Shaw-Hwa Jou1, MD; Nan-Yin Chiu1,2, MD; Chin-San Liu3, MD, PhD
Chang Gung Med J 2009;32:370-9 free article here
Finding low tissue or monocyte blood cell coEnzyme Q10 is suggested by iniitial author as a test for fibromylagia. This helps highlight the role of muslce dysfucntion in Fibromyalgia and the possible genetic connection it might have with mood disorders.