Long COVID and vaccine-related injuries have left many doctors and scientists scratching their heads. Both conditions come with a range of symptoms like fatigue, muscle and joint pain, as well as muscle weakness and exercise intolerance, also known as post-exertional malaise (PEM). This can make everyday life tough for those affected. These conditions closely resemble myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), otherwise known as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), in the absence of pain and fibromyalgia when pain is present.
At the Artupuncture Wellness Clinic we have treated many patients with these conditions – Long COVID, chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia. And, in my article on fibromyalgia, which you can read here, I talked about a core issue these conditions share. I explained how these conditions stem from a problem with mitochondria’s ability to produce ATP through oxidative phosphorylation. This isn’t just an issue for those experiencing Long COVID, ME/CFS, or fibromyalgia, but it’s a big part of our conversation here. A brand-new study published last month in the Journal of Nature Communications has come to the same conclusion, highlighting the role of mitochondrial damage in Long COVID.
It is exciting to see mainstream healthcare recognizing mitochondrial damage as a key factor in Long COVID—a concept we’ve been addressing in our clinic for years. So, the broader medical field can simply use the insights and expertise we’ve already been successfully treating
patients with in our specialized practice, or they can spend a lot of time and money to come to the same effective treatment solutions.
Role of Mitochondria
Let’s delve into what happens with mitochondria and how it presents itself in the aforementioned symptoms.
As stated earlier, Long COVID, ME/CFS, and fibromyalgia are mitochondrial disorders. The primary function of mitochondria is to produce adenosine triphosphate, or ATP, which is crucial not only for muscle health but for numerous other bodily functions, as I will discuss in my upcoming book, “The Biggest Organ.” ATP helps protect muscles against damage and aids in muscle regeneration. Yet, individuals with Long COVID, ME/CFS, and fibromyalgia have low ATP levels due to a metabolic shift from aerobic to anaerobic metabolism. In aerobic metabolism, or oxidative phosphorylation (OxPhos), oxygen is present, allowing a molecule of glucose to yield 34 molecules of ATP and CO2 as a by-product. Conversely, anaerobic metabolism, experienced by patients with these conditions, lacks oxygen, leading to glucose
fermentation into lactic acid, producing only 2 ATP molecules with lactic acid as a by-product. This inefficient production results in an excessive accumulation of lactic acid, causing muscle fatigue, cramping, pain, and ultimately muscle damage. This explains why patients with fibromyalgia have little to no exercise tolerance—they are already overwhelmed by lactic acid.
The Process of ATP Production is Pivotal.
The human body produces an amount of ATP roughly equivalent to its body weight every 24 hours! This conversion from ADP to ATP is a continuous, essential process that powers various cellular activities. This impressive production of ATP is not stored but constantly recycled within the body, supporting muscle contraction, nerve impulse propagation, and chemical synthesis. However, in conditions like Long COVID, ME/CFS, and fibromyalgia, this recycling process is compromised, leading to a reduced pool of ATP precursors and necessitating the construction of new AMP or ADP molecules from scratch—a challenging task for the body. Think of this in terms of plastic production. It’s easier to get plastic out of recycling than producing it from raw material. The same can be said for ATP – it’s much easier to get it from recycled AMP and ADP, than to make it from scratch.
Furthermore, the scarcity of ATP and a general reduction in mitochondrial numbers increase oxidative stress, leading to cellular damage—a well-documented issue in fibromyalgia. Oxidative stress, an imbalance between free radical production and the body’s ability to neutralize them, damages DNA, proteins, and lipids, exacerbating mitochondrial dysfunction and cell damage in patients with Long COVID, ME/CFS, and fibromyalgia.
These complexities illustrate the daunting cycle of breakdown and recovery individuals with these conditions face. However, by addressing these imbalances and underlying issues, I believe that with the right care, sufficient time, and appropriate diet, supplementation and lifestyle changes, it is possible to break this vicious cycle and reverse these conditions.
