- Large motor delays
- Failure to thrive, growth delays
- Low muscle tone
- Extreme fatigue
- Inability to regulate temperature
- Autistic symptoms
- Global muscle weakness
- Difficulty waking
Even if your child does not display any of the “classic” symptoms of mitochondrial dysfunction (listed above), your child may still be affected.
It is now believed by many research scientists and an increasing number of physicians that mitochondrial dysfunction may be a critical part of the underlying pathophysiology in the following health conditions:
- Parkinson’s disease
- Asthma
- Chronic fatigue syndrome
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Some gastronintestinal disorders, among others
What Is Mitochondrial Dysfunction?
Mitochondria are the “power plants” of the body. They make the energy to power cells in every part of the body, including the major organs requiring significant amounts of energy to function properly. The organs in the body that require the most energy are the brain, muscles, liver, kidneys, gastrointestinal tract, heart and lungs.
Mitochondrial disease or mitochondrial dysfunction is what occurs when the mitochondria are not able to do their job due to genetic or environmental factors. When the mitochondria are not working properly, a whole host of symptoms may appear. According to the UMDF (United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation), an affected individual may have:
- Strokes
- Seizures
- Gastrointestinal problems (reflux, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea)
- Swallowing difficulties
- Failure to thrive
- Blindness
- Deafness
- Heart and kidney problems
- Muscle failure
- Heat/cold intolerance
- Diabetes
- Lactic acidosis
- Immune system problems
- Liver disease
An undiagnosed child may exhibit feeding problems, be unable to fight typical childhood infections or have repeated infections and fevers without a known origin. A red flag for mitochondrial dysfunction is when a child has more than three organ systems with problems or when a typical disease exhibits atypical qualities.
How Do I Know If My Child Has Mitochondrial Dysfunction?
There are certain blood tests that may indicate that a child has mitochondrial dysfunction. Ask an integrative or holistic physician or practitioner to look for the following “red flags” in laboratory blood work:
- Elevated levels of:
- Ammonia
- Alanine
- Alanine/lysine ratio
- Glycine
- Proline
- Tyrosine
- Sarcosine
- Lactate/pyruvate ratio
- Acetyl free carnitine ratio
- Elevations suggesting disruptions in fatty acid oxidation
- Reduced free and total carnitine
- Irregular urine organic acid screening:
- TCA intermediates
- Ehylmalonate
- 3-methylglutaconate
- Dicarboxylic acids
- Methylmalonic acid
Consider seeing a geneticist who specializes in mitochondrial disease. A list of mitochondrial disease doctors/specialists (with hospital affiliation) can be found here.
A Mitochondrial Dysfunction Healing Checklist
Exercise
Exercise helps the body’s mitochondria make new, baby mitochondria, so even though your child may loathe exercise, be sure to have them move as much as possible.
Use mitochondria-boosting supplements with your practitioner’s guidance
- Cod liver oil
- Vitamin E
- CoQ10
- Phosphatidylcholine
- MCT coconut oil
- Acetyl-l-carnitine
Still Looking for Answers?
Visit the Epidemic Answers Practitioner Directory to find a practitioner near you.
Join us inside our online membership community for parents, Healing Together, where you’ll find even more healing resources, expert guidance, and a community to support you every step of your child’s healing journey.
Join MitoAction every 2nd Tuesday of the month at 12:30 EST to participate in a discussion regarding mitochondrial dysfunction and autism. Call in to the conference call by phoning 1-866-414-2828 and enter code 017921# at the prompt.
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