Mitochondrial disease is a disorder in a cell with dysfunctional mitochondria – organelles that produce energy for the cell. It is key to cell function; these are often genetic and acquired conditions may involve diseases e.g. Diabetes, Cancer, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, schizophrenia, cardiovascular disease. Is there a cure for Mitochondrial disease? How does Mito Cocktail help? Do you know what are the benefits compounding offers in treating this disease? Read this blog to know all of these.

What is Mitochondrial disease?

It’s a disorder in a cell with dysfunctional mitochondria – organelles that produce energy for the cell; Mitochondria is found in all the cell except in red blood cell.  Mitochondria is key to cell function and Mitochondrial diseases are often genetic and have unique characteristics. A subset of these diseases that have neuromuscular symptoms are called mitochondrial myopathies

As per the research done by Wikipedia, the average number of births/year among women at risk for transmitting Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) disease is estimated to approximately 800 in the United States.

What are the ‘Early Symptoms’ of Mitochondrial disease?

• Hearing/visual/neurological problems
• Heart/liver/kidney diseases or respiratory/gastrointestinal/respiratory disorders
• Learning disabilities
• Muscle weakness
• Poor growth in the body
• Other dysfunctions in the body
• Body pain

Mitochondrial dysfunction could be involved when it’s genetic and the acquired conditions may involve diseases e.g. Diabetes, Cancer, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, schizophrenia, cardiovascular disease. Mitochondrial dysfunction in one’s body may cause heart diseases wherein other’s body it may cause liver /gastrointestinal or other disorders. Also, the situation becomes worse in the body when defective mitochondrial cells are present in muscle, nerve, and cerebrum – this is because these cells use more energy than that of other cells in the body.

What are the causes of Mitochondrial disease?

Mitochondrial disorders may be caused by inherited/acquired mutations in the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) or in nuclear genes that code for mitochondrial components. The disease can be acquired based on the side effects of medicines, wrong treatments, infections, and other ecological causes.

How to diagnose Mitochondrial disease?

The disease is identified by analysing muscle samples as the chances of organelles are higher in muscles. Various types of tests e.g. sequencing, chain reaction are performed to diagnose this disease.

What treatments are available for Mitochondrial disease?

This area is still being researched; a few vitamins are prescribed frequently by the physicians but are not proven that effective. Some potential treatments options are prescribing Pyruvate, N-acetyl cysteine, S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe), acetyl-L-carnitine (ALCAR), coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), alpha-lipoic acid (ALA), creatine monohydrate (CM), and melatonin.

Learn more on the disease by going through the following research papers published by NCBI:

• Mitochondrial disorders: Challenges in diagnosis & treatment
• Emerging Therapies for Mitochondrial Diseases
• Advances in drug therapy for mitochondrial diseases

Is there a cure for Mitochondrial disease?

No cure exists for mitochondrial diseases, but treatment does help in reducing symptoms or slowing the decline in health. Treatment varies from one patient to another patient and depends on the specific diagnosis and its seriousness.

How does ‘Compounding’ help in treating Mitochondrial diseases?

One of the leading treatments available for Mitochondrial disease is preparing the combination of vitamins and supplements unique to each adult/child patient’s requirements based on their current health condition, symptoms, and diagnosis. This is called compounding. Custom Health RX, the only neighborhood compounding pharmacy in Canton, Michigan specializes in Mitochondrial disease compounding.  L-Carnitine, Coenzyme Q10, B-Vitamins, Creatine and Alpha Lipoic Acid are some of the examples of vitamins and supplements that are frequently used in treating Mitochondrial disease by Custom Health RX. The combination of vitamins/supplements is called ‘compounded Mitochondrial Cocktail’ or “Mito Cocktail”. 

To order/refill your prescribed medicine, fax your prescription at 734-667-4400. Don’t worry if you don’t have a prescription – fill-up the webform and submit to us, we’ll have you covered by an experienced physician. Alternative, use this telemedicine link  to book today your online appointment with a physician. 

Benefits of compounding in Mitochondrial disease treatment:

Compound pharmacists do the following in treating this disease under the guidance of the prescriber/ physician:

• More than one vitamin and supplement are combined to create compounded medicines – thus reducing the need for taking multiple vitamin tablets/supplements
• Compounded medicines are prepared in various forms e.g. capsules, liquid, tablets, or other easy to consume formats that adult patients/children prefer. Also, the medicines are available in different flavors (as per patient’s preference) making it palatable for patients to consume.
• Compounding pharmacists work with
  • patient’s dieticians/dietitians to understand their overall diet plan, food restrictions
  • physicians on the overall medication plan

basis these, they develop unique medicines that are specific to each Mito patient and are in alignment with the prescription provided.

• Prepare an ideal mix (or "compound") of the right set of vitamins and supplements that offers the Mito patient the most ease and the least side effects

What does ‘Mito Cocktail’ contain?

The most commonly prescribed components used in the "Mito cocktail" are

• Vitamin B Complex: Vitamin B1 (Thiamin), B2 (Riboflavin), B3 (Niacin), B6 (Pyridoxine) and B12 (Cobalamine)
• Vitamin C, E, K1
• CoEnzyme Q 10 (CoQ10)
• L-Carnitine
• Creatine

Why Use a Mito Cocktail?

All vitamins are available through a healthy diet, however, many ‘Mito patients’ lack the right amount of vitamins which are essential for human body development, muscle function, immunity enhancement. Hence supplements help patients to gather the right amount of vitamin/nutrient level for the overall wellness of the body and to slow down the decline in health in the patient’s body.

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