Carnitine: The Missing Link in Your Energy Production?
Genetics and L-carnitine in this weeks Genetic Lifehacks newsletter
Carnitine: Genetic Variants Affecting Mitochondrial Energy and Health
Key takeaways:
~Carnitine is necessary for transporting long-chain fatty acids into mitochondria for energy production, which is particularly important in skeletal muscles and heart function.
~ Beyond energy production, carnitine plays roles in liver health, bone health, and immune function, and has anti-inflammatory properties.
~ The body can synthesize carnitine from lysine and methionine (requiring vitamin C, B6, and iron), or obtain it from diet, with meat and dairy being the richest sources.
~ Genetic variants in carnitine-related genes (SLC22A5, CPT1, CPT2) can cause disorders that affect energy production, causing issues from mild fatigue to severe dysfunction.
Plasmalogens: Healthy Brain Aging and More
Key takeaways:
~ Plasmalogens are a type of phospholipid that make up cell membranes and can act as an antioxidant to neutralize oxidative stress.
~ Chronic oxidative stress can decrease plasmalogen levels in the brain.
~ Research suggests that plasmalogen depletion plays a causal role in Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders.
~ Restoring plasmalogen levels shows promise in preventing or reversing neurological disorders.
What I've been reading:
1.) Reactivated viruses in ME/CFS and Long Covid
This study looked at viral loads of people with ME/CFS, healthy controls, and immunocompromised people. The results showed that ME/CFS patients were much more likely to have reactivated Epstein-Barr Virus.
2) In mice, Nicotinamide Riboside promotes atherosclerosis
A study in Apoe knockout mice showed that higher doses of NR increased atherosclerotic plaque. It also increased the NAD+ metabolite 4PY.
If this sounds familiar, I have an article on the study in humans showing that genetic variants that affect 4PY levels, along with higher niacin intake, increase atherosclerotic plaque. Read the Genetic Lifehacks article here and check your genes.
3) Light emitted from your brain
Brains use a lot of energy - and now researchers can show that the brain emits ultraweak photon emissions. The emissions were higher with oxidative stress and when provoked with tasks.