The “4-Pillars” of Essential Nutrients
There are several nutrients that work together in the body to produce mitochondria ATP energy.
Four of these nutrients are so essential and powerful they can, by themselves, bring an incredible increase in energy. Some supplements use 1 or 2 of them but no one, until our patent-pending supplement, uses all 4!
The “4-Pillars”:
- CoQ10 – CoenzymeQ10
- NAD production – best using our special blend of precursor nutrients
- PQQ – pyrroloquinoline quinone
- D-Ribose – the structural backbone of the ATP energy molecule
Along with the 4-Pillar nutrients, there are supporting nutrients that work with them to produce an even better energy response.
Supporting Nutrients:
- ALA – r-alpha Lipoic Acid,
- ALC – acetyl L. carnitine,
- NAC – acetyl L. cysteine
- L-Tryptophan,
- Magnesium,
- Niacin blend,
- Resveratrol.
Mitochondria energy results are not instant like coffee. Our Mitochondria Energy Blend, Mito-Life, begins to increase the efficiency of your current mitochondria, noticeable to most people in 2-3 weeks. About the middle of the 2nd month, there is a dramatic increase of steady day-long energy as the number of mitochondria begins to increase.
Once a person’s energy level reaches full level, maintaining it only requires supplementing, off and on, 8-10 weeks a year. Yes, normal, higher energy levels can be that easy to restore!
We will look at the 4-Pillars in this article and Supporting Nutrients in the next.
Pillar 1: CoQ10
What Does CoQ10 Do? Everything! Well, an impressive number of functions anyway. People can’t say too much about CoQ10 (coenzymeQ10). This is the one essential nutrient many know about because it seems to help so many conditions affecting our body.
The Mayo Clinic says research on CoQ10 shows it helps:
- Heart conditions
- Reduce blood pressure
- Parkinson’s disease
- Statin-induced problems
- Migraines
- Physical performance
Dr. Axe, DC, DNM, CNS, adds these benefits:
- Natural energy
- Reducing free radical damage
- Slowing aging
- Fertility
- Fibromyalgia
- Cancers
- Chemotherapy
- Parkinson’s & Alzheimer’s
And, the list goes on.
Two Active Forms – of primary interest:
- Ubiquinone – is the ‘natural’ nutrient form. It is more commonly sold commercially. Ubiquinone is the completely oxidized form of CoQ10. This nutrient is actually metabolized within our bodies where it becomes, guess what, … Ubiquinol.
- Ubiquinol – is also a ‘natural’ form in that the body changes ubiquinone into ubiquinol – and changes ubiquinol back into ubiquinone – as needed.
It is important to see that these are both natural forms in the body. Regardless of what form of CoQ10 supplement you take, the body is able to convert it from one form to the other as needed.
Pillar 2: NAD+
NAD is an essential molecule (as are the other 4-Pillars – since they are all part of ATP production).1 NAD exists in two forms:
- NAD+ – an oxidized electrical charged form, and
- NADH – a reduced form (gave up its charge).
NAD+, in redox reactions, carries electrons from one reaction to another:
NAD+ giving up H+ & 2e- becoming NADH
NADH adding H+ & 2e- becoming NAD+
NAD+ is required in 3 key steps in the Krebs cycle (the sequence of reactions by which most living cells generate energy during the process of aerobic respiration. It takes place in the mitochondria, converting ADP to energy-rich ATP). NAD+ holds a positive charge – which allows it to carry electrons, eventually leading to the production of ATP energy charges.
These electron transfer reactions above are the main function of NAD+ and carry quite an impact in ATP results.
- NAD+ is a key co-enzyme the mitochondria, in every cell of our body, depends on to fuel all basic functions.2
- NAD+ also enables the transfer of energy from the foods we eat to vital cell functions.3
- NAD+ play a key role in communicating between our cell’s nucleus and the Mitochondria that power all activity in our cells.4
- NAD+ is also required to “turn off” genes that accelerate degenerative aging.5-6
(NADH Note: If you do any Google research into the NAD process, you may come across people wanting you to buy NADH. Don’t waste your money! NADH is a natural by-product or reduced form of NAD+. Taking NADH is much less efficient than simply having the nutrients that directly boost NAD+ levels in your body.
Supplements that increase NADH are marked up at a higher cost (for a less effective product) than compared to our Mito-Life NAD+ boosters. NADH holds a neutral charge but as long as NAD is abundant – and we’ll make sure it is – there is no need to supplement NADH.)
Pillar 3: D-Ribose
D-ribose is a 5-carbon chain sugar (vs. 6-carbon in other sugars). It does not raise blood sugar and is used by many diabetics.
D-ribose has been used both orally and intravenously in patients for many different pathologic conditions such as:
- Chronic fatigue syndrome7
- Fibromyalgia8
- Myocardial dysfunction9
It is often used to improve athletic performance and reduce symptoms of cramping, pain, and stiffness following exercise.
It is also an underlying support of ATP energy naturally occurring within cells. When nucleotides are reduced, supplemental D-ribose has been shown to help enhance the recovery of these energy molecules!
The body often runs short on D-Ribose so D-ribose supplementation helps return adenine nucleotides to the cell. It is also a very large part of our exclusive patent-pending Mito-Life formula!
Pillar 4: The PQQ Miracle
We add PQQ (pyrroloquinoline quinone) to Mito-Life because it is classified as an essential micronutrient. This means humans are not capable of synthesizing it in our body.10 We must get it from food – which is (as in many nutrients) getting harder to do. However, PQQ is found in all plant species tested, is present in human milk, and can be added in supplement form.
This is fortunate because PQQ is a dream come true. It combines improving physical and mental performances and reducing aging due to cellar decay – all from increased ATP energy!
In a wonderful breakthrough, researchers discovered the compound PQQ helps the bodily growth of new mitochondria inside aging cells.11 This is a huge step forward in the battle against fatigue and aging!
PQQ’s amazing mitochondrial-boosting abilities have been documented by University of California, Davis researchers (considered pioneers in the study of PQQ). As reported in the Journal of Nutrition:
- It created new mitochondria in just 8 weeks.12
- A significant 55% increase in the number of new mitochondria.13
Biochemical Pharmacology actually reported that PQQ is up to 5,000x more efficient in sustaining energy production than common antioxidants.14 Having PQQ in Mito-Life means you can feel a surge of youthful energy like you had decades ago.
PQQ and the Brain
Your brain (after the heart) is one of the most energy-hungry organs in your body – and with a large number of mitochondria. However, this means your brain is also highly vulnerable to mitochondrial aging, dysfunction, and decay.
PQQ restores your brain power in 5 ways:
- PQQ triggers the growth of new mitochondria energy generators for better memory and clearer thinking.
- PQQ protects existing mitochondria by reducing free radicals and oxidative stress.
- PQQ stimulates the production of nerve growth factor, NGF, for sharper thinking.15
- PQQ reduces toxic chemicals or electronic impulse overstimulation linked to many types of age-related memory and cognitive problems.
- PQQ protects your brain from memory-robbing plaques.16
References
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements-coenzyme-q10/art-20362602
- https://draxe.com/all-about-coq10/
- Belenky P, Racette FG, Bogan KL, McClure JM, Smith JS, Brenner C. Nicotinamide riboside promotes Sir2 silencing and extends lifespan via Nrk and Urh1/Pnp1/Meu1 pathways to NAD+. Cell. 2007 May 4;129(3):473-84.
- Canto, The NAD (+) precursor nicotinamide riboside enhances oxidative metabolism and protects against high-fat diet-induced obesity. 2012.
- Imai S, Armstrong CM, Kaeberlein M, Guarente L. Transcriptional silencing and longevity protein Sir2 is an NAD-dependent histone deacetylase. Nature. 2000 Feb 17;403(6771):795-800.
- Zhang, NAD⁺ repletion improves mitochondrial and stem cell function and enhances life span in mice. 2016.
- Jones K, Probst Y. Role of dietary modification in alleviating chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms: a systematic review. Aust N Z J Public Health. 2017;41:338–344.
- Thompson J, Neutel J, Homer K, Tempero K, Shah A, Khankari R. Evaluation of D-ribose pharmacokinetics, dose proportionality, food effect, and pharmacodynamics after oral solution administration in healthy male and female subjects. J Clin Pharmacol. 2014;54:546–554.
- Bayram M, St Cyr JA, Abraham WT. D-ribose aids heart failure patients with preserved ejection fraction and diastolic dysfunction: a pilot study. Ther Adv Cardiovasc Dis. 2015;9:56–65.
- Smidt CR, Bean-Knudsen D, Kirsch DG, Rucker RB. Does the intestinal microflora synthesize pyrroloquinoline quinone? Biofactors.1991 Jan;3(1):53-9.
- Zhang P, Xu Y, Sun J, et al. Protection of pyrroloquinoline quinone against methylmercury- induced neurotoxicity via reducing oxidative stress. Free Radic Res. 2009;43(3):224-233.
- 12 Koliaki C., et al. “Alterations of Mitochondrial Function and Insulin Sensitivity in Human Obesity and Diabetes Mellitus.” Annual Review of Nutrition. July 2016.
- Stites, T. et al. “Pyrroloquinoline Quinone Modulates Mitochondrial Quantity and Function in Mice.” J. Nutr. February 2006.
- Chowanadisai W., et al. “Pyrroloquinoline Quinone Stimulates Mitochondrial Biogenesis through cAMP Response Element-binding Protein Phosphorylation and Increased PGC-1 Expression.” J Biol Chem. January 1, 2010.
- Zhou L., et al. PLoS One. 2011.
- Zhang, J. 2009