For today's dose of why we should be looking at supporting mitochondria as a part of #COVID prevention and treatment, let us consider something called cell free mtDNA. These are #mtDNA, fragments, contained within vesicles or extruded whole mito into the extracellular space. 1/

In: The source of cell free mtDNA in trauma and potential strategies - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29633007  the authors illustrate how cf-mtDNA are part of mito damage assoc molecular programs (DAMPS) in response to trauma any kind of trauma that elicits mito hypoxia. 2/

See the theme emerging in my posts -- #hypoxia. What evokes mt hypoxia? Well, just about anything if the mitochondria cannot meet the demands imposed on them - if they cannot produce sufficient ATP to initiate response or downregulate those same responses. 2/

What determines whether they can mount/manage appropriate responses e.g. have sufficient ATP? Genetics play a role, but unless a mjr mix up, not a huge role. Epigenetics, play a larger role, but again, still only fractional mostly, unless we consider what underlies epigenetics 3/

Epigenetics include the totality of one's environmental exposures - toxic burden, if you will. And in modernity, the toxic burden is high. But still, this too can be modulated and reduced with something so simple. 4/

Micronutrients -- yes, vitamins and minerals, plus of course macronutrients - protein, fat, carbs. The basis of mitochondrial energetics rests squarely in nutrient consumption or diet and in many cases supplements. 4/

I know, supplements are considered worthless and some are and some are not necessary, but if one's overall toxic burden is high, dietary changes may not be sufficient. Consider this graphic. I have posted it before. 5/

Look at all of those nutrients required to get from macronutrients to ATP. Can we honestly say that a diet of processed food would meet those requirements particularly given increased toxicant load posed? 6/

If your response is yes, read no further because nothing I say will convince you otherwise. 7/

So what happens when micronutrient availability does not match ATP demands? Hypoxia, hypoxia, hypoxia, hypoxia, hypoxia. That is one of the key responses of stressed mitochondria. What does hypoxia do? It signals all sorts of survival cascades, 8/

that in the short term are manageable provided one has sufficient mitochondrial ATP to manage the reactions and shut them down when the threat has passed. If not, all sorts of secondary, tertiary and quaternary reactions begin, demanding ever more ATP 9/

and inciting ever more damage that must be unwound at some point or mito> cell> tissue> organ > organismal death happens. Cell-free mtDNA is one of those more end-game processes. mtDNA is extruded into EC space a necrosis. 10/

Or more specifically, a end phase of mitochondrial necrosis. Backing up a bit, according to the paper above, and others, apoptosis is an energy-dependent, organized form of cell death. Mito don't leak into EC space, don't trigger immune responses. Sans ATP, necrosis. 11/

How do we get such low ATP to necessitate the dumping of mtDNA into the EC space? Quite easily if demands overreaches resource. Severe and sudden injury, though local & transient mostly. Surgery. ECMO. Ischemic -reperfusion, even exercise,psych stress can temp evoke response 12/

In that regard, it is a natural programmed response, but when it becomes more chronic and uncontrolled, we have problems leading to greater and greater hypoxia/inflammation induced damage and demanding more and more ATP. 13/

How do shut this off? Remove the stressor(s) and/or increase mitochondrial resources. The easiest way to increase resources is to ensure micronutrient sufficiency. That returns us to thiamine and other vitamins/minerals. 14/

If we want to help folks battle #covid, don't we owe it to them to provide the requisite tools to do so? Heck, don't we owe to ourselves to do the same. 15/

I'll end this thread like each before - consider thiamine, and other nutrients, as an adjunctive treatment in #COVID. #bananabags - -every hospital has them. If severe already, consider a Wernicke's type protocol.