Mini-encyclopedia of mitochondria-relevant nutraceuticals protecting health in primary and secondary care—clinically relevant 3PM innovation

• Published in: The EPMA journal 2024-04, Vol.15 (2), p.163-205
• Main Authors: Golubnitschaja, Olga, Kapinova, Andrea, Sargheini, Nafiseh, Bojkova, Bianka, Kapalla, Marko, Heinrich, Luisa, Gkika, Eleni, Kubatka, Peter
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antioxidants; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Carnitine; Development and progression; Functional foods; Functional foods & nutraceuticals; Green tea; Health; Health aspects; Innovations; Medicine/Public Health; Mitochondria; Physiological aspects; Resveratrol; Type 2 diabetes
• ISSN: 1878-5077; 1878-5085; 1878-5085
• DOI: 10.1007/s13167-024-00358-4

Despite their subordination in humans, to a great extent, mitochondria maintain their independent status but tightly cooperate with the “host” on protecting the joint life quality and minimizing health risks. Under oxidative stress conditions, healthy mitochondria promptly increase mitophagy level to remove damaged “fellows” rejuvenating the mitochondrial population and sending fragments of mtDNA as SOS signals to all systems in the human body. As long as metabolic pathways are under systemic control and well-concerted together, adaptive mechanisms become triggered increasing systemic protection, activating antioxidant defense and repair machinery. Contextually, all attributes of mitochondrial patho-/physiology are instrumental for predictive medical approach and cost-effective treatments tailored to individualized patient profiles in primary (to protect vulnerable individuals again the health-to-disease transition) and secondary (to protect affected individuals again disease progression) care. Nutraceuticals are naturally occurring bioactive compounds demonstrating health-promoting, illness-preventing, and other health-related benefits. Keeping in mind health-promoting properties of nutraceuticals along with their great therapeutic potential and safety profile, there is a permanently growing demand on the application of mitochondria-relevant nutraceuticals. Application of nutraceuticals is beneficial only if meeting needs at individual level. Therefore, health risk assessment and creation of individualized patient profiles are of pivotal importance followed by adapted nutraceutical sets meeting individual needs. Based on the scientific evidence available for mitochondria-relevant nutraceuticals, this article presents examples of frequent medical conditions, which require protective measures targeted on mitochondria as a holistic approach following advanced concepts of predictive, preventive, and personalized medicine (PPPM/3PM) in primary and secondary care.