Glossary · Biology
Mitochondria
In short
Mitochondria are the power plants of the cell: they produce the energy carrier ATP from nutrients and oxygen. They have their own small DNA and can divide and renew themselves.
Depending on the tissue, a cell contains a few to many thousands of mitochondria, with particularly many in the heart, muscle and brain. Besides energy, they provide signals for metabolism, inflammation and controlled cell death.
With age, their performance declines in many tissues. That makes them a popular target of longevity products. The question each time is whether a substance that changes mitochondria in the lab achieves anything noticeable in humans. Best supported so far is endurance training, which increases the number and performance of mitochondria in muscle.
That something affects mitochondria is a mechanism — not yet a benefit.
Where this comes up in the fact checks
- Urolithin A – Switches on mitochondrial genes in muscle biopsies and is one of the few candidates with randomized trials in humans.
- SS-31 (Elamipretide) – Binds to cardiolipin in mitochondria; authorized in the US for a rare inherited disease, hardly any data in healthy people.
- Coenzyme Q10 – Transports electrons in the respiratory chain.
- Zone 2 cardio – Endurance training as the best-studied route to more mitochondria.
Sources
Related terms: Autophagy · Hormesis · Peptide
Information only, not medical advice. The BK-Score is a subjective assessment according to disclosed rules – not a scientific evaluation. Scoring rules