What Are the Signs of Poor Mitochondrial Function?

Your Mitochondria: The Canary in Your Cellular Coal Mine

Mitochondrial dysfunction often precedes diagnosable disease by years. Recognizing early signs allows proactive intervention.

The Symptom Spectrum

Early Warning Signs

Unexplained fatigue
Brain fog after meals
Slow recovery from exercise
Temperature dysregulation

Moderate Dysfunction

Exercise intolerance
Muscle weakness
Persistent sweet cravings
Poor wound healing

Advanced Indicators

Neurological symptoms
Severe energy crashes
Cardiac abnormalities
Endocrine disorders

The Diagnostic Toolkit

1. Blood Tests

CoQ10 levels
Lactate/pyruvate ratio
Oxidative stress markers

2. Functional Tests

VO2 max testing
Heart rate variability
Organic acids test

3. At-Home Checks

Resting heart rate trend
Morning energy levels
Recovery from physical stress

The Underlying Causes

Nutrient deficiencies (B vitamins, magnesium)
Chronic infections
Toxin exposure
Genetic SNPs (MTHFR, etc.)

The Roadmap to Recovery

Test to identify specific dysfunction
Address root causes
Support with targeted supplements
Retest every 3 months

Case Study: From Fatigued to Revitalized

Mark, 52, discovered his CoQ10 was 70% below optimal. After 6 months of targeted support:

Energy returned to college levels
VO2 max improved 25%
Fasting glucose normalized

Key Insight

Mitochondrial health is the foundation of vitality. Don't ignore early warning signs.