- What to do to complete the treatment
- Symptoms of mitochondrial disease
- Diagnosis of mitochondrial disease
Mitochondrial disease has no cure, as it is a genetic alteration where the cells of the affected sites cannot survive because the mitochondria, which are responsible for the energy support and survival of the cells, do not function properly, causing the malfunction of the affected organs, such as brain, eyes or muscles, which can cause blindness or mental retardation, for example.
Depending on each case, the geneticist may prescribe vitamin supplements or specific medications for each symptom of mitochondrial dysfunction.
What to do to complete the treatment
There are some simple precautions that complete the medical treatment and relieve the symptoms of mitochondrial dysfunction, such as:
- Avoid fasting for more than 8 hours: patients with metabolic diseases, such as mitochondrial disease, should avoid going too long without eating food, even at night, it is recommended to eat a snack rich in complex carbohydrates, such as bread and peanut butter, before sleeping; Do not be exposed to the cold: body temperature control is altered in mitochondrial disease and, therefore, it is important to avoid heat loss on very cold days, covering exposed parts of the body with appropriate clothing; Decrease the use of fats in the diet: the metabolic disease decreases the burning of fats, which can cause the accumulation of body fat. Thus, it is important to reduce the consumption of fatty meals made with oil and butter, as well as yellow cheeses, for example. Here's an example of a low-fat diet: Diet for fat in the liver. Reduce the consumption of foods with vitamin C: such as orange, strawberry or kiwi, in meals with a high level of iron, such as red meat, as excess iron can cause damage to the mitochondria. Find out more about these foods at: Foods rich in vitamin C. Avoid the consumption of ajinomoto: it is usually present in industrialized foods, such as potato chips and powdered or canned soups, for example. Ajinomoto can also be known as monosodium glutamate and, therefore, it is recommended to read food labels. See other foods with this substance in: Ajinomoto.
However, these precautions do not replace the treatment prescribed by the doctor, being necessary to correctly take the medicines prescribed by the doctor, which can be antiepileptic remedies, such as Diazepam or Carbamazepine, to prevent the appearance of seizures, for example.
Symptoms of mitochondrial disease
The symptoms of mitochondrial disease depend on the affected body sites, the most common of which are:
Symptoms of mitochondrial disease in the brain
- Developmental delay; Mental retardation; Epilepsy; Autism; Frequent migraines; Dementia.
Symptoms of mitochondrial disease in the muscles
- Excessive tiredness; Muscle pain; Frequent cramps; Irritable bowel syndrome.
Symptoms of mitochondrial disease in the eyes
- Decreased visual capacity; Strabismus; Blindness.
In addition, other symptoms may also appear, such as difficulty gaining weight, vomiting, short stature and serious problems in some organs such as heart, liver, kidneys and pancreas, for example.
The symptoms of mitochondrial disease can appear in adults or shortly after birth, as it is usually a genetic disease that passes from the mother to the child during pregnancy, being a maternal inheritance. So, when a woman has mitochondrial disease and wants to become pregnant, she should do genetic counseling.
Diagnosis of mitochondrial disease
To make the diagnosis of mitochondrial disease, the geneticist must perform specific blood tests such as liver enzymes, lactate, pyruvate or quantity of amino acids in the plasma, for example, in addition to performing a muscle biopsy and computed tomography to eliminate other possible health problems. that may be causing the symptoms to appear.
