Every breath you take, every heartbeat, and every thought you form relies on one thing, energy. That energy comes from your mitochondria, the tiny structures inside your cells often called the powerhouses of your body. These remarkable organelles generate more than 90 percent of your total energy through a process called the electron transport chain.
When your mitochondria are working well, you feel clear-headed, strong, and energized. When they are not, every system in your body suffers, leading to fatigue, inflammation, slower recovery, and accelerated aging.
PUR-FORM now offers the MitoSwab™ test, a breakthrough tool that allows us to see how well your mitochondria are functioning. This simple, painless cheek swab provides insights that previously required an invasive muscle biopsy, with an 84 percent correlation to that gold standard. Most importantly, it gives us a precise roadmap for designing the right treatment plan for you.
Why Your Mitochondria Influence How You Age
Mitochondria do much more than produce energy. They regulate inflammation, metabolism, DNA repair, and even cell survival. Research shows that mitochondrial dysfunction is not just a part of aging. It is a major driver of it.
As mitochondria accumulate damage, they produce more free radicals, lose efficiency, and struggle to convert nutrients into usable energy. The result is reduced stamina, weaker muscles, slower thinking, higher inflammation, and a greater risk of chronic disease. Individuals with healthier mitochondria consistently live longer and maintain better health throughout life.
Supporting mitochondrial health is one of the most evidence-based strategies for improving both lifespan and healthspan.
Understanding Your Cellular Energy System
Think of the electron transport chain as a five-step assembly line that creates energy. These steps are called Complexes I, II, III, IV, and citrate synthase. Electrons extracted from the food you eat pass through these steps and ultimately create ATP, the energy molecule your body depends on.
If any step in the chain is not working properly, energy production drops and free radicals increase. The MitoSwab test measures the efficiency of each step, allowing us to pinpoint exactly where your system needs support. This shifts treatment from guesswork to precision care.
Personalized Treatment Plans Based on MitoSwab Results
Below is a simplified explanation of what it means when different parts of your energy system are low and how we treat each one.
Complex I Deficiency
This is the most common issue. When Complex I is slow, electrons back up and increase free radical damage.
Treatment Approach
- Riboflavin (vitamin B2) to help electrons move correctly
- Coenzyme Q10 (ubiquinol) to support energy production
- NAD plus therapy or nicotinamide riboside to provide fuel for energy production
- Elamipretide, a mitochondrial peptide, to stabilize the system
Complex II Deficiency
Complex II has a dual role in energy production.
Treatment Approach
- Riboflavin to support function
- High dose CoQ10
- Broad B vitamin complex to fuel the Krebs cycle
- Alpha lipoic acid to improve metabolic efficiency
Complex III Deficiency
This checkpoint acts as a bottleneck. When it slows down, the entire system backs up.
Treatment Approach
- High dose CoQ10
- Antioxidants including vitamins E and C, alpha lipoic acid, and NAC to replenish glutathione
- Elamipretide to reduce electron leak and improve efficiency
Complex IV Deficiency
This is the last step in the chain. Low levels affect the brain and muscles significantly.
Treatment Approach
- Copper with vitamin C to enhance Complex IV activity
- Carefully monitored iron replacement if needed
- Photobiomodulation therapy using red and near infrared light to boost Complex IV performance
Citrate Synthase Deficiency
Low levels may indicate too few mitochondria or sluggish metabolic function.
Treatment Approach
- Exercise to stimulate new mitochondrial growth
- Low dose intermittent rapamycin to promote mitochondrial renewal
- Urolithin A to improve mitochondrial quality and function
- Selective use of bezafibrate to activate mitochondrial biogenesis
- Alpha lipoic acid and acetyl L carnitine to support the Krebs cycle
- B vitamins to fuel energy enzymes
- Creatine to provide an energy reserve
Universal Mitochondrial Support
All patients benefit from foundational therapies that improve mitochondrial resilience.
- EBO2 blood ozone dialysis activates antioxidant defenses and stimulates mitochondrial repair
- NAD+ therapy through IV or oral supplementation
- Stem cell or exosome therapy promotes regeneration
- Hyperbaric oxygen therapy increases cellular oxygen availability
- Mitochondrial peptides such as MOTS-c and humanin optimize function
Transforming Health at the Cellular Level
The MitoSwab test represents a major step forward in personalized longevity medicine. Instead of guessing which supplements to take, we can now map your energy system and create a plan based on your biology.
Since mitochondrial dysfunction contributes to nearly every chronic disease, improving mitochondrial health may be one of the most effective ways to boost energy, slow aging, and optimize overall vitality.
It all begins with a simple cheek swab you can do at home. In a few weeks, you will receive a detailed report of your mitochondrial function and a personalized protocol designed to increase energy, reduce oxidative stress, and support long-term health.
Contact our office to order your MitoSwab test and schedule your mitochondrial health consultation. The path to better health starts inside your cells, and we are here to guide you every step of the way.
– Dr. P
