MCT for Health

If we summarize the basic studies where mice on a high-fat diet remained thin or even lost already accumulated fat, we find that the following is effective: Genetically switched off transcription factor HIF-1α ,  switching off (pseudo)hypoxia High intake of flavonols suppressing HIF-1α , so turning off (pseudo)hypoxia Genetic switching off of the NADPH oxidase NOX2 , so deactivation of the source of superoxide and hydrogen peroxide during (pseudo)hypoxia Labeling of the enzyme xanthine oxidase with ubiquinone and its removal, so  removal of the largest source of superoxide and hydrogen peroxide during a fatty diet , i.e. prevention of entry into (pseudo)hypoxia Knocking down UCP2 in pancreatic beta cells , i.e. lowering insulin levels and reducing H2O2 production, so preventing the triggering of (pseudo)hypoxia by reducing glucose entry into cells So what is this about? Some process triggers extremely high levels of superoxide and then hydrogen peroxide, which triggers defensi...

If we imagine the mitochondria as a steam power plant with a steam boiler and a generator, then we could compare mitochondrial uncoupling to a safety valve on a steam boiler. If we use a lot of electricity, everything runs as it should. But if we don't need electricity, we have to reduce the energy input to the generator. The pressure inside the steam boiler starts to rise and we have to let some of the steam out so that the boiler doesn't crash. In the mitochondrion, the electrical generator is complex V and the steam boiler is the inner mitochondrial membrane, where electrical voltage is created and maintained with the help of complexes I to IV. The discharge of voltage occurs precisely at complex V, where ATP molecules are formed. Mitochondrial uncoupling proteins (UCP) ensure controlled voltage discharge so that mitochondria are not damaged. There are two of these proteins/enzymes, UCP1 and UCP2. We will be interested in UCP2, because it is practically in every tissue, in e...