The Tiny Electron: A Hidden Threat to Your Health
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Chapter 1: The Role of Electrons in Our Health
When we think about electrons, we often link them to electricity. Indeed, they play a crucial role in the electrical energy we utilize daily. However, this discussion emphasizes the impact electrons can have on our well-being. What exactly is their role in our health?
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Section 1.1: Understanding Energy Production in Our Bodies
Our bodies are composed of approximately 38 trillion cells, and these cells don't operate on direct electrical energy. If that were the case, we could simply plug ourselves into a power source for a recharge. Instead, we derive energy from the food and beverages we consume. Carbohydrates are converted into glucose, while fats transform into ketones, which further convert into acetyl-coenzyme A (acetyl-CoA), as detailed in The Science of Ketosis.
Acetyl-CoA enters the tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA), also known as the citric acid cycle or Krebs cycle. This process generates reduced forms of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) and flavin adenine dinucleotide (FADH2). These molecules are subsequently oxidized through the electron transport chain, a crucial step in our energy production. Electrons are extracted from NADH and FADH, and they are carried along the chain by Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10). Protons are pumped from the mitochondrial matrix into the intermembrane space, creating a proton gradient, which ultimately leads to the reduction of molecular oxygen into water.
In the mitochondria, the ATP synthase enzyme utilizes this proton gradient to produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the main energy currency for our cells.
Section 1.2: Potential Defects in the Electron Transport Chain
Despite its essential functions, the electron transport chain can experience defects. Some electrons may escape the chain and react with molecular oxygen, forming superoxide radicals—reactive oxygen species (ROS) that contribute to aging, as discussed in Vanity and Aging As Linked By The Same Chemical, Really.
These superoxide radicals can wreak havoc in the body, leading to the oxidation of low-density lipoproteins (LDL), as explored in Now, Seriously, What’s So Tricky About Cholesterol?, and contributing to hypertension by constantly constricting our arteries (see You Don’t Have To Be Pressured About Hypertension — Or Do You?).
Fortunately, our cells produce endogenous glutathione, an antioxidant that helps neutralize these harmful ROS. However, we must consistently produce enough glutathione; otherwise, our bodies can slip into a state of oxidative stress.
Chapter 2: The Impact of Oxidative Stress
Oxidative stress can dramatically alter the biochemical balance within our bodies, which is usually finely regulated. This alteration prompts certain cells to increase the production of specific substances while reducing others. One notable consequence is the heightened production of the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin 1-beta (IL-1β), which poses various health risks:
- IL-1β interferes with insulin signaling, leading to insulin resistance and potentially Type 2 diabetes (refer to Type 2 Diabetes — A Case of The Immune System Gone Bad, Too?).
- It prompts osteoclast cells in the bone to break down mineral faster than osteoblasts can create it, resulting in osteopenia and eventually osteoporosis (see Why Does Osteoporosis Affect Post-Menopausal Women More Significantly Than Other People?).
- IL-1β also drives macrophage cells in our immune system to produce matrix metalloproteinase enzymes, which can impact our joints, contributing to conditions such as osteoarthritis (discussed in What The Deuce Is Different Between Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis?) or influence atherosclerotic plaques (explained in Now, Seriously, What’s So Tricky About Cholesterol?).
The Problem Is… Progression Is Gradual
Health issues like heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, and osteoarthritis don't develop overnight. We don't wake up one day feeling joint pain; these conditions build up over time. Atherosclerotic plaques accumulate, blood glucose levels rise, and bone minerals gradually dissolve. This slow progression can go unnoticed until a doctor reveals elevated blood pressure.
Just one electron can initiate this cascade of health issues, accumulating gradually over the years. Poor lifestyle choices, as I elaborate in Four Ways That Our Lifestyle Affects Our Immune System, can exacerbate the problem. Stress, lack of exercise, poor nutrition, and sleep deprivation all contribute to the issue.
Similar to how a cup fills to the brim with each drop, oxidative stress accumulates through the steady leakage of electrons from the electron transport chain. With 38 trillion potential leakage points, the risk is omnipresent.
It only takes one electron—so small it cannot be seen, even smaller than a COVID-19 particle. A single spark can ignite a fire, and once that fire rages within our bodies, it creates a cascade of inflammatory signals that can be challenging to extinguish.
Joel Yong, PhD, is a biochemical engineer/scientist, educator, and writer. He has authored one eBook available on Amazon.com and co-authored six journal articles in reputable scientific journals. His primary focus is on elucidating the fundamental biochemical mechanisms that are often overlooked in traditional medical education. Connect with him through his website.
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