Inside nearly every person's cells are tiny kidney-bean-shaped bodies called mitochondria (Mt). Mitochondria act as tiny power plants. To do this, they "burn" sugar or fat with oxygen to produce energy. Mt need many nutrients to work properly, but the following are especially useful:
Also, these minature power plants won't work properly if they don't get enough of the right nutrients.
Mt can become damaged by certain drugs or groups of drugs, including:
Damaged Mt don't work properly and as a result don't produce enough energy for cells. This results in a power shortage, causing a cell to malfunction and even die. Malfunctioning Mt may be the underlying cause of some of the side effects experienced by PHAs who use nukes.
When Mt are not working properly they produce high levels of lactic acid. A buildup of lactic acid in the blood is called lactic acidosis, or lactic acidemia. Signs/symptoms of lactic acidosis can include:
Although higher-than-normal levels of lactic acid, or lactate, can have serious consequences, it is important to remember that severe lactic acidosis is rare. Indeed, several studies have found that less than 1% of PHAs develop this complication.
The body normally regulates the amount of lactic acid in the blood. But continuous and excessive production of lactic acid could upset the body's ability to get rid of this substance. The source of excessive lactic acid production in PHAs is not clear. Some researchers think that the liver and kidneys, whose Mt may be damaged, normally help keep lactic acid levels within a safe range. Not surprisingly, many PHAs who have lactic acidosis have malfunctioning livers.
High levels of lactic acid may have an impact on other parts of the body. For instance, this complication often causes muscles to feel "tired." As well, researchers in Eastern Australia think that lactic acidosis may be linked to the development of thinner, weaker bones.
In this issue of TreatmentUpdate, we report on several research studies dealing with nuke side effects, such as the excessive production of lactic acid and its connection to bone problems.
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Copyright © 2001 - TreatmentUpdate. Reproduced with permission. Reproduction of this article (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the Editor, The Canadian AIDS Treatment Information Exchange, 555 Richmond St. West, Suite 505, Box 1104, Toronto, ON, M5V 3B1 • Phone: 416-203-7122 • Toll Free: 1-800-263-1638 • Fax: 416-203-8284 http://www.catie.ca.
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