Fondamentaux de la santé mitochondriale & Maladies de civilisation

This pathway combines the Fundamental Core, the true entry point of the Mitochondrial Academy, and the Chronic and Lifestyle Diseases module.

The first part is the Fundamental Core: a journey through the energy history of life, from the physical laws that govern the universe to energy production at the heart of the cell. Learners explore the biology of mitochondria, their central role in cellular respiration, hormonal regulation, longevity and antioxidant defence, and their close link with the microbiota and overall health.

The second part is the Chronic and Lifestyle Diseases module. Type 2 diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, cancer, respiratory failure, chronic fatigue and post-infectious syndromes have replaced infectious diseases. Multifactorial, they do not respond to a single treatment. What they share is a terrain, and that terrain can be read in the state of the mitochondrial pool.

The module opens with the common mechanism: how a weakened mitochondrial pool produces less energy and more free radicals, loses its quality control, releases its danger signals and sustains a low-grade inflammation that, depending on the organ, becomes atherosclerosis, steatosis, fibrosis, carcinogenesis or neuroinflammation. Six parts then follow the thread of the major lifestyle diseases.

This pack is therefore a true bridge between fundamental science and integrative clinical practice: assessing the terrain, identifying the primum movens, and acting through nutrition, lifestyle and hormesis to restore mitochondrial function.

Total duration: 16 hours

Hybrid format:

E-learning: 6 h 30 of Fundamental Core + 4 h 30 of Chronic and Lifestyle Diseases module + 2 h of questions and answers + 2 h of clinical case

Live interactive session:

2 h question-and-answer webinar

At the end of this complete pathway, the learner will be able to:

• Understand the energy foundations of life and the central role of mitochondria in human physiology.
• Explain the mechanisms of cellular respiration and ATP production.
• Identify the links between mitochondrial function, microbiota, inflammation and chronic disease.
• Explain why chronic diseases rest on a mitochondrial terrain and describe the mechanisms involved: quality control (biogenesis, mitophagy, fission), signalling (AMP/ATP, NAD/NADH, PGC-1α), mitochondria-driven inflammation (DAMPs, NLRP3 inflammasome).
• Link mitochondrial dysfunction to six major pictures: low-grade inflammation and immunity, obesity and type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, respiratory failure, and the healing cycle of salutogenesis.
• Recognise the markers of the terrain: hyperinsulinism (oral glucose tolerance test, HOMA, postprandial glucose), high-sensitivity CRP, vitamin D, coenzyme Q10, micronutrients, oxidation.
• Identify in a patient the primum movens of chronic disease (sedentary lifestyle, depleted diet, toxins, stress, sleep, infections) and assess their micronutritional environment, lifestyle and microbiota.
• Build an integrative support of the mitochondrial pool: intermittent physical activity, mitochondrial nutrition, hormesis (intermittent fasting, heat, cold, hypoxia), management of oxidative stress, support of mitophagy and biogenesis, in keeping with ongoing treatments.

Module 1 · Mitochondria and chronic diseases

The global health challenge, the mitochondrial pool as a therapeutic target, the vicious circle of chronic disease and how to identify its primum movens.

• Set the stakes: why multifactorial chronic diseases have replaced infectious diseases and account for three premature deaths out of four.
• Describe the mitochondrial pool as a therapeutic target: its weight in the body, its functions beyond ATP (calcium, apoptosis, free radicals, thermogenesis, steroid hormones, detoxification).
• Explain mitochondrial quality control: biogenesis, mitophagy, DRP1-targeted fission, and the role of hormesis.

Module 2 · Mitochondria, immunity and inflammation

The mitochondrion as a signalling platform of innate immunity, glutathione, the lessons of COVID-19 and post-COVID syndrome, the energy needs of the immune response, vitamin D and coenzyme Q10.

• Link systemic low-grade inflammation, the terrain of most chronic diseases, to a deficit in mitochondrial activity.
• Describe the mitochondrion as a signalling platform of innate immunity: mitochondrial DNA, MAVS, TLR9, DRP1, inflammasome, mitochondrial proteases.
• Explain the role of reduced glutathione and itaconate in the immune response.

Module 3 · Mitochondria, obesity and type 2 diabetes

Hyperinsulinism as the common point, screening for insulin resistance before diabetes, type 2 diabetes read as a primary mitochondrial disorder, the microbiota, brown fat, key nutrients.

• Identify hyperinsulinism as the common point of metabolic syndrome, obesity and type 2 diabetes, and describe its consequences (blocked lipolysis, visceral fat, hypertension).
• Distinguish type 1 and type 2 diabetes and explain beta cell exhaustion.
• Screen for insulin resistance before diabetes: oral glucose tolerance test, HOMA, postprandial glucose.

Module 4 · Mitochondria and cardiovascular diseases

The genesis of the atheroma plaque from mitochondrial dysfunction, the heart as the most mitochondria-rich organ, the post-infarction period, statins and coenzyme Q10, vitamins K2 and D, rehabilitating the pool before exercise.

• Set cardiovascular diseases in context and the place of the mitochondrion in infarction, cardiomyopathy, arrhythmia, hypertension and atherosclerosis.
• Explain the genesis of the atheroma plaque from mitochondrial dysfunction: free radicals, oxidised or glycated LDL, macrophages, inflammation, calcification.
• Describe the heart as the most mitochondria-rich organ and the calcium fluxes required for contraction.

Module 5 · Mitochondria and cancer

The permissive terrain, oxidative stress and mutation, the Warburg effect, oncogenic mitochondria and metastatic reactivation, supporting the patient during treatment and the biomarkers of the terrain.

• Set cancer as the leading cause of premature death in Europe and as a chronic disease that calls for support.
• Explain the notion of permissive terrain: why a declared cancer reveals a failure of safeguard systems and immunity.
• Identify avoidable risk factors and the real share of heredity.

Module 6 · Mitochondria, lung and salutogenesis

COPD, emphysema and mitophagy, the NLRP3 inflammasome, the levers of care, then the paradigm shift of salutogenesis and the three-phase healing cycle driven by the mitochondrion.

• Recognise chronic respiratory failure as a disabling disease in which mitochondrial deficit plays a leading role.
• Explain how oxidative stress breaks down the alveoli and how a mitophagy disorder worsens emphysema in the smoker.
• Describe the inflammatory loop of COPD: expelled mitochondrial DNA, NLRP3 inflammasome, NF-κB pathway.

Each module draws on recent scientific literature and ends with key points to remember. One thread runs through the whole: caring for the mitochondrial pool is the condition for healing, not only for treating.

Modalités d’accès

The course is available online at any time: you start the programme as soon as you register and progress at your own pace.

Modalités pédagogiques

• Formation en ligne (asynchrone) et webinaires en direct (synchrone)
• Supports pédagogiques : vidéos, fiches pratiques, quiz, replays
• Accompagnement individuel et collectif

Modalités d’évaluation

• QCM de validation de chaque module
• Attestation de réussite délivrée à l’issue de la formation

Prérequis

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‍Public concerné‍

• Healthcare professionals, therapists, naturopaths, physiotherapists, osteopaths, health students, physical trainers, coaches, anyone wishing to deepen their understanding of mitochondrial health

Accessibilité

• Course available remotely on a dedicated platform.
  Adjustments possible according to learners' needs (contact the disability officer).