Mitochondrial dysfunction is common in PD. Mitochondria are organelle responsible for cellular energy production. Loss of function of mitochondria can lead to fatigue and other symptoms common in chronic diseases. A study in 2014 by Garth L. Nicolson, Ph.D. looked at how this can be avoided with natural supplements. Clinical trials have shown that using oral replacement supplements, such as L-carnitine, alpha-lipoic acid (α-lipoic acid [1,2-dithiolane-3-pentanoic acid]), coenzyme Q10(CoQ10 [ubiquinone]), reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH), membrane phospholipids, and other supplements can naturally restore mitochondrial function. The study conducted regression analyses of data from participants using supplements to determine if fatigue was (1) consistent, (2) occurred with a high degree of confidence, and (3) could predict further reductions in fatigue.
The study concluded that oral natural supplements containing membrane phospholipids, CoQ10, microencapsulated NADH, l-carnitine, α-lipoic acid, and other nutrients can help restore mitochondrial function and reduce intractable fatigue in patients with chronic illnesses.