What Is Metabolic Dysfunction & How Do We Treat It?

I recently listened to a podcast where a Medical Doctor gives her profound perspective about the causes of metabolic dysfunction, which she believes is the core of most modern world chronic illnesses. The stats she shares are SHOCKING, her information makes so much sense and absolutely within the realms of our practice as Naturopaths and Nutritionists, and I felt a real sense of pride that most of what she talks about is the nuts and bolts of what we educate our patients on here at Perpetual Wellbeing. Soon after I had listened to the podcast, the Complementary Medicine Association (CMA) presented their 2024 Industry insights to some members of parliament – ”In Australia today 1 in 2 people have at least one chronic health condition!!”, even more SHOCKING!!

By Caryn Levick ND

We don’t see a diagnosed condition as a single ‘silo’ or ‘bucket’ that needs a band-aid approach, but rather our specialty is finding the underlying cause of the biochemical dysfunction that is causing the symptoms of a given diagnosed condition/s.

It is common practice for specialists to be head down in their specialty lane and not actually step out and look at the big picture of how things are connected, when, in fact, it’s all connected. 

ADHD symptoms are managed with a drug, hormonal imbalances are managed with a drug, depression is managed with a drug, infertility is addressed with drugs. The medical system enforces this view where diabetes, heart disease, depression, kidney disease, cancer all separate things. If you have those conditions, you’re seeing five separate doctors, and often they’re not speaking to each other.

People aren’t truly getting well, with a drug as the solution.

As Naturopaths and Nutritionists, we are more interested in finding out WHY chronic health conditions are happening and how we can prevent them.

What is Metabolic Dysfunction?

One major contributing factor in a lot of chronic health conditions is metabolic dysfunction. Metabolic dysfunction is the dysregulation of how cells produce and use energy. We need to ask the very cells that are responsible for generating our cellular energy, what is happening at a cellular level? 

When we dig for the underlying cause of a patients’ presenting symptoms, we realise that often a lot of their symptoms and disease processes result from metabolic dysfunction. Metabolic dysfunction negatively alters the body’s processing and distribution of macronutrients, such as proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. Metabolic disorders can happen when abnormal chemical reactions in the body alter the normal metabolic process.

Metabolic dysfunction can form due to a combination of genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. Here are some key contributors:

1. Insulin Resistance: This occurs when cells become less responsive to insulin, a hormone that helps regulate blood sugar levels. Over time, this can lead to type 2 diabetes and other metabolic disorders.
2. Poor Diet: Diets high in refined sugars, unhealthy fats, and low in nutrients can disrupt metabolic processes, leading to conditions like metabolic syndrome.
3. Sedentary Lifestyle: Lack of physical activity can contribute to weight gain and insulin resistance, increasing the risk of metabolic diseases.
4. Chronic Stress: Prolonged stress can lead to elevated levels of cortisol, which may impact blood sugar regulation and fat storage.
5. Obesity: Excess body fat, particularly around the abdomen, can lead to metabolic dysfunction. Adipose tissue can release hormones and inflammatory substances that affect insulin sensitivity and lipid metabolism.
6. Genetic Factors: Some metabolic diseases are inherited. Mutations in specific genes can disrupt normal metabolic pathways.

The Cell Danger Response

The Cell Danger Response (CDR) is a concept that describes how cells react to stress or injury. When cells experience a threat—such as infection, injury, or toxic exposure—they initiate a protective response. This response includes:

1. Metabolic Changes: Cells may shift their metabolism to prioritize survival over growth and reproduction. This can lead to altered energy production and nutrient usage.
2. Inflammation: The CDR often involves an inflammatory response, which is the body’s way of signaling that something is wrong. While inflammation is a protective mechanism, chronic activation can contribute to metabolic dysfunction.
3. Hormonal Changes: The response can involve the release of stress hormones, such as cortisol, which can impact metabolism and other bodily functions. Conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) involve hormonal imbalances that can disrupt metabolic function.
4. Cellular Communication: Cells send signals to each other to coordinate a response to the perceived threat, influencing processes like immune response and tissue repair.

Chronic activation of the CDR, often due to ongoing stressors (like poor diet, lack of exercise, or chronic illness), can lead to sustained metabolic dysfunction. Essentially, while the CDR is a protective mechanism, when it becomes chronic, it can contribute to health issues, including metabolic disorders.

The Link To Mitochondrial Health

Mitochondrial Health is closely linked to Metabolic dysfunction, as mitochondria are the cell’s powerhouses responsible for producing energy. Here’s how mitochondrial dysfunction can contribute to metabolic dysfunction:

1. Energy Production: Mitochondria convert nutrients into ATP (adenosine triphosphate), the primary energy currency of cells. When mitochondria are damaged or dysfunctional, energy production decreases, leading to fatigue and impaired metabolic processes.
2. Oxidative Stress: Dysfunctional mitochondria can produce excess reactive oxygen species (ROS), leading to oxidative stress. This stress can damage cellular components, including lipids, proteins, and DNA, disrupting normal metabolic functions.
3. Fatty Acid Oxidation: Mitochondria play a critical role in breaking down fatty acids for energy. If mitochondrial function is impaired, it can lead to the accumulation of lipids in tissues, contributing to conditions like non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and obesity.
4. Insulin Resistance: Mitochondrial dysfunction can impair insulin signaling pathways, leading to insulin resistance. This is often seen in conditions like type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome.
5. Metabolic Pathways: Mitochondria are involved in various metabolic pathways, including the citric acid cycle (Krebs cycle). Dysfunction in these pathways can disrupt the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins.
6. Apoptosis Regulation: Mitochondria also play a role in regulating programmed cell death (apoptosis). Dysregulation can lead to cell survival when it should not, contributing to chronic inflammation and metabolic diseases.

Overall, mitochondrial health is crucial for maintaining metabolic function. Addressing mitochondrial dysfunction through lifestyle changes, nutrition, and potentially targeted therapies can help improve metabolic health and reduce the risk of related diseases.

The interplay of all these factors often creates a complex environment that can lead to POOR CELLULAR HEALTH, and metabolic diseases over time.

How Do We Assess & Treat Metabolic Dysfunction?

As Naturopaths and Clinical Nutritionists, we use various assessment tools, including general and functional pathology, as well as our health assessment questioning to get to the root of your symptoms. One example of a common test we request is the Organic Acid test.

The organic acid test (OAT) can provide valuable insights into metabolic function, but it doesn’t confirm metabolic dysfunction on its own. Instead, it measures various organic acids in urine, which can indicate how well the body is metabolizing nutrients, detoxifying, and producing energy.

Key aspects of what the OAT can reveal include:

1. Metabolite Levels: Elevated or decreased levels of specific organic acids can suggest issues with metabolic pathways, such as carbohydrate, fat, or protein metabolism.
2. Nutrient Deficiencies: Certain organic acids may indicate deficiencies in vitamins or minerals necessary for metabolic processes, such as B vitamins or Coenzyme Q10.
3. Dysfunction in Specific Pathways: The test can help identify problems in specific metabolic pathways, such as the Krebs cycle or fatty acid oxidation.
4. Toxic Exposure: Some organic acids can reflect exposure to environmental toxins or substances that may disrupt metabolic function.

While the OAT can provide insights that suggest metabolic dysfunction, our practitioners will always interpret it in the context of other tests, clinical history, and symptoms. We then integrate these findings to assess overall metabolic health.

A reminder and a promise to all our patients, the six foundation principles that the Naturopaths and Nutritionists at Perpetual Wellbeing practice are:

1. Find and treat the cause 

There is a time and place for symptom suppression, however most of our patients will benefit from identifying the underlying causes of illness and removing obstacles preventing good health.

2. Treat the whole person

We understand the interconnectedness of the human body, our environment and our lifestyle on total health. It is only through this whole-person-based approach that we seek to restore balance and health.

3. Doctor as teacher

We aim to elevate patient health literacy. That means that we are part of the team helping patients have a better understanding of what it takes to be and stay well. Through education and a trust-based relationship, patients better understand the steps they need to take to achieve and maintain health.

4. First, do no harm

Core to all medical practice is the desire to help the human form and condition. We typically approach care by utilizing the most natural, least invasive and least toxic therapies.

5. The healing power of nature

The healing power of nature is the inherent self-organizing and healing process of living systems which establishes, maintains and restores health. It is your practitioner’s role to support, facilitate and augment this process by identifying and removing obstacles to health and recovery, and by supporting the creation of a healthy internal and external environment.

6. Prevention

We affirm that it is better to prevent illness and suffering whenever possible. Through our comprehensive practice, we combine all six principles in order to identify potential areas of imbalance and teach patients how to get well and stay well.

We encourage all of our patients to take a proactive, not reactive approach to their health. Ask questions, we are here to help you understand the cause of your symptoms rather than apply a band-aid for the long term.