Natural Health Breakthroughs
WHAT IS FATIGUE AND HOW IS IT TREATED?

Most of us are familiar with fatigue.  It’s when you’re so tired you can’t perform even simple tasks.  Chronic fatigue is when you feel fatigued almost all of the time.

We posed a number of questions to Professor Garth L. Nicolson, Ph.D., Nobel-Prize nominated scientist, and President and Chief Scientific Officer of The Institute for Molecular Medicine about this important issue.

Professor Nicolson, Why do people get chronic fatigue?  

Chronic fatigue or fatigue that lingers and is not reversed by normal sleep occurs naturally during aging and in most degenerative diseases, including neurological, respiratory, coronary, musculoskeletal, metabolic and gastrointestinal diseases, infections and cancer.

Should we be concerned about fatigue, even if it’s a natural process of aging?

Absolutely.  Chronic or intractable fatigue that is not reversed by sleep is the most common complaint of patients seeking medical care.  It is also an important secondary condition in many degenerative diseases.  If we are chronically fatigued, it is a sign at a cellular level that there may be significant damage to the mitochondria, which are the energy sources that are like little batteries inside our cells that provide cells with high energy molecules.

Why is that important?

Damage to mitochondrial components, especially mitochondrial membranes, which occurs mainly by oxidation, can result in increased ion leakage across mitochondrial membranes, and this can impair the ability of mitochondria to produce high-energy molecules needed for cellular metabolism, and eventually for cell survival and growth.  It can be thought of like having the batteries in your flashlight leak through the protective outer insulation, and the result is loss of your light as the batteries are drained rather quickly.

What does that mean in laymen’s terms to our bodies?

It means that damage is happening to your cells every day from contaminants, toxins and other sources.  It’s primarily caused by oxidation, and it’s like rust formation.  When metals rust, they oxidize and eventually fall apart.  The human body can be thought of as similar.  When our cells “rust,” our cellular membranes are damaged, and small holes appear in the membranes that allows ions that are normally sequestered in particular compartments to flow freely, damaging cellular function.  That’s how we can end up in an energy-deficient “diseased” state.  The mitochondria are no longer protected by the “rusted” membranes, and they can no longer produce high energy molecules.  This is perceived as chronic tiredness or fatigue that sleep won’t alleviate.

What exactly in the cell gets damaged from this oxidation?

During aging and most chronic diseases the production of free radical oxidative molecules, such as Reactive Oxygen and Nitrogen species (ROS/RNS), can cause oxidative stress and cellular damage, resulting in oxidation of lipids, proteins and our genetic material or DNA.  When oxidized, these molecules are structurally and sometimes functionally changed.  These ROS/RNS molecules target mitochondria primarily in the lipid parts of the mitochondrial membranes, as well as cellular and mitochondrial DNA. 

Why is this important?

Everyone needs to understand that when our cell membranes are damaged, it hinders our ability to create high energy molecules, and this can open us up to disease.  With the replacement of the damaged or oxidized lipids, it is possible to rebuild the cell membrane and actually reverse the damage.  If we can rebuild cell function, we can rebuild an oxidation damaged body.  From a diseased state, this offers hope and healing.  From a healthy state, it offers longevity and holds off the effects of diseases associated with aging.  The longer we can keep our cells healthy and producing energy, the longer we can live and enjoy active lives.

Is there something on the market now that can prevent this oxidative cell damage?

Dietary antioxidants and some accessory molecules, such as zinc, magnesium salts and certain vitamins, are important in maintaining antioxidant and free-radical scavenging systems that neutralize the damaging oxidants. In addition to zinc, magnesium and vitamins, there are at least 40 micronutrients required in the human diet, and aging increases their need to prevent age-associated damage to mitochondria and other cellular elements. Antioxidant use alone, however, may not be sufficient to maintain cellular components free of oxidative damage, and it cannot reverse the damage once it occurs. Thus, we have developed Lipid Replacement Therapy to replace oxidation-damaged membrane lipids.

What is Lipid Replacement Therapy?

Lipid Replacement Therapy is the dietary ingestion of undamaged lipids to replace damaged cellular and mitochondrial membrane phospholipids and other lipids.  

However, just having undamaged lipids in your diet is not the same as Lipid Replacement Therapy.  The lipids have to be protected during storage, ingestion, digestion and transport to the cells.  We have developed the product called NTFactor® to perform this function, and it has been shown to be very effective in reversing oxidative damage to critical membranes in animal and clinical lipid replacement studies.

What is NT Factor and how does it work?

NT Factor contains encapsulated or protected lipids taken as a daily oral supplement.  The lipids are protected from oxidation and can be absorbed and transported into tissues without oxidative damage. This dietary supplement contains a variety of components, including phospholipids, glycophospholipids and other lipids, nutrients, probiotics (“friendly bacteria” that help our digestion), vitamins, minerals and plant extracts.

And this NT Factor® rebuilds my damaged cells?

Yes, it has proven itself in many clinical studies to effectively rebuild mitochondrial membranes, improve their function and increase cellular energy.  

In a study with severely chronic fatigued patients we found that fatigue was reduced approximately 40.5%, from severe to moderate or mild fatigue, after eight weeks of supplementation with NT Factor.

In another recent study, moderately and mildly fatigued used NT Factor® for 8 or 12 weeks resulting in a 33% or 35.5% reduction in fatigue, respectively.  In this clinical trial there was good correspondence between reductions in fatigue and gains in mitochondrial function. After only 8 weeks of NT Factor®, mitochondrial function was significantly improved and after 12 weeks supplementation, mitochondrial function was found to be similar to that of young healthy adults.  In fact, now there is a new product containing NT Factor that can reduce fatigue significantly in one week so you won’t have to wait weeks to see the benefits of NT Factor.

So, Dr. Nicolson, do you recommend NT Factor?

NT Factor® is the only product I know of on the market that effectively rebuilds mitochondrial function by replacing damaged lipids in mitochondrial membranes, resulting in an increase in cellular energy and improved cellular function.   I have personally conducted many studies on the product and have seen firsthand its effectiveness.   I recommend it to everyone interested in reducing fatigue, increasing energy and improving health and longevity!

WHY SHOULD WE AVOID PRESCRIPTION DRUGS OR PRODUCTS CONTAINING CAFFEINE, SUGAR AND OTHER ADDITIVES?
Pharmaceutical drugs typically contain chemicals that are not natural to the body.  If we can treat our bodies naturally, and it works, isn’t it always better?  Of course!  The problem is that many so-called “natural” products contain things that could actually be just as harmful as drugs.  For example, many energy drinks and natural supplements contain caffeine and/or large amounts of sugar, which have been proven to give you an instant “pick-me-up” but drop you down quickly and are actually harmful to your cells.  Many cells, such as the cells in the breast tissue of women, are highly susceptible to changes because of caffeine.  Additionally, caffeine, like sugar, over-stimulates the adrenals and then weakens them with persistent or chronic use.  What happens when we over-stimulate our adrenals?  EVEN WORSE FATIGUE!  Now we have begun a chain reaction of damage to our organs, when all the while we thought we were helping our fatigue.  
One of the most significant breakthroughs of the decade is a nutritional compound made up of food components that provide extra nourishment and repairs and rebuilds cell membrane and mitochondrial function (where we naturally produce energy).  It repairs damage to cells and prevents future damage.  Why choose something unnatural and unhealthy when other options are available?  For more information, go online to www.ntfactor.com.

HOW TIRED ARE YOU?  DO YOU WANT TO TAKE THE SAME FATIGUE SURVEY THAT SCIENTISTS USE TO ASSESS FATIGUE?
The following survey is called the “Piper Fatigue Survey” and can measure your level of fatigue.  Find out where you are now, and learn what can help. This validated survey form was developed to assess fatigue in cancer patients. Now you can take the same survey that scientists use to track fatigue in clinical studies to see how fatigue is quantitated.
Fatigue Survey*

Choose a response that best describes the tiredness or fatigue you are experiencing now or for today. Try to answer all 22 questions to the best of your ability for the most accurate results. If you are not experiencing fatigue now or today, fill in the circle indicating "1" for your response.	
1 	To what degree is the fatigue you are feeling now  causing you distress? 	No Distress	
A Great Deal	

	

2 	To what degree is the fatigue you are feeling now interfering with your ability to complete your work or school activities? 	None	
A Great Deal	

	

3 	To what degree is the fatigue you are feeling now interfering with your ability to socialize with your friends? 	None	
A Great Deal	

	

4 	To what degree is the fatigue you are feeling now interfering with your ability to engage in sexual activity? 	None	
A Great Deal	

	

5 	Overall, how much is the fatigue which you are now experiencing interfering with your ability to engage in the kind of activities you enjoy doing? 	None	
A Great Deal	

	

6 	How would you describe the degree of intensity or severity of the fatigue which you are experiencing now? 	Mild	
Severe	

	

7 	To what degree would you describe the fatigue which you are experiencing now as being... 	Pleasant	
Unpleasant	

	

8 	To what degree would you describe the fatigue which you are experiencing now as being... 	Agreeable	
Disagreeable	

	

9 	To what degree would you describe the fatigue which you are experiencing now as being... 	Protective	
Destructive	

	

10 	To what degree would you describe the fatigue which you are experiencing now as being... 	Positive	
Negative	

	

11 	To what degree would you describe the fatigue which you are experiencing now as being... 	Normal	
Abnormal	

	

12 	To what degree are you now feeling... 	Strong	
Weak	

	

13 	To what degree are you now feeling... 	Awake	
Sleepy	

	

14 	To what degree are you now feeling... 	Lively	
Listless	

	

15 	To what degree are you now feeling... 	Refreshed	
Tired	

	

16 	To what degree are you now feeling... 	Energetic	
Unenergetic	

	

17 	To what degree are you now feeling... 	Patient	
Impatient	

	

18 	To what degree are you now feeling... 	Relaxed	
Tense	

	

19 	To what degree are you now feeling... 	Exhilarated	
Depressed	

1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9 10 	

	
20 	To what degree are you now feeling... 	Able to 
concentrate	
Unable to
concentrate	

	

21 	To what degree are you now feeling... 	Able to
remember	
Unable to
remember	

	

22 	To what degree are you now feeling... 	Able to
think clearly	
Unable to
think clearly	

	

	
Your Fatigue Survey Results:
Score: 22-66     Some or Mild Fatigue      Recommendation:  NT Factor 1x day
Score:  67-132    Moderate Fatigue	        Recommendation:  NT Factor 2x day
Score:  133-220   Severe Fatigue	        Recommendation:  NT Factor 3x day

No matter where your fatigue levels are, NT Factor can rebuild your cells and give you back the energy of your youth safely and naturally, without additives, sugar or caffeine.  NT Factor is completely made from food extracts and is safe to take with medications.