|
|
|
|
|
|
This article may be reprinted free of charge provided 1) that there is clear attribution to the Orthomolecular Medicine News Service, and 2) that both the OMNS free subscription link http://orthomolecular.org/subscribe.html and also the OMNS archive link http://orthomolecular.org/resources/omns/index.shtml are included. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
From Mutation to Metabolism: Carcinogens as Toxin-Induced Mitochondrial Disruptors
Commentary by Richard Z. Cheng, M.D., Ph.D., Editor-in-Chief IntroductionFor decades, the dominant model of cancer has been built on a simple dogma: carcinogens cause genetic mutations, which then drive tumor initiation and progression. But what if this view is incomplete? What if carcinogens - as toxins - also damage other vital structures, especially our cellular powerhouses, the mitochondria? Looking Beyond MutationsCarcinogens have traditionally been classified by their ability to cause genetic mutations. But toxins often act through multiple mechanisms. I began with a simple hypothesis: major categories of carcinogens-industrial pollutants, pesticides, heavy metals, food additives, and endocrine disruptors-may also damage mitochondria. If this is the case, their impact extends well beyond DNA mutations, affecting the fundamental energy and survival systems of the cell. Therefore, I undertook a comprehensive search to examine whether these carcinogens not only cause mutations but also impair mitochondrial function-and thus contribute not only to cancer, but also to other major diseases such as ASCVD, type 2 diabetes, and even aging. FindingsIndeed, the evidence is clear: many officially recognized carcinogens cause mitochondrial injury. They damage the electron transport chain, amplify oxidative stress, and compromise energy metabolism. And the consequences are not limited to cancer. The same exposures are strongly linked to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Traditionally, T2DM has been thought of simply as a "sugar disease." But this paper shows it is far more than that. Just as cancer can be reframed as a disease of toxin overload and mitochondrial dysfunction, so too can T2DM. Environmental and dietary toxins damage mitochondria, drive oxidative stress, and set the stage for chronic metabolic failure. Similarly, ASCVD has long been conventionally viewed as a "high cholesterol disease." Yet the evidence demonstrates that toxins and mitochondrial injury are also central to its development. Oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, and metabolic disruption - triggered by toxic exposures - are as critical as cholesterol levels in driving vascular damage. A Broader FrameworkThis reframes how we should think about carcinogens. They are not simply mutagens. They are upstream drivers of mitochondrial dysfunction. By targeting the cell's energy system, carcinogens can initiate a cascade of damage that underlies not just cancer, but also cardiovascular disease and diabetes. And the implications may go even further. If toxins and mitochondrial dysfunction are the common root, then many other chronic conditions - from neurodegenerative diseases to autoimmune disorders - could also be traced back to the same mechanisms. Orthomolecular ImplicationsThis recognition highlights the need for nutritional and orthomolecular strategies - high-dose antioxidants, detoxification, and lifestyle interventions - to protect mitochondrial function. Prevention and treatment must expand beyond a narrow genetic, cholesterol, or glucose focus to include metabolic and nutritional defense. New Paper AvailableMy new paper, which is now on Preprints for public view, develops this framework in detail and provides supporting evidence: Cheng, R. Z. From Mutation to Metabolism: Environmental and Dietary Toxins as Upstream Drivers of Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Chronic Disease. Preprints 2025, 2025091767. https://www.preprints.org/manuscript/202509.1767/v1 About the AuthorRichard Z. Cheng, M.D., Ph.D. - Editor-in-Chief, Orthomolecular Medicine News Service Dr. Cheng is a U.S.-based, NIH-trained, board-certified physician specializing in integrative cancer therapy, orthomolecular medicine, functional & anti-aging medicine. He maintains active practices in both the United States and China. A Fellow of the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine and a Hall of Fame inductee of the International Society for Orthomolecular Medicine, Dr. Cheng is a leading advocate for nutrition-based, root-cause health strategies. He also serves as an expert reviewer for the South Carolina Board of Medical Examiners, and co-founded both the China Low Carb Medicine Alliance and the Society of International Metabolic Oncology. Dr. Cheng offers online Integrative Orthomolecular Medicine consultation services.
Orthomolecular MedicineOrthomolecular medicine uses safe, effective nutritional therapy to fight illness. For more information: http://www.orthomolecular.org Find a DoctorTo locate an orthomolecular physician near you: http://orthomolecular.org/resources/omns/v06n09.shtml The peer-reviewed Orthomolecular Medicine News Service is a non-profit and non-commercial informational resource. Editorial Review Board:
Jennifer L. Aliano, M.S., L.Ac., C.C.N. (USA)
Comments and media contact: editor@orthomolecular.org OMNS welcomes but is unable to respond to individual reader emails. Reader comments become the property of OMNS and may or may not be used for publication. To Subscribe at no charge: http://www.orthomolecular.org/subscribe.html To Unsubscribe from this list: http://www.orthomolecular.org/unsubscribe.html |
This website is managed by Riordan Clinic
A Non-profit 501(c)(3) Medical, Research and Educational Organization
3100 North Hillside Avenue, Wichita, KS 67219 USA
Phone: 316-682-3100; Fax: 316-682-5054
© (Riordan Clinic) 2004 - 2024c
Information on Orthomolecular.org is provided for educational purposes only. It is not intended as medical advice.
Consult your orthomolecular health care professional for individual guidance on specific health problems.