Author: Rohan Smith | Functional and Nutritional Medicine | Adelaide, SA Quick Answer Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a fat-soluble compound that functions as an essential electron carrier in the mitochondrial electron transport chain — the process your cells use to produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the body’s primary energy currency. In chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), mitochondrial…
Author: Rohan Smith | Functional Medicine Practitioner | Adelaide, SA Quick Answer Long COVID and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) are not formally the same diagnosis, but research suggests they may share substantial biological overlap. Both conditions are classified as post-viral syndromes and are commonly associated with persistent fatigue, post-exertional malaise (PEM), cognitive dysfunction, immune…
Author: Rohan Smith | Functional Medicine Practitioner | Adelaide, SA Quick Answer Circadian rhythm disruption is commonly associated with non-restorative sleep and persistent fatigue in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS). When the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) loses alignment with environmental light-dark cycles, melatonin secretion timing may shift, fragmenting sleep architecture. Evidence-informed strategies including morning light exposure,…
Author: Rohan Smith | Functional Medicine Practitioner | Adelaide, SA Quick Answer Persistent fatigue unrelieved by rest may indicate myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) or post-viral fatigue such as long COVID. These conditions are associated with post-exertional malaise, mitochondrial dysfunction, immune dysregulation, and neuroinflammation. A functional medicine approach aims to identify these underlying biological contributors…
Author: Rohan Smith | Functional Medicine Practitioner | Adelaide, SA Quick Answer Waking up exhausted despite adequate sleep may be driven by sleep perception rather than sleep duration. Research by Alia Crum and Christina Draganich has shown that beliefs about sleep quality can directly alter next-day cognitive performance, cortisol regulation, and perceived energy levels. Addressing…
Author: Rohan Smith | Functional Medicine Practitioner | Adelaide, SA Quick Answer Chronic fatigue is rarely caused by a single problem. Persistent exhaustion may involve disruptions in mitochondrial ATP production, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis cortisol regulation, immune activation (including Epstein-Barr virus reactivation), gut microbiome imbalance, and autonomic nervous system dysregulation. Standard pathology may appear normal because…
Author: Rohan Smith | Functional Medicine Practitioner | Adelaide, SA Quick Answer Persistent exhaustion despite adequate sleep may indicate HPA axis dysregulation rather than a sleep problem. Chronic stress can flatten the diurnal cortisol rhythm regulated by the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, impairing morning alertness and energy restoration. This functional pattern, common in high-performing individuals and caregivers,…
Author: Rohan Smith | Functional Medicine Practitioner | Adelaide, SA Quick Answer Functional medicine may help identify the root causes of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS/ME) by examining interconnected systems rather than isolated symptoms. This approach investigates thyroid hormone conversion, HPA axis dysregulation, gut microbiome imbalances, mitochondrial dysfunction, and post-viral immune activation, areas often missed by…
Author: Rohan Smith | Functional Medicine Practitioner | Adelaide, SA Quick Answer Persistent fatigue despite eight hours of sleep may indicate impaired mitochondrial function rather than poor sleep quality. Mitochondria produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the molecule that powers all cellular activity. When mitochondrial energy production is compromised by factors such as oxidative stress, nutrient deficiencies,…
Author: Rohan Smith | Functional Medicine Practitioner | Adelaide, SA Quick Answer Mitochondrial dysfunction is increasingly recognised as a contributor to the persistent fatigue of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). Current research, including work by Missailidis et al. (2020) and Robert Naviaux’s metabolomics studies, suggests that mitochondrial function may be partially supported through targeted nutritional…
