Metabolism and ATP production

It is well known that in humans in order for locomotion to occur ATP must be available to the muscle as well as all other cells. The biochemistry of metabolism is centered in the synthesis of carbohydrates, fats, proteins and nucleic acids. For the purpose of this discussion we shall concern ourselves primarily with the metabolism, utilization and transport of fats as they pertain to the production of ATP.

In carbohydrate metabolism that involves the glycolysis of glucose molecules to pyruvic acid for the purpose of feeding the Krebs Cycle with high-energy molecules, a process called chemiosmosis is used to pump protons across a membrane and provide the energy for ATP synthesis. The electron carrying coenzyme molecules from the Krebs Cycle enter the chemiosmosis process, the electrons are lost from the coenzymes, the energy is used to pump protons across the mitochondrial membrane, and as the protons flow to the outer compartment of the mitochondrion the energy from the electron flow is used to synthesize ATP molecules.

In contrast, in the metabolism of fats precipitated by these molecules being first broken down into fatty acids and glycerol molecules during digestion the glycerol is converted within the cell to DHAP, an intermediary compound. This is important in that the DHAP may continue along a metabolic pathway to pyruvic acid, or the DHAP may reverse and follow another pathway towards becoming glucose.

Of concern in this discussion is the use of fatty acids as a metabolic reactant in the mitochondria of the cell. In a process known as beta-oxidation (the fatty acid spiral) the fatty acids are converted into 2-carbon units of acetyl-CoA. A single fatty acid molecule containing 16 carbon atoms will yield 8 molecules of acetyl-CoA. As each acetyl-CoA molecule enters the Krebs cycle it is metabolized to release its energy. The ultimate formation of ATP after beta-oxidation and the Krebs Cycle is the same as described above. The difference in the sources of energy ? carbohydrates or fats ? is in that the energy yield from a 16-carbon fatty acid molecule is considerable. With respect to an athlete, it would be highly desirable to be able to utilize fatty acids as an energy source in ATP production in that this could potentially have a desirable effect on stamina and/or strength endurance.

LifeWave™ principal of operation:

The LifeWave™ technology is a passive non-invasive device composed of water, Oxygen and organic compounds that is worn by the user much in the same fashion as a band aid. This product is not a transdermal patch and it has been demonstrated by the manufacturer that none of the patch active materials diffuses into or comes in contact with the user.

The obvious question that arises is how is it possible for such a device to function other than a placebo effect? It is postulated by the manufacturer that the LifeWave™ patch passively modulates the oscillating low energy magnetic field that exists just above the surface of the human epidermal layer. This passive frequency modulation creates a condition in which the transport of long chain fatty acids across the mitochondrial membrane for subsequent beta-oxidation and energy production is triggered or improved, thereby providing the user with increased energy via an increase in ATP production as described above.

To understand how this phenomenon could be possible, let us re-examine the metabolic process involving fatty acid energy sources within the human body. Fatty acids, a hydrocarbon in which one of the hydrogen atoms has been replaced by a carboxyl group, are also described as a monobasic aliphatic acid made up of an alkyl radical attached to a carboxyl group. The metabolic role of fatty acids may be described in part in that fatty acids are one of the primary sources of energy for humans, and through Beta-Oxidation, are broken down into basic units of energy. Of interest here is that in order for this process to work, fatty acids need to enter the mitochondria for Beta-Oxidation, and they are unable to penetrate the inner mitochondrial membrane by themselves.

In addition to lipid metabolism, the mitochondria is involved with protein synthesis, and by using either phase-contrast microscopy or electron microscopy, the mitochondrial filaments or rods are seen to be 0.5 micrometers in diameter. This information is significant in that it is reported by the manufacturer that in the LifeWave™ technology, materials and structures must be selected based upon the resonant and sympathetic frequencies of the mitochondria during lipid metabolism. In the human body, to overcome the problem of the inability of fatty acids to transport from the cytosol (soluble portion of the cell) across the mitochondrial membrane, it has been determined by several researchers that various nutrients are essential to transport long chain fatty acids from the cytosol across the mitochondrial membrane for fatty acid oxidation/metabolism and energy production.

To obtain the desirable effect of improving cell metabolism passively (specifically, increasing the rate of fatty acid Beta-Oxidation by allowing fatty acids to transport across the mitochondrial membrane) the manufacturer constructed a device consisting of orthomolecular organic structures designed to passively interact with the human magnetic field for the purpose of creating a system of frequency modulation, much in the same way that radio waves are modulated to communicate audio information.

Context:

At the time prior to the beginning of this study the relationship between the LifeWave™ technology and increases in stamina or strength endurance was known by LifeWave™ Products, LLC but not known by the athletes participating in this study.