Radiation exposure and mitochondrial insufficiency in chronic fatigue and immune dysfunction syndrome, 2021, Rusin et al

Abstract

Chronic fatigue and Immune Dysfunction Syndrome (CFIDS) is a heterogeneous disease that may be promoted by various environmental stressors, including viral infection, toxin uptake, and ionizing radiation exposure. Previous studies have identified mitochondrial dysfunction in CFIDS patients, including modulation of mitochondrial respiratory chain activity, deletions in the mitochondrial genome, and upregulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS).

This paper focuses on radiation effects and hypothesizes that CFIDS is primarily caused by stressor-induced mitochondrial metabolic insufficiency, which results in decreased energy production and anabolic metabolites required for normal cellular metabolism. Furthermore, tissues neighbouring or distant from directly perturbed tissues compensate for this dysfunction, which causes symptoms associated with CFIDS.

This hypothesis is justified by reviewing the links between radiation exposure and CFIDS, cancer, immune dysfunction, and induction of oxidative stress. Moreover, the relevance of mitochondria in cellular responses to radiation and metabolism are discussed and putative mitochondrial biomarkers for CFIDS are introduced. Implications for diagnosis are then described, including a potential urine assay and PCR test for mitochondrial genome mutations. Finally, future research needs are offered with an emphasis on where rapid progress may be made to assist the afflicted.

Paywall, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0306987721001663

 

Yes, as I said then, if radiation was a common cause then there would be a large cluster in Aberdeen as the granite used in so many buildings is mildly radioactive.

 

Presumably there are figures somewhere showing if that is, or is not, the case?

 

Never heard of there being one in the days before the internet when the ME Association helped fund and set up local groups. Almost all the buildings were granite in those days so it would have been obvious.

I believe there are places where the houses are full of radon gas as well but that was never associated with ME.

Meant to say. There are no studies because it never occurred to anyone they were needed!

 

Regardless, people who work in radiation areas, whether nuclear engineers or technicians, or astronauts and miners, are routinely monitored for their radiation exposure and if there were any correlation it would have been found a long time ago.

Then again maybe no one actually checked. That's always a possibility. But the data should pretty much speak for themselves.