Earthing effects on mitochondrial function: ATP production and ROS generation.

Abstract

Mitochondria are central to cellular energy production and the regulation of oxidative stress. Traditional methods for assessing mitochondrial ATP and reactive oxygen species (ROS) rely on metal probes, which unintentionally ground the system, confounding results. To investigate the impact of grounding on mitochondrial function, we utilized fluorescence-based experiments to assess these mitochondrial outcomes under three conditions: wired (grounded), sham, and naïve. Mitochondria under grounded conditions produced significantly more ATP (by 5-11%), reduced ROS production (by 22-33%), and decreased mitochondrial membrane potential (by 5-6%) than sham and naïve. These findings indicate that grounding improves mitochondrial bioenergetics by reducing oxidative stress. Future research should explore the broader implications of grounding over time on mitochondrial health and its potential therapeutic applications.