Mitochondria — the powerhouses of the cell — quietly determine how much energy the body can make and how resilient we are to disease. Yet mitochondrial function begins declining at about 1% per year starting at age 18, which means that by age 70, cellular energy production may fall by half.
This decline doesn’t just cause fatigue. It affects thyroid hormones, LDL clearance, immune function, antioxidant defenses, and many more. When mitochondria fail, risks for diabetes, heart disease, and cancer all increase.
Mitome was designed to measure mitochondrial function directly, identify blocks in energy production, and provide precision protocols to optimize them. The following story illustrates how one client went from a ~90% energy reduction to restored mitochondrial health — and why retesting is essential to achieve lasting results.
Before: Severe Mitochondrial Dysfunction
When client Mat came to Chris Masterjohn, he had already spent more than a decade searching for answers with little success. His primary complaints were persistent fatigue, rashes every winter, low testosterone, cold intolerance, and recurring ligament pain.
His Mitome testing revealed:
- Major Blocks in Complex I, II, and IV
- Energy production reduced by up to 90%
This aligned with his lived experience: difficulty running even short distances, sharp pain in the cold, and constant exhaustion.
The screenshot below is taken directly from his baseline Mitome report (published here with his permission).
Following the Personalized Protocol
Based on Mat’s mitochondrial type, Mitome designed a precision protocol to target these bottlenecks. The interventions supported iron balance, nutrient cofactors for Complex II and IV, and stepwise strategies to enhance ATP output while minimizing reactive oxygen species.
One key step for him was optimizing iron status. This was crucial for Complex IV, the power source of the respiratory chain. Complex IV uses oxygen from the air we breathe to drive energy through the entire chain, but it cannot function without sufficient iron and copper. Supporting iron status helped restore this complex and unlock greater energy production.
This was just one step in his protocol, and is not necessary for everyone’s mitochondrial type.
Over the next several months, his health began to shift dramatically.
After: Restored Mitochondrial Function
One year later, follow-up testing confirmed the transformation:
- Complex I, II, and IV had not only normalized, but went to optimal levels.
Screenshot below shows his follow-up Mitome results one year later, confirming restored mitochondrial function (shared with the client’s permission).
See Mat’s story here:
“I’ve faced many health challenges throughout my life. Working with Chris Masterjohn was my third serious attempt at finding real, lasting solutions. Like so many others, I spent over a decade relying on conventional Western medicine with little improvement and no clear answers. Then came four more years exploring functional medicine and online clinics—chasing the latest health protocols that ultimately offered mixed results and no lasting change.
When I started, I was cautious and skeptical. I came in seeking help for persistent rashes, low testosterone, and constant fatigue—hoping that at least one of these issues could finally be resolved.
It’s now been a year since I began following my personalized protocol, and the transformation has been nothing short of incredible:
- For the first time in my life, I completed a 5K run—30 minutes nonstop. I was never a runner. In high school, long-distance runs were more like brisk walks for me. My cycling performance has also improved dramatically.
- I can now jog in just a T-shirt and shorts in the freezing January cold—where I used to feel sharp pain from the cold, I now feel heat radiating from within.
- The rashes that plagued me every winter are completely gone.
- Key blood markers have improved significantly: my ferritin jumped from 17 to 104 ng/mL, and my testosterone rose from 174 to 476 ng/dL.
- My personality has shifted too. I’ve gone from being an anxious, hyper-focused workaholic to someone more relaxed, grounded, and self-aware.
- All of my soft ligament injuries in shoulders, elbows and knees are no longer causing limiting pain.
After my most recent conversation with Chris, I’m even more optimistic. With the additional tweaks he kindly shared, I’m confident my health journey will continue to move in the right direction.
Words can’t fully capture the gratitude I feel for the entire Mitome team. I’ve never felt this good in my entire life.” - Mat
Why Retesting Matters
Mat’s story highlights an important principle: mitochondrial results are a snapshot, not a static identity.
Mitochondria are highly dynamic. They respond to nutrition, supplements, lifestyle, stress, and sleep. His first test revealed the most severe bottlenecks. Once those were relieved, follow-up testing showed not only normalized function, but also new opportunities to fine-tune mitochondrial efficiency and gain an even greater advantage in ATP production.
This is why Mitome recommends retesting every 3–6 months:
- 3 months to identify early improvements and adjust protocols
- 6-9 months to observe longer-term adaptations
Retesting ensures continued progress, uncovers new bottlenecks, and shifts the goal from recovery to optimization.
The Takeaway
Mat went from three low complexes and up to 90% impaired energy production to restored mitochondrial health and resilience that translated to both performance and quality of life.
His journey demonstrates two truths:
- Mitochondrial dysfunction can be reversed and optimized.
- Ongoing testing and protocol refinement are the key to sustaining and advancing results.
Your mitochondria today aren’t your mitochondria tomorrow. With Mitome, you can measure, adapt, and optimize your health at the cellular level.
Order Mitome today and see where your bottlenecks are — and more importantly, how to overcome them.
