Whether you’re playing chess, playing centre field in baseball or performing on stage, your body draws energy from tiny organelles within each cell called mitochondria, also known as the powerhouse of the cell.
But until recently, scientists have not fully understood exactly how cells sense and use nutrients to support mitochondrial function.
A study from the University of Cologne in Germany reveals that a common dietary amino acid, leucine, protects mitochondrial proteins, improving their performance.
Leucine is an essential amino acid that the body cannot produce.
It is commonly found in protein-rich foods, such as meat, dairy, beans and lentils.
A team led by Cologne’s Institute for Genetics postdoctoral researcher Dr Li Qiaochu found that leucine preserves proteins on the outer surface of mitochondria.
Those proteins help transport molecules into the organelle to support energy production.
This allows the cell to meet increased energy demands from hard work or exercise.
“We were thrilled to discover that a cell’s nutrient status, especially its leucine levels, directly impacts energy production,” Dr Li told ScienceDaily in May (2026).
“This mechanism enables cells to swiftly adapt to increased energy demands during periods of nutrient abundance.”
The researchers published their findings in the journal Nature Cell Biology.
Another paper from Cornell University in New York, United States, explores how vitamin B12 improves mitochondrial function in muscle and helps preserve muscle mass as people age.
The researchers found that the vitamin appears to support efficient mitochondria function, in addition to its known role in nerve and red blood cell health.
Vitamin B12 supports cellular metabolism, giving muscles power, and helps reveal nutritional deficiencies before an older person starts losing muscle mass.
Their research confirmed that B12 supplements helped ageing mice improve mitochondrial function in their muscles.
Their study, published in the Journal of Nutrition in March (2026), also tied deficiency to lower muscle mass and strength. – By Karl Hille/The Baltimore Sun/Tribune News Service
