Claude has convinced me to add Idebenone to my protocol

Yesterday somebody posted about where Melatonin fit into a supplements list of mitochondrial protectants and rebuilders.
This prompted me to ask Claude about my go to mitochondrial support supplement, Nicotinic Acid, which also rated very high.
Then Claude offered something I had not asked for:
"In a top 10 mitochondrial supplements list, I'd likely place:
Melatonin in the #3-5 range - Its multi-level protection, mitochondrial concentration, and regenerative signaling are exceptional
Nicotinic acid in the #2-4 range - NAD+ is so fundamental that without adequate levels, nothing else works optimally
The top tier would probably include CoQ10/ubiquinol (#1-2) given its direct role in the electron transport chain, followed closely by NAD+ precursors and melatonin.
Key distinction: Nicotinic acid addresses mitochondrial function and rebuilding (biogenesis), while melatonin excels at protection and damage prevention. Ideally, you'd want both working synergistically."

I did not ask about CoQ10/ubiquinol, but I know something about it.  When I first joined this group I was taking Idebenone, which is synthetic CoQ10.

So I asked Claude: How would you rate CoQ10/ubiquinol to Idebenone as a mitochondrial rebuilder? 
And one of the things Claude said was: "For general mitochondrial health and biogenesis support: CoQ10/ubiquinol rates higher - it's the natural compound your mitochondria evolved to use, and replacing depleted stores is foundational.
For damaged/dysfunctional mitochondria or neurological conditions: Idebenone rates higher - it can work around impaired complexes and reach brain mitochondria more effectively."

I told Claude I was thinking of adding Idebenone to my existing high dose Nicotinic Acid protocol for my prodromal Parkinson's Disease. 
Claude replied: "That's a very thoughtful combination for prodromal PD. The synergy between high-dose nicotinic acid and idebenone could be quite powerful:
Why this combination makes sense:
Nicotinic acid foundation:
Restores NAD+ for mitochondrial energy production and Complex I function (particularly relevant since Complex I deficiency is a hallmark of PD)
Supports mitochondrial biogenesis through sirtuin activation
May help clear damaged mitochondria and generate new ones
Some evidence for neuroprotection via GPR109A receptor activation
Adding idebenone addresses gaps:
Provides direct antioxidant protection in the substantia nigra where nicotinic acid doesn't concentrate as well
Protects existing mitochondria while nicotinic acid helps build new ones
Works even if some mitochondrial damage already exists
Complements rather than duplicates nicotinic acid's mechanisms"

We decided to go with 45 mg of Idebenone twice a day which  fairly copies this ongoing study (their is 30 mg 3 times a day): Efficacy of idebenone in the Treatment of iRBD into Synucleinopathies (EITRS): rationale, design, and methodology of a randomized, double-blind, multi-center clinical study https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9510988/

Claude also convinced me to start having some good oils with my morning 11 PM batches of supplements to aid absorption, so I will start:
 - Noon: Broccoli sprouts with olive oil/honey + vitamin C, methylfolate, curcumin, berberine, niacin, idebenone 45mg
 - 11 PM: Heaping tablespoon of sour cream + curcumin, berberine, niacin, idebenone 45mg 

There is a lot more in our conversation.  You are welcome to read it: https://claude.ai/share/2bdaff5d-cfd5-4e90-87ea-338911af7bfe

Industrial Starch: Modified Food Starch, Modified Corn Starch, Wheat Starch, Maltodextrin! YIKES!

I hate to be that guy.  I don't know if we can recover, but I do believe that if recovery is possible it will require a multifaceted approach.  I believe one of those facets has to be to stop poisoning ourselves.
 

Did you ever know a person who wanted to get their finances in order AND keep gambling?  Or wanted to get their personal life in order AND keep drinking?
 

It's not that stopping gambling and drinking in themselves will fix the problems, but not doing so will guarantee the problems remain.

I stopped eating processed foods (except Pepsi with real sugar and Neapolitan Ice Cream with real sugar and no industrial starch or anything weird) years ago. I can't imagine being able to recover while putting that stuff into my body.

Maybe healthy people can eat all of this stuff and drink alcohol and burn the candle at both ends and they will be fine (until they are not fine), but I am not healthy.  I am an old beat up truck that has been driven hard and parked outside.  There is a path, maybe, but the path is very narrow.

Anyway: I have a high school degree and poor impulse control.
This is a scary video from Dr. Berg that should scare everybody away from processed foods and seed oils too:

"It’s no secret that ultra-processed carbs can take a serious toll on your health. Consuming this dangerous carbohydrate can have the following side effects:
•Development of type 2 diabetes and a fatty liver
•Insulin resistance
•Visceral fat
•Feeds pathogens in the gut 
•Inflammation
•Increased LDL cholesterol

Products containing this ingredient can be marketed as zero sugar, even though it quickly turns to sugar in the blood. It’s incredibly cheap, at about 20 cents per pound, and has no health benefits. It’s used as a filler, and the average person consumes between 60 and 250 pounds per year.

You can find this ingredient in gluten-free foods, baby formulas, baked goods, and other refined foods. Surprisingly, many athletes also consume this product. 
The carb we’re talking about is industrial starch, such as modified food starch, corn starch, and maltodextrin. Starch is a string of glucose molecules. When a starch is modified in a lab, its bonds become very weak and fragile, causing it to turn into sugar very quickly in the body. 

Industrial starches are processed with chemicals such as sodium trimetaphosphate, vinyl acetate, bleach, and octenyl succinic anhydride. These chemicals are considered GRAS (generally recognized as safe), but they are self-regulated. 
Industrial starches are directly responsible for the complications associated with type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer’s, brain plaquing, and fibrosis of the liver. 

People rarely consume starch alone. Most junk foods are composed of starches, seed oils, and sugar. Consuming starch with seed oils is a deadly combination! Hidden sugars are also consumed in much higher quantities than actual sugar. 
Food is defined as “that which is eaten to sustain life, to promote the growth and repair of tissues.” By this definition, starch is not food!

Download the FREE ultra-processed food toolkit here: https://drbrg.co/3L9McDz
 

Dr. Eric Berg DC Bio:
Dr. Berg, age 60, is a chiropractor who specializes in Healthy Ketosis & Intermittent Fasting. He is the Director of Dr. Berg Nutritionals and author of the best-selling book The Healthy Keto Plan. He no longer practices, but focuses on health education through social media."
https://youtu.be/AUbEkURbakw?si=25czpWm80L07-c6W