Mitochondrial Function and Energy Resilience in Clinical Practice with Mitokatlyst

In this episode, hosts Dr. Lexi Gonzales and Tom Blue interview Dr. Sundeep Dugar, the co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer at Blue Oak Nutraceuticals. A pharmaceutical drug hunter with 40 years of experience, Dr. Dugar unveils the science behind Mitokatlyst, a precision-formulated epicatechin designed to mimic the biological signals of exercise. The conversation details Dr. Dugar’s groundbreaking discovery of a specific steroid (11-beta hydroxyprogesterone) produced by mitochondria during exercise to trigger biogenesis. He explains how precision-dosed epicatechin mimics this steroid’s stability and signaling pathway, offering a "pharmaceutical grade" solution for mitochondrial renewal in patients who cannot exercise or are suffering from age-related mitochondrial depletion.

Key Points

The Signaling Mechanism of Exercise: Dr. Dugar explains that exercise places an energy deficit on the cell, generating Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) and peroxide. This activates specific enzymes to produce 11-beta hydroxyprogesterone, a steroid that signals the nucleus to create more mitochondria.
The Antioxidant Paradox: While epicatechin is often sold as an antioxidant, Dr. Dugar argues that high doses (micromolar concentrations) actually quench the necessary ROS signals required for mitochondrial adaptation. In contrast, Mitokatlyst utilizes nanomolar concentrations to act as a molecular mimic for the signaling steroid rather than an antioxidant.
Mitochondrial Depletion and Aging: Humans naturally lose 10–15% of their mitochondrial content starting at age 21. Because mitochondria are the "sentinels of health," this depletion exacerbates the impact of almost every pathology, from metabolic disease to mental health issues.
Innate Cellular Healing: The body has an innate capacity to manage oxidative stress (via catalase and glutathione) when supported by exercise and nutrition. Dr. Dugar suggests that reliance on exogenous antioxidants may be unnecessary or counterproductive if the patient is engaging in proper physical activity and eating well.

Actionable Insights for Practitioners

Re-evaluate Antioxidant Timing: Practitioners should be cautious about prescribing high-dose antioxidants around exercise, as they can blunt the ROS signaling required for mitochondrial biogenesis.
Fireplace vs. Firewood: Dr. Dugar compares mitochondria to a fireplace and nutrients/supplements to firewood. Many products (anaplerotics) simply pile up more wood. However, if you do not have a functioning fireplace (mitochondria) to burn the wood, the fuel is useless. Mitocatalyst is designed to build the fireplace.
Prioritize "Hard Wood" Nutrition: Dr. Dugar advises patients to consume proteins, fats, and fibers ("hard wood") which burn cleanly and efficiently, rather than sugars and processed foods ("soft wood") which create "smoke" and cellular debris.
Targeting Non-Exercisers: While exercise is the gold standard, practitioners can use Mitokatlyst as a proxy for mitochondrial biogenesis in patients who are physically unable to exercise or those with high disease burdens that have exhausted their bioenergetic capacity.
Anaplerotics vs. Biogenesis: Distinguish between supplements that feed the mitochondria (like fuel) and interventions that build new mitochondria (like Mitokatlyst). You need both the machinery and the fuel for optimal health.

Featured Resources

Health Span Protocol: Practitioners can find the full health span protocol built by the Blue Oak Nutraceuticals team, along with deeper mitochondrial education, on the Innovations in Clinical Implementation landing page.
Blue Oak Nutraceuticals: The public benefit company behind the research and development of Mitokatlyst.

Enhance Mitochondrial Healthspan Protocol - A4M.pdf

Enhance Mitochondrial Healthspan for Lasting Vitality Protocol

Blue Oak Nutraceuticals Mitokatylst™–E

WATCH HERE

Milestone 1 Award-Winning Team in XPRIZE Healthspan $101 Million Competition

Mitokatlyst – E

ACCESS HERE

Dr. Sundeep Dugar, PhD, has nearly 40 years of experience in small-molecule drug discovery and development across oncology, inflammation, CNS, cardiovascular, and metabolic disorders. He founded Advantium Pharma, Sphaera Pharma, Epirium Bio, and Aayam Therapeutics, creating innovative models for advancing therapeutics. His interest in mitochondrial bioenergetics over the past 15 years has shaped much of his recent work. A co-inventor of Zetia® (ezetimibe) and Vytorin® (ezetimibe/simvastatin), he received the American Chemical Society’s National Inventor of the Year Award and Heroes of Chemistry Award. He has authored 70+ publications and is co-inventor on 100+ patents. As Senior Research Fellow at UC Davis, he co-organizes the R. Bryan Miller Symposium and helped establish the Pharmaceutical Chemistry program. His team is a Top 40 semifinalist in the $101M XPRIZE Healthspan competition.

Dr. Lexi Gonzales, ND, MS, IFMCP, is a clinician, educator, and implementation strategist working at the forefront of functional and longevity medicine. Trained in biochemistry, systems biology, and translational research, she develops practical frameworks that strengthen clinical reasoning and elevate patient care. As Senior Clinical Implementation and AI Specialist at OvationLab, she designs models and educational systems that help practitioners integrate emerging technologies with clarity and consistency. Her clinical background spans primary care within an insurance-based integrative model, multidisciplinary practice at Vida Integrated Health, and private functional medicine practice with a focus on hormonal and metabolic optimization, endometriosis, and fertility. She also served as IFM’s inaugural Medical Education Resident and later as Clinical Content Developer.

Tom Blue is a Founding Partner of OvationLab, a business advisory and clinical research firm that helps companies in natural products, testing, digital health, and medical devices successfully launch and commercialize within the healthcare professional channel. Since establishing Virginia’s first concierge medical practice in 2001, he has focused on designing and implementing innovative practice models that accelerate the translation of emerging best practices into real-world care. His latest venture, AndHealth—a root-cause, largely virtual clinical model backed in part by the AMA’s investment arm—closed the largest seed round in digital health in 2021 at $57M. Tom’s current work centers on the rapidly evolving longevity marketplace, clinical applications of AI, and scaling personalized nutritional supplementation.