Exercise and the Mitochondria

Mitochondrial function have over the years been recognized as an important factor involved in health, disease, longevity and age-related disease progression. In this chapter, we discuss the relationship between exercise and the mitochondria and their role in the prevention, treatment, and risk assessment for cardiovascular diseases. Physical activity and mitochondrial function influence the whole body and have been proven to be important in cardiovascular health. The exact molecular mechanism(s) by which exercise and physical activity impact mitochondria function are an ongoing and increasing field of research. In this chapter, we will also discuss the basic functions and morphology of the mitochondria, with special reference to the heart and skeletal muscle tissue, and how it is affected by physical activity. Mitochondrial aspects such as disorders, dysfunction, replication, transcription, biogenesis, epigenetics, and mitochondrial therapeutics are also reviewed.