Grounding and Mitochondrial Function: A Bioelectrical Review

Mitochondrial dysfunction is a central driver of aging, impacting many different diseases associated with aging, including neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular disease, metabolic disease, and may contribute to an over all decline in cellular resilience.Because mitochondrial ATP production is fundamentally an electrical and redox-driven process, factors that influence whole-body electrical balance may play a previously under-appreciated role in mitochondrial health.Grounding (also termed earthing), defined as direct conductive contact between the human body and the Earth, has been shown to influence inflammation, blood rheology, autonomic nervous system regulation, cortisol and circadian rhythms, and-more recently-mitochondrial ATP production and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation.This review synthesizes current experimental, physiological, and clinical evidence to propose a mechanistic framework by which grounding may provide electrical support to mitochondrial function, enhance ATP production, and protect mitochondrial integrity across the lifespan.