This session will explore new perspectives and practical clinical insights, highlighting how mitochondrial function integrates with gut health, nervous system regulation, and cardiovascular physiology.
When: 12pm-1pm NZST, Wednesday 17 June 2026
Where: Virtual Free LIVE
Speakers: Jeff Bland, PhD. Lisa Portera, DC, IFMCP. Sanjay Bhojraj, MD.
Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death for women in the United States, and the problem is projected to worsen in the coming decades. In a statement released February 25 by the American Heart Association, researchers reported concerning projections for women’s cardiovascular health. According to a review article published in Circulation, analysis of national health surveys and census data indicates a significant rise in cardiovascular disease among American women.
By 2050, an estimated 14.4% of women in the United States will experience cardiovascular disease and/or stroke, up from 10.7% in 2020. Specifically:
- Coronary heart disease is projected to increase from 6.9% to 8.2%
- Stroke from 4.1% to 6.7%
- Heart failure from 2.5% to 3.6%
- Atrial fibrillation from 1.6% to 2.3%
These trends highlight an urgent need to rethink how we approach cardiovascular resilience and prevention. At the center of this discussion is mitochondrial function—a key regulator of cardiovascular health and an essential determinant of women’s health across the lifespan.
However, mitochondrial dysfunction rarely occurs in isolation. It is shaped by a complex network of biological communication systems. Among the most important—and often overlooked—is the Gut–Heart–Brain Axis.
Understanding this systems biology framework reveals critical clinical leverage points, including:
- Gut-driven inflammatory signaling
- Neuroendocrine and autonomic nervous system regulation
- Oxidative stress and mitochondrial resilience
- Early-life and prenatal influences on lifelong cardiovascular health
Through this lens, clinicians can identify root drivers of mitochondrial dysfunction and develop more effective strategies for supporting cardiovascular and metabolic health.
Session Faculty
Mitochondrial Considerations in the Gut–Heart–Brain Axis – Jeffrey Bland, PhD
Dr. Bland explores the evolving science connecting mitochondrial health with gut-derived signaling, cardiovascular physiology, and neuroimmune communication.
The Gut–Heart–Brain–Mitochondrial Connection – Sanjay Bhojraj, MD
Dr. Bhojraj examines the clinical implications of the gut–heart–mitochondrial relationship, highlighting mechanisms that influence cardiovascular resilience and metabolic health.
Overlooked Drivers of Oxidative Stress: The Gut–Mitochondrial Connection – Lisa Portera, DC
Dr. Portera will discuss often-missed contributors to oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction arising from the gut ecosystem, and how these factors influence systemic health.