Maltese physician's metabolic map featured on European scientific journal cover
Dr Mike Tabone's academic work focuses on an integrative model of care for chronic disease
A Maltese physician with a background in exercise science and integrative medicine has had a biochemistry illustration selected for the cover of BioChem, a peer-reviewed scientific journal operated by Multidisciplinary Publishing Institute (MDPI) in Switzerland.
The illustration displays the effects of physical training at a systemic level, with documented benefits on mitochondrial bioenergetics and inflammasome activity at a cellular level, and brain, bone, heart, vascular, kidney, and liver health at a broader, more systemic level.
This illustration was designed by Dr Mike Tabone as part of his academic work on an integrative model of care for chronic disease, where clinical exercise interventions feature as a core treatment modality.
The illustration accompanies Tabone's article Muscle Mechanics in Metabolic Health and Longevity: The Biochemistry of Training Adaptations published in the same journal issue this month.
Skeletal muscle contraction goes beyond movement, shaping metabolic health and the way we age. Strength is associated with lower cardiometabolic risk and mortality, and structured training produces measurable mitochondrial, vascular, and anti-inflammatory adaptations in muscle.
The article frames these changes as responses to specific mechanical “doses,” moving beyond generic exercise advice and positioning exercise science as a core treatment modality within integrative medicine.
Skeletal muscle acts as an endocrine organ: contraction-evoked myokines can signal to brain, liver, vessels, and immune cells, supporting systemic benefits.
Older muscle remains adaptable with appropriately prescribed resistance, aerobic, or combined functional training. This emerging field bridges performance science, exercise science and rehabilitation medicine in modern clinical care.
Focusing on exercise, nutrition, behavioural changes, botanical medicine, and metabolic health, Tabone developed an integrative clinical care model at Sotogard Medical, addressing chronic conditions like diabetes, hormonal imbalances, autoimmune conditions, and cognitive decline.
MDPI BioChem focuses on original research in biochemistry and molecular biology as an open-access platform. The journal issue is available here.