Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide
Also known as:
- NAD
- NAD+
- Coenzyme 1
NMN Description:
Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) is a crucial coenzyme found in every cell of your body. It’s involved in hundreds of metabolic processes; however, it’s most well-known for its role in energy production. NAD+ facilitates the conversion of food into energy by acting as an electron transporter during cell respiration. It’s also vital for DNA repair, gene expression regulation, and immune response modulation.
Most Notable Benefits:
- Promotes Cellular Energy: NAD+ is a key player in energy metabolism and mitochondrial health. It helps convert nutrients into ATP, the primary energy currency of the cell, thereby promoting cellular energy production and overall vitality.
- DNA Repair: NAD+ is a necessary co-factor for the activity of PARPs (Poly ADP ribose polymerases) and sirtuins, both of which are important for DNA repair, cellular stress resistance, and longevity. Improves
- Athletic Performance: By boosting cellular energy production, NAD+ can potentially enhance physical performance and recovery. Its role in DNA repair and stress resistance can also be beneficial for athletes.
- Anti-aging properties: NAD+ levels decline with age, and this decline has been associated with various symptoms of aging and age-related diseases. Boosting NAD+ levels can support healthy aging, improve cellular function, and promote longevity.
Known Conflicts or Potential Isssues:
- While generally well-tolerated, supplementation with precursors to NAD+ (like nicotinamide riboside or nicotinamide mononucleotide) can cause mild side effects, including nausea, fatigue, headache, and indigestion.
- Pregnant or breastfeeding women, people with kidney disease or liver disease, and those with a history of gout should consult a healthcare professional before using NAD+ supplements.
Why Dr. Sinclair takes NMN in his daily regimen:
In his book “Lifespan: Why We Age and Why We Don’t Have To,” Dr. David Sinclair spends a significant part of the book explaining the importance of NAD’s and why increasing the bodies levels of NAD’s is so important for people aging due to its role in supporting cellular health and promoting longevity. He highlights NAD’s vital functions in energy metabolism, DNA repair, and cellular stress resistance, all of which are crucial for maintaining health and slowing the aging process.
REPUTABLE SOURCES:
- Verdin, E. (2015). NAD⁺ in aging, metabolism, and neurodegeneration. Science, 350(6265), 1208-1213. Link
- Rajman, L., Chwalek, K., & Sinclair, D. A. (2018). Therapeutic potential of NAD-boosting molecules: the in vivo evidence. Cell metabolism, 27(3), 529-547. Link
- Elhassan, Y. S., Philp, A. A., & Lavery, G. G. (2017). Targeting NAD+ in metabolic disease: new insights into an old molecule. Journal of the Endocrine Society, 1(7), 816-835. Link
SUPPORTING PDFs:
- NAD+ and sirtuins in aging and disease
- NAD+ metabolism and its roles in cellular processes during ageing
- NAD+ and the aging process: Role in life, death and everything in between
- Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide is transported into mammalian mitochondria
- NAD+ in aging: Molecular mechanisms and translational implications