What Is NAD+ And How Does It Improve Aging?

How Does NAD+ Work In The Body?

NAD+ is a crucial coenzyme in our bodies, taking center stage in numerous biological processes. It functions like a shuttle, ferrying electrons between cells to spark essential reactions. This is vital for transforming food into energy, preserving DNA integrity, and ensuring cells operate smoothly.

NAD+ is vital for mitochondrial health. Mitochondria are the cellular power stations. NAD+ repairs DNA damage and manages metabolic processes. It has two nucleotides connected by phosphates. One nucleotide has an adenine base, and the other has nicotinamide.

As we age, NAD+ levels naturally decline. This affects metabolism and may cause age-related diseases. However, research suggests that boosting NAD+ levels through supplementation with precursors like NMN (nicotinamide mononucleotide) or NR (nicotinamide riboside) could protect against these conditions and may even slow aging.

Research shows NMN supplementation guards against various diseases by potentially raising NAD+ levels, reducing obesity, and protecting blood vessels in mice. NR has similar benefits. It impacts Alzheimer’s disease, cognitive issues, and neuroinflammation in mice. Whether these effects apply to humans is still unknown until clinical trials are completed. The debate continues among scientists over whether NMN or NR better boosts NAD+ levels as we age.

NAD+ Benefits

NAD+ is an indispensable coenzyme found in every living cell. A NAD supplement may offer many benefits, positioning it as a cornerstone in health and longevity strategies. 

Fosters Anti-Aging And Longevity 

Sirtuins are known as “guardians of genomes.” They’re crucial in protecting organisms from aging and diseases. They do this by promoting DNA repair and maintaining genome integrity. They activate under stress from exercise or hunger, deploying defenses to protect the body. NAD+ is essential for sirtuins, fueling their protective roles. 

Research shows that boosting NAD+ levels activates sirtuins, extending the lifespan of yeast, worms, and mice. Studies are ongoing to scrutinize the effects of NAD+ on human longevity. However, it shows anti-aging promise in animals.

Enhances Metabolic Health And Fights Metabolic Disorders

NAD+ is critical for boosting metabolism. It enhances glucose tolerance and cuts metabolic disease risks. With obesity now an epidemic, according to the WHO, leading to diabetes and other metabolic disorders responsible for 1.6 million deaths globally in 2016, maintaining NAD+ levels is vital. 

Aging and high-fat diets lower these levels, but a study indicates that NAD+ boosters can counteract weight gain linked to diet and age in mice, boost their exercise capacity—even in older mice—and even reverse diabetes in female mice. This underscores NAD+’s role in new approaches to fighting metabolic disorders.

Boosts Muscle Function

As the body’s energy hub, mitochondrial function is vital to exercise performance. NAD+ is critical for keeping mitochondria healthy and ensuring consistent energy. Studies with mice have shown that increasing NAD+ in muscles can greatly improve mitochondrial function, enhancing fitness. 

Mice with higher NAD+ levels were leaner and could run further, showing better exercise capacity. Older animals have more NAD+ and do better. This indicates that NAD+ significantly affects muscle and performance.

Supports Heart Function

Boosting NAD+ levels improves heart function and protects against arterial stiffness, high blood pressure, and heart risks. Arteries stiffen with age, leading to high blood pressure and escalating the chances of heart disease. So, keeping NAD+ levels is vital. In the US, according to the CDC, someone dies from cardiovascular disease every 37 seconds. 

High blood pressure can enlarge the heart and block arteries, leading to strokes. NAD+ boosters have shown promise in mice, restoring heart NAD+ levels and preventing heart damage due to reduced blood flow. They also protect against abnormal heart enlargement, providing significant benefits for cardiovascular health management.

Lowers The Likelihood Of Neurodegenerative Diseases

According to the WHO, by 2050, the worldwide population aged 60 and older might reach 2 billion, almost double the number from 2015, posing a higher risk of neurodegenerative conditions such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s due to aging. 

Promising findings show that raising NAD+ levels in mice with Alzheimer’s can reduce harmful protein buildup that affects cell communication and improve cognitive function. Additionally, boosting NAD+ protects brain cells from death due to poor blood flow. These studies offer potential strategies for healthy brain aging and fighting neurodegeneration.

Support Weight Loss

NAD+ is crucial for cellular energy production. It helps the body turn food into energy and aids metabolic processes. Additionally, NAD+ controls hormones. They regulate appetite and fullness. NAD+ helps to diminish cravings and make sticking to a nutritious diet easier. 

Research indicates that supplementation with NAD+ precursors significantly impacts weight management, reducing Body Mass Index (BMI) and increasing adiponectin levels.

Reducing Cancer Risk

NAD+ plays a crucial role in decelerating the aging process and diminishing the likelihood of cancer development. It promotes the repair of cell damage. This protects cells from turning into cancer. 

Research indicates that supplementing with NAD+ enhances DNA repair’s efficacy and curtails cancer cell proliferation. Additionally, NAD+ lowers inflammation, further protecting against certain cancer types.

Combats Jet Lag

NAD+ is a crucial coenzyme that regulates the body’s circadian rhythm. It’s also crucial to cellular metabolism, turning food into energy. Keeping NAD+ levels optimal is key for efficient metabolism. Supplementation can replenish NAD+ levels, offering an effective solution for jet lag or other circadian rhythm disruptions by recalibrating the body’s internal clock.