Function of NAD in the human body
What is NAD and what is its function in the body?
NAD (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) is an essential coenzyme that helps hundreds of enzymes to function properly inside our cells. Its main role is to facilitate energy production, which is essential for our body to stay active and healthy.
Despite its importance, NAD is an unstable molecule in the blood, so it is not easy to measure. Fortunately, today there are specialized methods that allow its detection through red blood cell analysis.(1)
One of its key roles is to activate sirtuins, enzymes involved in vital processes such as DNA repair, metabolism, cellular stress response, inflammation, lipid and glucose balance, and mitochondrial health(2).
In addition, NAD is involved in more than 500 enzymatic reactions and participates in essential metabolic processes such as glycolysis, Krebs cycle and oxidative phosphorylation.(3,4,5)
What is the relationship between aging and NAD?
Over the years, NAD levels naturally decrease. This reduction has been linked to the progressive deterioration of metabolism, cellular function and the onset of diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular conditions and neurodegenerative disorders.(6)
Recent studies have shown that modulating NAD levels could be a key strategy to prevent age-related diseases and promote healthy aging.
Why is it useful to measure NAD levels?
The amount of NAD in whole blood can vary between healthy people and those with cardiac or neurological diseases. In older adults, their levels are usually lower. Therefore, knowing your levels can help you make informed decisions about your health and lifestyle.(7,8)
How to increase NAD levels?
The good news is that there are effective strategies for raising NAD levels naturally:
-Regular physical activity
-Low carbohydrate diet
Supplementationwith NMN (nicotinamide mononucleotide)
NMN is one of the most promising precursors for stimulating NAD production in the body. (9,10)
What benefits can be expected?
As NAD levels increase, many people report:
-Moreenergy
-Bettercognitive function
-Lowerinflammation
-Bettercellular response to stress
-Overall senseof well-being
In addition, it has been observed that this supplementation can reduce biological age and improve quality of life.
Figure 1. Increasing NAD novels improves health. Modified from
https://sinclair.hms.harvard.edu/research.
Is NMN supplementation safe?
Yes, studies have shown that doses of 600 to 900 mg daily of NMN for 60 days are well tolerated and safe. Both levels have shown similar benefits, with no relevant side effects. (11,12)
Conclusion
NAD is much more than just a molecule: it is a key player in our cellular health and in the aging process. Measuring your levels and taking action to keep them high can make a big difference in your long-term well-being.
REFERENCES
1. Matsuyama R, Omata T, Kageyama M, Nakajima R, Kanou M, Yamana K. Stabilization and quantitative measurement of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide in human whole blood using dried blood spot sampling. Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry. 2023;415(5):775-85.
2. Poljsak B. NAD+ in cancer prevention and treatment: pros and cons. J Clin Exp Oncol. 2016;4:2.
3. Cantó C, Auwerx J, editors. NAD+ as a signaling molecule modulating metabolism. Cold Spring Harbor symposia on quantitative biology; 2011: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press.
4. Hong W, Mo F, Zhang Z, Huang M, Wei X. Nicotinamide mononucleotide: a promising molecule for therapy of diverse diseases by targeting NAD+ metabolism. Frontiers in cell and developmental biology. 2020;8:246.
5. Poljšak B, Kovač V, Špalj S, Milisav I. The central role of the NAD+ molecule in the development of aging and the prevention of chronic age-related diseases: strategies for NAD+ modulation. International journal of molecular sciences. 2023;24(3):2959.
6. Yang F, Deng X, Yu Y, Luo L, Chen X, Zheng J, et al. Association of human whole blood NAD+ contents with aging. Frontiers in Endocrinology. 2022;13:829658.
7. Balashova NV, Zavileyskiy LG, Artiukhov AV, Shaposhnikov LA, Sidorova OP, Tishkov VI, et al. Efficient assay and marker significance of NAD+ in human blood. Frontiers in Medicine. 2022;9:886485.
8. Guarente L, Sinclair DA, Kroemer G. Human trials exploring anti-aging medicines. Cell Metabolism. 2024;36(2):354-76.
9. Poljsak B, Kovač V, Milisav I. Healthy lifestyle recommendations: Do the beneficial effects originate from NAD+ amount at the cellular level? Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity. 2020;2020(1):8819627.
10. Walzik D, Jonas W, Joisten N, Belen S, Wüst RC, Guillemin G, et al. Tissue-specific effects of exercise as NAD+-boosting strategy: Current knowledge and future perspectives. Acta Physiologica. 2023;237(3):e13921.
11. Yi L, Maier AB, Tao R, Lin Z, Vaidya A, Pendse S, et al. The efficacy and safety of β-nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) supplementation in healthy middle-aged adults: a randomized, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, dose-dependent clinical trial. Geroscience. 2023;45(1):29-43.
12. Huang H. A multicentre, randomised, double blind, parallel design, placebo controlled study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of uthever (NMN supplement), an orally administered supplementation in middle aged and older adults. Frontiers in aging. 2022;3:851698.
