The Ubiquitous Coenzyme NAD+: Your Key to Unlocking Longevity

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Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) is a critical coenzyme found in every living cell and is essential for maintaining cellular health and supporting the intricate processes that keep our bodies functioning smoothly. NAD+ plays a central role in hundreds of cellular processes, acting as a vital 'helper molecule' in enzymatic reactions that are crucial for energy production, DNA repair, and cell signaling. "

NAD+ plays a central role in hundreds of cellular processes, acting as a vital 'helper molecule' in enzymatic reactions that are crucial for energy production, DNA repair, and cell signaling.

Think of NAD+ as a busy worker bee, constantly buzzing around the hive of our cells, ensuring that everything is running as it should. It's involved in turning the food we eat into usable energy, repairing our damaged DNA, and facilitating communications between different parts of the cell.

Unfortunately, as we age, our NAD+ levels naturally and rapidly decline. This decline has been linked to various age-related diseases and dysfunctions, highlighting the importance of maintaining sufficient NAD+ levels as we become older.

Studies show that by age 80, NAD+ levels can plummet to just 1-10% of their youthful peak. Even in the 40-50 age group, the decline can be significant, with NAD+ levels falling to 40-30% of their peak.

But there's hope! Research has uncovered two natural compounds, Quercetin and Fisetin, that show promise in supporting healthy aging. Quercetin and Fisetin are plant pigments found in various fruits and vegetables, and these compounds have garnered attention for their potential to enhance NAD+ levels and promote cellular health.

Quercetin and Fisetin optimize NAD+ utilization by modulating the enzymes that depend on it.

NAD + when supplement with Quercetin and Fisetin have three key benefits: Energy production, DNA repair and Cell Signaling

Want to dive deeper into NAD+? Check out this

from Life Extension.

Understanding Coenzyme NAD+

So, what exactly is NAD+? It's a coenzyme, a type of molecule that works alongside enzymes to initiate & accelerate biochemical reactions. NAD+ is integral to numerous cellular processes, including energy metabolism, DNA repair, and cell signaling.

Remarkably, NAD+ is involved in over 500 biochemical reactions, underscoring its essential role in cellular health. This highlights its ubiquity and its essential role in maintaining cellular health.

Let's delve deeper into some of the key roles of NAD+

Energy Production: NAD+ is a key player in the process of cellular respiration, where it helps convert the food we eat into ATP, the energy currency of our cells.
DNA Repair: NAD+ is essential for maintaining the integrity of our DNA, acting as a co-substrate for enzymes involved in DNA repair mechanisms (Studies have shown intriguing links between DNA health and healthspan, which we will explore in a future blog post).
Cell Signaling: NAD+ participates in various signaling pathways, facilitating communications between different parts of the cell and regulating cellular processes.
And 5 more critical biochemical reactions (see graph below)

NAD+ has in total 8 key benefits and so far we dug into three of them. The remaining 5 will be covered in future posts — The 8 Multimodal roles of NAD+ on our Health

Alas, as we've mentioned, NAD+ levels decline with age. This decline can have a number of consequences, including:

Decreased Energy Production: Lower NAD+ levels can lead to reduced ATP production, potentially contributing to fatigue and decreased physical function.
Impaired DNA Repair: With less NAD+ available, our cells become less efficient at repairing DNA damage, increasing the risk of mutations and cellular dysfunction.
Disrupted Cell Signaling: The decline in NAD+ can disrupt cellular communication, leading to imbalances and dysfunctions in various cellular processes.

**We Decipher Scientific Studies so You Don't Have To!**

Quercetin/Fisetin: A Quick Recap and Synergistic Benefits

Quercetin & Fisetin, natural compounds found in many fruits and vegetables, have gained recognition for their potential anti-aging properties. They act as powerful antioxidants, scavenging harmful free radicals and protecting our cells from damage. Quercetin and Fisetin also exhibit anti-inflammatory properties, helping to reduce chronic inflammation.

But what makes Quercetin/Fisetin particularly interesting in the context of this blog post is their ability to support NAD+ production and enhance its benefits.

One way Quercetin/Fisetin do this is by activating sirtuins. Sirtuins are a family of proteins that regulate cellular health, longevity, and metabolism, and their activity depends on the availability of NAD+. They are NAD+ dependent, meaning they require NAD+ to function properly. By activating sirtuins, Quercetin/Fisetin indirectly support NAD+ utilization and promote its beneficia

The Synergistic Effects of NAD+ and Quercetin/Fisetin

When NAD+ and Quercetin/Fisetin join forces, their combined effects on cellular health and aging are truly remarkable. They work together (as shown in above pie chart) to combat oxidative stress, reduce inflammation, and support various cellular processes, essentially creating a dynamic duo against aging.

Quercetin/Fisetin enhance the benefits of NAD+ in several ways:

Increased NAD+/NADH Ratios: Quercetin and Fisetin increase the NAD+/NADH ratio, which enhances mitochondrial function and reduces oxidative stress.
Sirtuin Activation: As mentioned earlier, these two compounds activate sirtuins, which are NAD+-dependent enzymes involved in longevity and cellular health.
CD38 Inhibition: These compounds inhibit CD38, an enzyme that depletes NAD+, helping to preserve its levels. This helps to preserve NAD+ levels and maintain their beneficial effects.

The synergistic effects of NAD+ and Quercetin/Fisetin are supported by scientific research. Studies have shown that combining these compounds can lead to improved metabolic health, enhanced cellular function, and even extended lifespan in animal models.

How to Increase NAD+ and Quercetin/Fisetin Levels

Now that we've explored the remarkable benefits of NAD+ and Quercetin/Fisetin, let's discuss some practical ways to increase their levels naturally:

Lifestyle Factors:

Exercise: Regular physical activity has been shown to boost NAD+ levels and promote mitochondrial health.
Intermittent Fasting: Time-restricted eating or intermittent fasting can also increase NAD+ levels and activate sirtuins.
Balanced Diet: Consuming a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains provides essential nutrients and antioxidants that support NAD+ production and overall cellular health.

Supplementation:

NAD+ Precursors: NAD+ precursors are compounds that can be converted into NAD+ in the body. Some common precursors include Nicotinamide Riboside (NR) and Nicotinamide Mononucleotide (NMN).
Quercetin/Fisetin: those supplements are also available, providing a concentrated dose of beneficial compounds.

Combining NAD+ precursors with Quercetin/Fisetin potentially enhance their anti-aging effects.

When NAD+ levels are significantly depleted, added supplementation becomes imperative. Diet alone proved insufficient to reverse the decline, especially when levels fall below 30%. A combined supplementation regimen with NAD+ precursors and Quercetin/Fisetin (Life Extension has such supplement to which they added Resveratrol) could be a viable option to restore NAD+ levels and support healthy aging rather than traveling the painful road of "age-related diseases".

Biomarkers for NAD+

Biomarkers are measurable indicators of a biological state or condition. In the context of NAD+, biomarkers can be used to assess NAD+ levels and monitor the effectiveness of interventions aimed at boosting NAD+.

There are several biomarkers for NAD+ available on the market detecting it in blood sampling, making it relatively easy to track NAD+ levels and personalize interventions.

Conclusion

NAD+ is a vital coenzyme that plays a central role in maintaining cellular health and supporting longevity. Its decline with age has been linked to various age-related diseases and dysfunctions, highlighting the importance of maintaining sufficient NAD+ levels as we become older.