What Has Scientists Excited About NAD+

There's a reason that researchers have zeroed in on NAD⁺ as a key factor in a science-based longevity protocol.

Found in every living cell, NAD⁺ is essential for life-sustaining functions and cellular integrity.

But here's the problem—NAD⁺ declines with age.^1-3

Fortunately, researchers have identified a form of vitamin B3 called nicotinamide riboside that can effectively increase NAD⁺ in the body toward youthful levels.

There is growing evidence from preclinical studies showing that supplementing with nicotinamide riboside can promote longevity.^4-10

One study showed an average 5% increase in the lifespan of old mice–even though supplementation did not begin until the mice were nearing the end of their natural lifespan (24 months).¹⁰

That would be the equivalent of gaining nearly an additional four years of life based on today's average human life expectancy of 78.7 years.¹¹

More than 50 clinical trials evaluating the impact of nicotinamide riboside on human health and longevity are listed in the U.S. National Library of Medicine.¹²

Boosting NAD⁺ Levels

One of the problems for aging individuals trying to restore NAD⁺ levels is that it is unstable and is not effective when taken orally.

Researchers have discovered a compound called nicotinamide riboside that is a precursor to NAD⁺.

This means that taking nicotinamide riboside orally can help jump-start NAD⁺ production. Cells can then use nicotinamide riboside to produce more NAD⁺ on their own, effectively boosting levels even into older age.

In both animal and human studies, nicotinamide riboside quickly boosts cellular NAD⁺ levels and stimulates NAD⁺ metabolism in cells.^13-15

Anti-Aging Benefits of Raising NAD⁺

A number of studies confirm that replenishing NAD⁺ levels can prevent or even reverse many of the changes associated with aging. It also shields against many of the chronic diseases of age.

Various lab and animal studies show that increasing NAD⁺ levels with nicotinamide riboside:

• Protects against metabolic abnormalities induced by a high-fat diet,¹⁶
• Helps preserve cognition in models of Alzheimer's disease,^17-19
• Reduces fasting and non-fasting blood glucose in a mouse model of type II diabetes, while protecting against diabetic neuropathy and preventing fatty liver disease,¹⁵ and
• Extends lifespan.^4,7,10

NAD⁺ Boosts Sirtuins

In so many ways, NAD⁺ is essential to the functioning and rejuvenation of the body.

Several important proteins, such as sirtuins, that regulate cellular repair and defenses, require NAD⁺ to function.

Sirtuins are an important target for anti-aging interventions.^1,2,20-22

Sirtuins are dependent on NAD⁺ to function.

NAD⁺ levels markedly decline with age, creating an energy deficit that decreases the body's ability to retain youthful function.²³

Multiple animal studies have demonstrated that increasing sirtuin activity leads to longer life and reduction in age-related loss of function.^4,7,10

Rejuvenating Stem Cells

As in humans, NAD⁺ levels drop in older mice. This leads to a decline in organ function, including in the ovaries.

One of the most recent studies of nicotinamide riboside evaluated its effect in the ovaries of middle-aged mice.²⁴

These older mice suffer from a loss of ovarian follicles (which contain the egg cells released during ovulation), poor egg quality, infertility, and frequent miscarriages or stillbirths.

A similar decline in human reproductive function occurs with age in women.

But when these older mice were given nicotinamide riboside, the health of the ovaries and reproductive function improved.

Ovarian follicles increased in number, and the mice were able to reproduce more easily and with a higher live birth rate. When scientists examined the ovaries, they saw markers of more youthful biology—healthier cells and improved cellular metabolism.

This improvement in organ function may be largely due to rejuvenation of stem cells.

In adult tissues, stem cells are meant to replace old, dysfunctional, and dying cells with healthy young ones. This maintains the health and youthful function of the tissue. But stem cells themselves age and stop working properly, causing the whole organ to fail.

Replenishing NAD⁺ levels with nicotinamide riboside rejuvenated muscle stem cells of aged mice.¹⁰

This study showed that boosting NAD⁺ improved mitochondrial function in muscle stem cells and inhibited stem cell senescence.

The researchers also showed that boosting NAD⁺ decreased senescence of brain and skin stem cells.

Aged stem cells from diverse tissues have been shown to be made more youthful with increased cellular NAD⁺ levels.^25,26

Longer, Healthier Life

Studies have consistently shown that increasing NAD⁺ levels improves overall health and extends lifespan in a range of preclinical models.

Longevity is difficult to study in humans because of our long lives. But boosting NAD⁺ has been shown to extend life in several other organisms, including yeast, worms, and mice.^4,7,10,27

Yeast grown with nicotinamide riboside have an increase in lifespan.⁴ In worms, this NAD⁺ precursor extends life by at least 10%.⁷

In elderly mice the human equivalent of about 70 years of age, nicotinamide riboside extended lifespan by roughly 5% compared to untreated animals.¹⁰

In human terms, this is the equivalent of gaining nearly four additional years of life based on today's average human life expectancy of 78.7 years.¹¹

These studies and others show why scientists and doctors are so excited about raising NAD⁺ levels as one key to anti-aging efforts, and to promoting longevity.

Summary

The compound NAD⁺ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) plays a critical role in fighting aging and possibly preventing degenerative disease risk.

NAD⁺ is required for cellular enzymes and proteins to work properly. The sirtuin proteins, which are promising targets for life-extending interventions, need NAD⁺ to function.

NAD⁺ levels decline with advancing age.

Nicotinamide riboside, a precursor to NAD⁺, rapidly increases NAD⁺ blood levels.

Boosting NAD⁺ to more youthful levels with nicotinamide riboside has been shown to prolong life and reverse loss of function in animal models.

Life Extension® continues to monitor ongoing trials on the impact that nicotinamide riboside could have on human health and longevity.

If you have any questions on the scientific content of this article, please call a Life Extension® Wellness Specialist at 1-866-864-3027.

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