In this episode, Dr. Mark Hyman has the pleasure of discussing NAD with Dr. Andrew Salzman. They delve into how NAD is an essential factor in mitochondrial production and serves as a vital substrate for several enzymes, including sirtuins. These enzymes are instrumental in promoting healthy aging, managing weight, mitigating metabolic syndrome, and regulating metabolism.
Dr. Salzman is a distinguished physician, inventor, professor, and biomedical entrepreneur. He earned his medical degree from Harvard University and has dedicated decades to drug discovery and development, securing over $165M in NIH research grants. With 50 patents to his name, Dr. Salzman’s groundbreaking discovery in cellular DNA repair led to the first-ever clinical application for effectively treating breast cancer caused by BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations. His innovations have benefited millions of patients in areas such as mitochondrial health, gastrointestinal microbiota, damage from inflammation and oxidative stress to human cells and DNA, autoimmune disease, and cancer.
- How NAD helps us produce energy (5:00 / 3:04)
- The science behind how NAD impacts health and longevity (10:08 / 8:15)
- The role NAD plays in maintaining health (16:27 / 13:26)
- NAD’s multiple functions (23:46 / 21:18)
- Preserving NAD levels (30:34 / 27:47)
- Where NAD is made in the body (34:53 / 30:35)
- How NAD benefits sleep (41:17 / 37:04)
- Do NMN and NAD cause cancer? (47:12 / 42:57)
- Research on NMN in humans (50:23 / 46:07)
- The difference between NMN and NR (1:00:54 / 51:55)
Understanding NAD and NMN: The Science Behind Anti-Aging
As we age, our bodies naturally produce less and less of the essential compound NAD.
Thankfully, scientists have discovered that we can supplement our NAD levels through the use of supplements like NAD and NMN. These compounds have been gaining traction in the health and wellness industry, as they are thought to hold the key to fighting the effects of aging and promoting longevity.
In this blog post, we will explore the science behind NAD and NMN, and how these compounds can be used to support anti-aging efforts.
What are NAD and NMN?
NAD (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) and NMN (nicotinamide mononucleotide) are essential coenzymes involved in various biochemical processes in the body. NAD plays a critical role in cellular metabolism, energy production, and DNA repair, while NMN is a precursor of NAD that can rapidly elevate NAD levels. Both NAD and NMN are necessary for the maintenance of healthy cells, tissues, and organs.
NAD levels tend to decline with age, leading to various age-related health issues. Studies have shown that boosting NAD levels with NMN can improve cellular metabolism, enhance energy production, and reduce oxidative stress. These benefits may help improve various age-related conditions, including cognitive decline, muscle wasting, and cardiovascular disease.
Understanding the science behind NAD and NMN is essential in developing strategies to promote healthy aging. Supplementation with NMN may help enhance NAD levels and improve overall health and longevity.
As more research is conducted on the effects of NAD and NMN, it’s becoming increasingly clear that these coenzymes play a crucial role in the prevention and treatment of age-related diseases.
The Role of NAD in Health and Longevity
Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) is a coenzyme that is involved in many metabolic processes in the body. It is a fundamental driver of our health and longevity and plays a crucial role in energy production, DNA repair, and the regulation of gene expression.
NAD levels decline as we age, leading to a host of age-related diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and diabetes.
One of the main functions of NAD is to help convert food into energy by participating in the electron transport chain, a process that generates ATP, the molecule that fuels our cells. NAD is also involved in the regulation of gene expression, which determines which genes are turned on or off in a cell and plays a role in the repair of damaged DNA.
In addition, NAD helps to activate sirtuins, a family of proteins that are involved in various cellular processes, including DNA repair, metabolism, and stress response.
Overall, NAD is critical to our health and well-being. Boosting NAD levels may help to improve the effects of aging and support anti-aging efforts.
One way to do this is through supplementation with nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), a precursor to NAD that has been shown to increase NAD levels in the body.
Aging and Declining NAD Levels
As we age, our bodies naturally experience a decline in NAD levels. This decline is linked to many of the negative effects of aging, such as reduced cognitive function, increased inflammation, and decreased energy levels.
The decline in NAD levels occurs due to a combination of factors, including reduced NAD synthesis, increased NAD consumption by enzymes, and decreased activity of NAD-consuming enzymes.
Additionally, various lifestyle factors such as a poor diet, lack of exercise, and excessive alcohol consumption can also lead to declining NAD levels.
This decline in NAD levels is thought to contribute to many of the hallmarks of aging, including mitochondrial dysfunction, cellular damage, and inflammation.
Fortunately, research suggests that supplementing with NAD precursors like NMN can help boost NAD levels and potentially offset some of the negative effects of aging.
By supporting NAD levels, NMN may help promote healthy aging and support optimal health and longevity. However, more research is needed to fully understand the effects of NMN on NAD levels and overall health.
Boosting NAD with NMN
One promising approach to boosting NAD levels in the body is through the use of NMN, or Nicotinamide Mononucleotide. NMN is a precursor to NAD, meaning it is converted into NAD within the body. By supplementing with NMN, researchers believe that we can effectively increase NAD levels and reap the potential benefits.
Studies have shown that NMN supplementation can lead to a significant increase in NAD levels in various tissues and organs. This is important because NAD plays a critical role in our cells’ energy production and DNA repair processes. By boosting NAD levels, we may be able to enhance cellular function and combat the effects of aging.
Additionally, research suggests that NMN supplementation may have several other potential anti-aging effects. It has been shown to improve mitochondrial function, which is essential for energy production and overall cell health. NMN has also been found to activate certain enzymes called sirtuins, which are known to play a role in regulating metabolism, stress response, and lifespan.
While more research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms and benefits of NMN supplementation, the current evidence is highly promising. As we continue to uncover the science behind anti-aging, it’s becoming increasingly clear that boosting NAD levels through NMN supplementation could be a game-changer in the quest for better health and longevity.
Generally, 500-1000mg are taken first thing in the AM and research shows it takes approximately two weeks of use to regain stable NAD+ levels.