Chapter 1: The Ins and Outs of NMN
NMN (Nicotinamide Mononucleotide, NMN for short), that is, nicotinamide mononucleotide, is a substance that naturally exists in the human body. At the molecular level, it is a kind of ribonucleotide, which is the basic structural unit of genetic material RNA; structurally, it consists of nicotinamide group, ribose and phosphate group, NMN is in the cell It is converted into NAD+ (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide, that is, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) to function.
The human body is composed of about 40 trillion cells, and various biochemical reactions are taking place in these cells all the time, so as to maintain the normal operation of the cell function and the human body.
Just like the burning of coal requires fire and oxygen, in various biochemical reactions of cells, enzymes are "fire" that can promote the occurrence of biochemical reactions in cells, while coenzymes are "oxygen" and are necessary for enzymes to function "Auxiliary" molecules, both are indispensable.
NAD+ is one of the most important and widely used coenzymes in the human body, and it is also the most abundant molecule in the body except water.
When NAD+ functions as a coenzyme in the mitochondria, it can participate in energy metabolism processes, such as the common citric acid cycle, which requires less NAD+.
When NAD+ participates in DNA repair, it becomes a consumable product. Factors such as age growth and environmental radiation can cause the accumulation of DNA damage, resulting in a decrease in the concentration of NAD+ in cells.
NAD+ can also activate a group of Sirtuins proteins called "longevity proteins" and regulate their gene expression, thereby reducing the occurrence of diseases and delaying aging. However, as David Sinclair said: "With age, the concentration of NAD+ in the human body will gradually decrease, and the resulting decrease in the activity of longevity proteins is the main cause of human diseases during aging." Therefore, in aging Naturally increasing NAD+ levels in cells during the process may slow or reverse certain aging processes.
NMN can be directly converted into NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide), and is more easily absorbed and utilized by cells. Therefore, NMN supplements become the first choice to increase NAD+ levels in the body.
Chapter 2: Why should we pay attention to NAD+?
Since the discovery of NAD+ in 1906, this molecule has attracted the attention of scientists because of its abundant content in the human body and its key role in maintaining life activities. In animal studies, increasing the level of NAD+ in the body has a significant effect in improving metabolic and age-related diseases (such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative diseases, and decreased immune function), and exhibits anti-aging properties.
①NMN can improve the symptoms of patients with severe new coronavirus pneumonia
Scientists have been searching for a safe and effective treatment for the 2019 novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19) that has swept across cities and infected millions of people around the world.
Statistics show that COVID-19 infection rates are higher among older adults. About 13.4 percent of patients aged 80 and over died from COVID-19, compared with 1.25 percent and 0.06 percent of patients in their 50s and 20s. Age is the strongest risk factor associated with death from COVID-19, according to an Oxford University study of 17.4 million British adults.
In view of the fact that the virus is more harmful to the elderly, some scientists engaged in geriatrics research said that exploring from the perspective of anti-aging may be a long-term solution to reduce the damage to the health of the elderly caused by COVID-19 and other infectious diseases that may appear in the future. effective solution.
Although more research needs to be done to confirm this idea, a recent study has listed NAD+ supplements such as NMN as a potential treatment. The scientists also suggest that older adults may benefit from the longevity effects of NAD+ and prevent cytokine storms (when the immune system is overactivated and attacks its own healthy cells, leading to multiple organ failure, shock and even death).
②NAD+ can delay aging
NAD+ is the "molecular key" for awakening long-lived proteins, and the "fuel" for long-lived proteins to maintain genome integrity and repair damaged DNA. Animal studies have shown that increasing NAD+ levels in the body can activate longevity proteins and extend the lifespan of yeast, worms, and mice. NAD+ has shown encouraging anti-aging results in animal studies, and scientists are investigating how to translate these results to humans.
③NAD+ can improve metabolic disorders
NAD+ is one of the keys to maintain mitochondrial function and stabilize energy output. Both aging and a high-fat diet lead to a decrease in NAD+ levels in the body, and NAD+ supplementation can alleviate diet- and aging-induced weight gain and improve exercise capacity in mice. In another study, NAD+ reversed the symptoms of diabetes in female mice, showing the great potential of NAD+ as a new strategy for treating metabolic disorders such as obesity.
④NAD+ can reduce heart damage
Boosting NAD+ levels can protect and improve heart function. In mice, NAD+ supplementation increased NAD+ levels in the heart and attenuated cardiac injury from ischemia and reperfusion. NAD+ supplementation also protected mice from abnormally enlarged hearts.
⑤NAD+ can prevent neurodegeneration
In mice with Alzheimer's disease, boosting NAD+ levels reduced the buildup of the brain's white matter, which disrupts cell signaling, and boosted cognitive function. When there is insufficient blood supply to the brain, increasing the level of NAD+ can also protect brain cells from death. A large number of animal model studies have shown the broad prospects of NAD+ in delaying brain aging, resisting neurodegeneration and improving cognitive ability.
Chapter 3: Production, Transformation and Utilization of NAD+ and NMN in Human Body
How is NAD+ produced in the human body?
The human body will spontaneously convert NAD+ precursors into NAD+. There are five main precursors of NAD+ in the human body: tryptophan, nicotinamide (NAM), nicotinic acid (NA), nicotinamide riboside (NR) and nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN). Among them, NMN is one of the components in the final step of the NAD+ synthesis process. Therefore, NMN is also called the immediate precursor of NAD+ (that is, one-step NAD+ synthesis).
These precursors can all be obtained through food. Among them, NAM, NA and NR are the transformed forms of vitamin B3. Once they are in the body, cells synthesize NAD+ through several different conversion pathways.
The first pathway is called the de novo synthesis pathway (De novo pathway). De novo is a Latin word meaning "to start from scratch". This pathway starts with the NAD+ precursor tryptophan, from which it is converted stepwise to NAD+.
The second pathway is called the salvage synthetic pathway (Salvage pathway). This pathway is similar to recycling in that it converts NAD+ from the products of NAD+ degradation. In fact, all proteins in the body need to be degraded regularly to prevent their excessive accumulation and damage to health. As part of the cycle of synthesis and degradation, NAD+ degradation products are converted to NAD+ under the action of enzymes, thereby undergoing re-degradation and re-synthesis.
How to increase the level of NAD+ in the body?
Calorie restriction, i.e. fasting or reducing calorie intake, has been shown to increase NAD+ levels and the activity of long-lived proteins. In mice, calorie restriction-induced increases in NAD+ and longevity protein activity showed promising antiaging effects. Although NAD+ exists in some foods, due to its low content, it is not possible to affect the concentration of NAD+ in cells only through diet. Taking NMN supplements has been proven to be a direct and effective way to increase NAD+ levels.
Why choose NMN as your NAD+ supplement?
As we age, the concentration of NAD+ in cells gradually decreases. Since NAD+ molecules are relatively large and difficult to be absorbed, direct oral administration or administration of NAD+ cannot have a positive effect on metabolism. Therefore, the availability of NAD+ must be increased by supplementing NAD+ precursor molecules, and NMN is easier to absorb and utilize than NAD+, which is The best choice to increase the concentration of NAD+ in cells.
Studies have shown that taking NMN can increase the concentration of NAD+ in multiple parts of the body, including heart, kidney, liver, pancreas, testis, adipose tissue, skeletal muscle, eyes and blood vessels, etc., and the absorption and utilization efficiency of NMN is very high. After 15 minutes of oral administration of NMN , the NAD+ level in the mouse liver can be significantly increased.
