nad+ the key to ageing?
WHAT EXACTLY IS NAD+ & WHY IS LOW NAD+ A PROBLEM?
Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide (NAD+), is a coenzyme that plays a critical role in supporting many biological processes within your body. It is also known as “the Miracle Molecule” – the single most potent cellular antioxidant.
Low NAD+ results in an absolute lack of energy on a cellular level, and levels naturally decline with ageing. NAD+ is considered an essential co-factor in the body, extensively involved in most of our cellular processes - from ATP and cellular energy production, to DNA repair, modulation of gene expression, intracellular calcium signalling & immune function.
WHAT DOES NAD+ DO?
NAD+ slows down ageing, boosts metabolism & weight loss, combats fatigue and eradicates brain fog - enhancing cognitive function. Aside from this it is one of the most potent anti-oxidants, reducing body wide inflammation from a cellular level and eventually aiding with chronic disease. Not only does it affect our internal health but it also affects our external appearances - reducing visible signs of ageing such as wrinkles and sagging skin.
NAD+ has numerous widespread benefits ranging from cellular detoxification and DNA repair – helping prevent the mutations that can eventually lead to Cancer. To maintaining healthy sleep cycles and regulating the production of ATP on a cellular level to power all life in your body.
WHAT DOES THE LATEST RESEARCH SHOW ABOUT NAD+?
Just Like Glutathione, NAD+ naturally depletes with age. However unlike Glutathione, our bodies start reducing the production of NAD+ from the age of 20, with a 50% reduction considered “normal” by the age of 50. There is now mounting evidence that declining NAD+ with age is what leads us to be more & more susceptible to chronic diseases such as declining energy with age, aberrations in DNA (which eventually lead to cancer), Diabetes, Heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease, Dementia and visual loss.
The latest advances and discoveries in ageing and Anti-ageing medicine by the worlds foremost leading expert Dr. David Sinclair of Harvard University, clearly demonstrate that the loss of NAD+ is concomitant with the beginnings of cellular ageing - inevitably resulting in the outward manifestations of old age and disease.
Clearly prefaced as below in his latest book detailing the results of his research - “Lifespan: Why We Age and Why We Don’t Have To” - which I highly recommend you all read:
“require a molecule called nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, or NAD. As we will see later, the loss of NAD as we age, and the resulting decline in sirtuin activity, is thought to be a primary reason our bodies develop diseases when we are old but not when we are young.” David A. Sinclair, Lifespan: Why We Age and Why We Don’t Have To.
WHY DO WE THINK NAD+ DELAYS AGEING?
Ageing is a defect that begins at a cellular level. Many medical professionals & scientists have now begun to consider ageing a disease, and it is a process which begins in our early 20’s, long before we see the outward signs of old age - with sagging skin, greying pallor, greying hair and stiff joints.
NAD+ is a part of the answer to ageing. Its core function is energy conversion within our cells, however it also has an equally significant secondary function, which is to repair cells with DNA damage. Reversing the harmful effects of oxidation and free radical damage in the body. It is for this reason that declining NAD levels are so important in the process and pathology of ageing.
DOES NAD+ SUPPLEMENTATION HAVE SIDE EFFECTS?
As with anything, side effects are always possible. The most commonly reported side effects are occasional nausea, temporary brain fog & mild diarrhoea however supplementation appears to have no lasting side effects, and those experienced at the beginning quickly fade away or are forgotten once you experience the benefits.
IS THERE ANYONE WHO SHOULD NOT HAVE NAD?
As levels do not start to decline until our 20’s it would not be necessary for anyone to begin supplementation or NAD treatment until after this age & so it would not be given to under 21’s. If you experience any allergy type symptoms with NAD it is not advised to continue taking it, & as there is limited evidence on its effect during pregnancy or breastfeeding it is inadvisable to take it in these conditions.
Dr A Sandhu
Lifestyle & Wellness Doctor
CEO of UKALM
