Scientists discovered NAD+ in 1906. This molecule is the most abundant in the human body besides water—life cannot exist without it.
NAD+ consists of two nucleotides linked by a phosphate group: one contains an adenine nucleoside base, and the other contains nicotinamide.
It is crucial for repairing damaged DNA and assisting mitochondria in energy production.
Special Functions of NAD+
Over a century of research on NAD+, scientists have gradually uncovered its diverse special properties, including delaying cellular aging, improving metabolic disorders, treating diabetes/cardiovascular diseases/neurodegenerative diseases, and preventing immune system decline.
01 Delaying Cellular Aging
NAD+ acts as "fuel" for sirtuins proteins, helping them maintain genomic integrity and promote DNA repair. Just as a car cannot run without fuel, sirtuins activation requires NAD+.
Studies have shown that increasing NAD+ levels in the body can activate sirtuins and extend the lifespan of yeast, worms, and mice—extending mice lifespan by approximately 5%.
02 Improving Metabolic Disorders
NAD+ is key to maintaining healthy mitochondrial function and stable energy output.
Research indicates that even in elderly mice, taking NAD+ supplements can reduce weight gain rate and enhance exercise capacity.
Other studies have even reversed diabetic effects in female mice, presenting a new strategy against metabolic diseases such as obesity.
03 Enhancing Heart Function
Elevating NAD+ levels protects the heart and improves cardiac function. Hypertension can cause cardiac hypertrophy and arterial blockage, leading to stroke.
In mice, increased NAD+ levels in the heart prevented damage caused by insufficient blood supply and protected against abnormal cardiac enlargement.
04 Defending Against Neurodegeneration
In mice with Alzheimer’s disease, elevated NAD+ levels reduced the accumulation of harmful proteins and enhanced cellular communication in the brain, thereby improving cognitive function.
Increasing NAD+ levels also protects brain cells from death when blood flow to the brain is insufficient.
Numerous studies in animal models have opened new prospects for supporting the healthy growth of aging brain cells, defending against neurodegenerative diseases, and improving memory.
05 Strengthening the Immune System
As we age, the immune system declines, making people more susceptible to illnesses and slower to recover from diseases such as seasonal influenza and even COVID-19.
Recent research has shown that NAD+ plays an important role in regulating the immune system and inflammation, highlighting its therapeutic potential for immune dysfunction.
How to Increase NAD+ Levels in the Body
NAD+ levels in the body drop sharply with age—by the age of 50, they are only about half of those at 20.
There are two main ways to increase NAD+ levels:
- Adopt healthy lifestyle habits through a balanced diet and moderate exercise. This not only benefits mental health but also boosts NAD+ levels.
- Take NMN (nicotinamide mononucleotide) to directly and quickly supplement NAD+. As a biosynthetic precursor of NAD+, NMN’s safety and effectiveness have been verified by scientists, making it the most efficient way to increase NAD+ levels currently.