As we get older, our bodies change in many ways. One important change involves a substance called nicotinamide adenosine dinucleotide (NAD+). Scientists are studying NAD+ closely because it might help us stay healthy as we age. In this article, we’ll explore what NAD+ is, how supplements might affect our health and aging, and what recent studies say about it.

What is NAD+?

NAD+ is a molecule that helps our cells make energy. It’s really important for keeping our cells working well. But as we get older, we have less NAD+ in our bodies. This can lead to problems like weaker muscles and damaged DNA. Scientists think that taking NAD+ supplements might help solve these problems.

Safety and Effects in Older People

Researchers are looking into whether NAD+ supplements are safe and effective, especially for older adults. One study by Dellinger and others in 2017 gave NAD+ supplements to 120 older adults for eight weeks. The results were promising: the supplements were safe, and the participants showed some health improvements.

Muscle Health in Aging

NAD+ might also help with muscle health. A study in 2022 tried to find out if these supplements could help older people recover from muscle injuries. The results weren’t clear, but researchers are still interested in exploring this more.

Overall Health Benefits

Some studies have tried to see if NAD+ supplements can improve general health. These studies showed that while NAD+ levels in the body increased, other health aspects, like blood sugar and cholesterol levels, didn’t change much. This means NAD+ supplements might not help with everything related to aging.

How Do NAD+ Supplements Work in the Body?

One study looked at how NAD+ supplements affect our cells. They found some changes in genes related to how cells move and stick together, but not much change in energy production or certain proteins in cells. This shows that NAD+ supplements have complex effects in the body.

NAD+ and Diseases Related to Aging

Other studies have looked at whether NAD+ supplements can help with health problems that are more common as we get older. The results have been mixed, suggesting that the relationship between NAD+ supplements and aging diseases is complicated.

Expanding the Research: NMN Supplements

Researchers are also studying another substance called nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), which is related to NAD+. A study in 2022 showed that NMN is safe to take and might help us understand more about how NAD+ works in our bodies.

Human Trials and Future Research

There’s a lot of interest in how NAD+ supplements might affect aging and health. Early studies in humans show that these supplements can increase NAD+ levels, but more research is needed to see how this really affects our health and aging process.

mTOR and Aging

Another area of interest is how NAD+ might affect something called the mTOR pathway, which is important in aging. Some drugs that target this pathway, like rapamycin, have shown promise in helping older adults stay healthier.

Skin Aging and mTOR

There’s also research looking at how mTOR might affect skin aging. A study in 2019 found that a cream containing rapamycin, which targets mTOR, could help with skin aging. This could be a new way to help our skin stay healthy as we get older.

Mitochondria, Aging, and NAD+

Lastly, scientists are studying how NAD+ supplements might help our mitochondria, which are like the power plants of our cells. Keeping our mitochondria healthy is really important for aging well, and NAD+ might be a key part of this.

Conclusion

In summary, NAD+ supplements are an exciting area of research in the field of aging and health. While we’ve learned a lot, there’s still much more to discover. Scientists are hopeful that NAD+ and related substances could help us live healthier, longer lives. As research continues, we’ll get a clearer picture of how these supplements might help us as we age.