NAD+
NAD+ is a helper molecule (a coenzyme) your cells cannot make energy without. It carries electrons during metabolism. It is also the fuel for three groups of enzymes: sirtuins, PARPs, and CD38. Here is the problem. Your NAD+ drops sharply as you age, in nearly every tissue. That weakens mitochondria, DNA repair, and sirtuin activity. So researchers test precursors your body converts into NAD+, like NR and NMN, to top tissues back up. The results so far are mixed. (NAD+ stands for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide; NR is nicotinamide riboside, NMN is nicotinamide mononucleotide.)
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Sources
- Rajman L, Chwalek K, Sinclair DA. (2018). Therapeutic Potential of NAD-Boosting Molecules: The In Vivo Evidence. *Cell Metabolism*doi:10.1016/j.cmet.2018.02.011
- Covarrubias AJ, Perrone R, Grozio A, Verdin E. (2021). NAD+ metabolism and its roles in cellular processes during ageing. *Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology*doi:10.1038/s41580-020-00313-x