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Cell biology

NAD+

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NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, oxidized form) is a coenzyme central to redox reactions in energy metabolism and a required substrate for sirtuins, PARPs, and CD38. Cellular NAD+ levels decline substantially with age across tissues, impairing mitochondrial function, DNA repair, and sirtuin activity. NAD+ precursors such as NR (nicotinamide riboside) and NMN (nicotinamide mononucleotide) are studied as supplements aimed at restoring tissue NAD+, with mixed clinical evidence.

Sources

  1. 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
  2. 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