Nicotinamide Riboside, Nature’s Longevity Molecule

Article by Arnie Gitomer

By Sam Forbes, CN.

A new anti aging supplement called Nicotinamide Riboside is getting a lot of attention these days, and for good reason. Research is beginning to show some of the benefits of this molecule.
Nicotinamide Riboside, a naturally occurring form of vitamin B3 present in trace amounts in foods such as cow’s milk, has been shown to be a precursor in the biosynthesis of the critically important molecule nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide or NAD+. Researchers found that maintaining optimal NAD+ levels can positively impact indicators of aging such as insulin resistance, muscle wasting, and inflammation. This gives credence to the hypothesis that aging itself is not only preventable, but reversible.
 NAD+ is a coenzyme found in all living cells and is involved in reactions in the mitochondria where energy from glucose is used to make ATP. In a recent study, pre-diabetic and diabetic mice were given diets with or without nicotinamide riboside for the eight weeks. In both pre-diabetic and diabetic groups who ate a high-fat diet, nicotinamide riboside protected against weight gain and fatty liver, improved blood sugar levels, and protected against nerve damage. There is growing evidence that greater rates of NAD+ synthesis may be beneficial to protect against neurological degeneration. Current data suggest that nicotinamide riboside may be the only vitamin precursor that supports neuronal NAD+ synthesis. NAD+ is also required for the function of sirtuins, a special class of proteins involved in cellular regulation, healthy aging, and longevity. Research shows that low NAD+ levels limit the activity of sirtuins. As organisms age, NAD+ levels are reported to drop, which leads to a decrease in mitochondrial health; this in turn may lead to age-related health issues. By boosting NAD+, Nicotinamide Riboside can increase mitochondrial health and induce creation of new mitochondria. The search for sirtuin activators has been a major goal of academic, biotechnology and pharmaceutical research for the last decade.
 Studies show that nicotinamide riboside can elevate NAD+ in the blood by as much as 2.7-fold. Average maximal increases in blood NAD+ were approximately 30% at the 100 mg dose and approximately 50% at the higher doses. Increases in blood NAD+ tended to be sustained for longer times at higher doses. If NAD+ levels go down or are redirected (as in cancer cells), mitochondrial function erodes, creating numerous adverse effects. Therefore, maintenance of sufficient levels of NAD+ is essential to cellular energy metabolism and mitochondrial function; nicotinamide riboside just may be the best way to do this.

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