4 More Reasons to Take Nicotinamide Mononucleotide (NMN)

This article ‘four more reasons to take NMN’ is the second on this subject, please feel free to check out the first, ingeniously titled ‘4 reasons to take NMN’

Why do we take NMN? We take NMN purely to raise our NAD levels; NAD or Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide to give it its full name is present in nearly all of our living CELLS. Our NAD levels drop as we age, so by taking NMN, in theory, we can replace our depleted NAD stores.

A key aspect of NAD is its role in protecting against aging, including moderating chemical stress, inflammation, DNA damage, and deteriorating mitochondria, all conditions associated with aging, taking NMN may be a way of addressing these critical issues. While a decline in NAD+ levels may reduce lifespan, so restoring NAD by taking NMN is now seen as a potential way to support longevity and combat the diseases of aging too.

A key feature of aging is the loss of energy at the cellular level, resulting in diminished ATP (adenosine triphosphate) and insufficient fuel to energize the body. One reason for loss of energy is a reduction in the effectiveness of the electron transport chain, this is the main way in which we extract energy from food.

Disorders and diseases ranging from obesity to diabetes and even to bone loss have been associated with the degradation of this essential pathway. Restoring the electron transport chain by upping NAD levels may be an effective way of promoting the crucial enzymes involved in sustaining youthful cell function. This may then help fight biological decline and protect against age-related diseases such as osteoporosis and type 2 diabetes.

Our chromosomes are complex structures that encapsulate our DNA. Access to DNA for reading genetic instructions requires bio-chemical control to ensure every gene functions in the way it was designed. Like any complex organization, chromosomes can become unstable. This can then trigger errors in the way our genes are expressed or read, which may lead to unwanted changes in cell function. Aging is accelerated when our chromosome do not function as intended. Stable chromosomes require adequate levels of NAD to function correctly.

Neurotransmitters are elements that allow neurotransmission. This chemical element transmits signals across the synapses in our brain; they also help to regulate daily bodily functions such as mood and appetite. NAD meets all criteria for a neurotransmitter, evidence for NAD’s neurotransmitter function has now been found in blood vessel, smooth muscles and in the brain.

Sirtuins are major regulators of cellular aging; they influence key functions such as DNA repair and inflammatory responses. They also influence whether cells either replicate or die a planned death — this planned death is called apoptosis, which is Greek for self-eating.

Compounds that activate our sirtuins are in high demand as biological “fountains of youth.” Supplements such as Resveratrol and quercetin have also been evaluated as promising sirtuin activators.

NAD is required for some sirtuins to function; sirtuin activity has been linked to fighting cardiovascular disease and stabilizing brain function, but Sirtuins cannot function effectively without the right amount of NAD, as we age and lose or NAD this ‘right-amount’ keeps getting harder and harder for our cells to access.

In Summary, as we age our NAD levels decrease, NAD is essential to many bodily functions such as cellular energy utilization, immune cell signaling and DNA repair. By increasing our ever-diminishing NAD levels with an NAD Booster such as NMN, we can hopefully restore our NAD to youthful levels.