Telomeres, molecular structures capping chromosome ends, act as a molecular clock. With each cell division, telomeres shorten. Upon reaching a critical length, cells cease division, becoming senescent or dysfunctional, leading to aging.

NAD+ can mitigate telomere dysfunction by restoring levels of Sirtuin (a key longevity factor) and PARP (a DNA repair enzyme).

Sirtuin and PARP play critical roles in cellular aging pathways, with studies showing their epigenomic regulation significantly affects aging.

NMN also addresses senescent cells (i.e. “zombie cells”). When a cell becomes mutated or injured, it often stops dividing and becomes senescent. Senescent cells excrete a glut of molecules — including cytokines, growth factors, and proteases — that affect the function of nearby cells and incite local inflammation. When senescent cells begin to accumulate and the immune system stops responding to them, these secretions can lead to age-related diseases, including osteoarthritis and atherosclerosis.

NAD+ metabolism can help remove senescent cells and alleviate chronic diseases related to aging. 

A circadian cycle is an internal regulatory process that is influenced by irregular eating patterns, sleep/wake time, light exposure, and age. NAD+ can improve sleep quality by modulating SIRT1, which regulates the expression of our circadian clock genes. 

How does NMN improve sleep quality?

The susceptibility of our circadian rhythm to external factors is often tangible: it can be easily influenced by our sleep/wake patterns, diet, exposure to light, and age.

However, the impact of disruptions to our circadian rhythm is not always immediately felt. For example, many studies show that sleeping with the lights on can disrupt our circadian rhythm and lead to obesity, myopia, and even growth disorders. However, in the short term, sleeping with the lights on may only result in a sense of poor sleep quality.

There are three pathways that help regulate our circadian cycle:

• Positive feedback loop: Activation of circadian transcription by the heterodimeric factor CLOCK-BMAL1.
• Negative feedback loop: Inhibition of circadian transcription by Period (PER) and Cryptochrome (CRY) proteins towards CLOCK-BMAL1.
• Complex, interconnected processes: The activation and inhibition of the BMAL1 gene.

The SIRT1 enzyme connects the NAD+ pathway to the circadian transcription loops, forming the NAD+ – SIRT1 – CLOCK:BMAL1 – NAMPT – NAD+ pathway. Through this pathway, NAD+ levels regulate our circadian rhythm. Thus, consuming the right amount of the NAD+ precursor NMN can help restore our circadian rhythms.

Stress is prevalent in today’s society and often leads to suboptimal health, causing fatigue and a lack of energy.

NAD+ plays a crucial role in increasing ATP levels by maintaining mitochondrial fitness, thus boosting our energy.

What is the Mitochondria?

Mitochondria generate 95% of the chemical energy required to power the cell’s biochemical reactions. This chemical energy, produced in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). It also plays a central role in cell growth and apoptosis, earning mitochondria the nickname “powerhouse” of cells.

Dysfunctions in mitochondria can result in decreased cell energy levels and disruptions to cell signaling, contributing to various health issues and the aging process.

Research indicates that 53% of entrepreneurs work more than 12 hours per day, leading to exhaustion and fatigue.

One of the causes of mitochondrial dysfunction is the loss of NAD+, a central enzyme in ATP production during cellular respiration, which provides energy for numerous reactions throughout the body.

In 2012, Shin-ichiro Imai, MD, PhD, a professor of developmental biology and medicine at Washington University School of Medicine, discussed the close correlation between cellular NAD+ levels and mitochondrial functions in his landmark paper “The Dynamic Regulation of NAD Metabolism in Mitochondria.”

As the immediate precursor of NAD+, NMN has been validated by numerous studies to rapidly increase NAD+ levels in our bodies, thus improving mitochondrial functions.

In 2020, a research team led by the University of Minnesota demonstrated that NMN treatment significantly increased cellular respiration and ATP production. Researchers found that NMN improved mitochondrial functions in RPE cells, with the most significant improvement observed at 24 hours, primarily measured by ATP production.

Studies on NMN/NAD+

In 2011, a research team at the Washington University School of Medicine, led by Shin-ichiro Imai, MD, PhD, found that NMN supplementation might be effective in Type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients.

In 2013, research led by David A. Sinclair, A.O., PhD, a professor in the Department of Genetics and co-Director of the Paul F. Glenn Center for Biology of Aging Research at Harvard Medical School, showed that declines in mitochondrial functions induced by a decrease in nuclear NAD+ can be reversible.

Regulatory Status of NMN

NMN is approved in Japan as a raw material.

NMN is approved by the FDA as an investigational new drug.

By combining an advanced drug delivery system with the highest-grade, 99.9% β-NMN concentrate, an ultra-premium, next-generation NAD+ supplement is created.