Increasing NAD to Reduce HIF-1 Reverses Age-Related Inflammation and Insulin Resistance in Muscle Tissue
There has been a fair amount of research into the effects of manipulating hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) in lower animals, mostly nematode worms I believe. Interestingly this is one of the few manipulations in which either reducing or increasing levels of the protein in question can increase longevity. This is a sign that there is probably significant complexity involved in this outcome, such as in relationships with other mechanisms or that the effects of changes are tied to specific tissues in the body or locations within cells.
Researchers are today announcing - and, I think, overhyping - new research into a way to manipulate HIF-1 that is apparently an offshoot of past and ongoing research into sirtuins and aging. When considering the source of the work, the overhyping is perhaps less of a surprise than it might otherwise be: this is a group with a very large sunk cost behind them and little to show for it. Deep pockets nonetheless still back continued efforts, and they have a lot of experience with the press. This is a formula that leads to breathless press materials touting rejuvenation. The people who are really, actually working on rejuvenation are more restrained these days.
So let's start by noting that I disagree with the title of the article quoted below. I think that (a) these researchers have found an interesting set of interactions to help explain why manipulation of HIF-1 can affect longevity, and (b) the changing levels of that and various related proteins with advancing age are responses to accumulated cellular damage. Perhaps the most relevant damage is mitochondrial, given that cycling of NAD is involved in the chain of unpleasant results that unfold when mitochondrial DNA becomes damaged, or perhaps it is something else.
So to my eyes what they focus on isn't a cause, it's a consequence. The fastest way to see what causes what at this point is to work on repairing the known forms of damage rather than tracing back all of the myriad complexity of relationships and feedback loops in the cell - a task that would take substantially longer than just building means of biological repair for our cells and other small-scale structures.
A New - and Reversible - Cause of Aging
Ana Gomes, a postdoctoral scientist in the Sinclair lab, had been studying mice in which [the] SIRT1 gene had been removed. While they accurately predicted that these mice would show signs of aging, including mitochondrial dysfunction, the researchers were surprised to find that most mitochondrial proteins coming from the cell's nucleus were at normal levels; only those encoded by the mitochondrial genome were reduced.As Gomes and her colleagues investigated potential causes for this, they discovered an intricate cascade of events that begins with a chemical called NAD and concludes with a key molecule that shuttles information and coordinates activities between the cell's nuclear genome and the mitochondrial genome. Cells stay healthy as long as coordination between the genomes remains fluid. SIRT1's role is intermediary, akin to a security guard; it assures that a meddlesome molecule called HIF-1 does not interfere with communication.
For reasons still unclear, as we age, levels of the initial chemical NAD decline. Without sufficient NAD, SIRT1 loses its ability to keep tabs on HIF-1. Levels of HIF-1 escalate and begin wreaking havoc on the otherwise smooth cross-genome communication. Over time, the research team found, this loss of communication reduces the cell's ability to make energy, and signs of aging and disease become apparent.
While the breakdown of this process causes a rapid decline in mitochondrial function, other signs of aging take longer to occur. Gomes found that by administering an endogenous compound that cells transform into NAD, she could repair the broken network and rapidly restore communication and mitochondrial function. If the compound was given early enough - prior to excessive mutation accumulation - within days, some aspects of the aging process could be reversed.
Examining muscle from two-year-old mice that had been given the NAD-producing compound for just one week, the researchers looked for indicators of insulin resistance, inflammation and muscle wasting. In all three instances, tissue from the mice resembled that of six-month-old mice. In human years, this would be like a 60-year-old converting to a 20-year-old in these specific areas.
The natural compound sounds like B3
The compounds already known would be tryptophan and L-aspartic acid, but I think they may have found something unique which is why they're playing it close to the vest. Someone will leak it, hopefully, within my lifetime.
Is NAD the same as NADH?
Reading further, I see that the study used injectable nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), which gets converted to NAD.
I read this article in a couple of different places on the internet. It sounded so promising. I knew that I could come here and get the cynical view on this. I love you guys.
I read the article as well. It gives a simple method that works very quickly to obtain spectacular results. It's not practical at the moment because of the expense of the materials. It's also not new (in mice) and still needs to be tested in humans.
But it's a very promising result and I don't understand the cynicism.
I would put this and the youngblood experiments as the most promising results in 2013.
Here is where that part of the theory stands today. You be the judge in thinking if it should make much difference.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-9Xj-NMGAc
I'm pretty sure the natural chemical they have used here is Nicotinamide Riboside, Nr "Niagen" which is derived from B3 (Niacin)
sour grapes
OK speaking as a middle aged layman, what foods contain NAD? Or should I be looking for nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), (as Damion says above)....or for
Nicotinamide Riboside, Nr "Niagen" which is derived from B3 (Niacin) (as mentioned by David Wilson above)...or maybe just maybe Niacin?
Fight Aging has it's own agenda, the last thing they want it someone else to find a way to rejuventate you. Fight Aging beleive that finding ways to repair damage due to aging is the way to go.......to effectivly keep fixing the car. As there are numerous ways that we are damaged, I think this is a ludicrous way to proceed. It is going to take billions and take forever and it's going to spawn numerous protocols, drugs etc. Effectively it will be expensive, out of reach of most and too complicated.
The body well knows how to repair itself, it also knows but doesn't use it's rejuvenation capacity fully. What we need to do is find a compound that kickstarts the body into full self repair and rejuvenation. This research re NAD looks very promising indeed. I am sure there is some substance or substances that will cause the body to rejuvenate via mechanisms of repair it already has. Aging looks very complex but I bet there is just one thing you need to do to defeat it.
I tried NAD+ and in one day my lower back pain that had become chronic and debilitating completely disappeared and hasn't returned. It was night and day. One minute I had to be careful how I walked and the next day it was like it was never there and never came back.
I don't know what it has in it but it works...that's for sure and I don't plan on discontinuing taking it. No one who has gone from night to day in his right mind would stop taking it. Nothing short of miraculous!
DiAnne you state you will continue taking NAD+. is this supplement or prescription where, do you get it? I have an ass and I am very interested.
DiAnne you state you will continue taking NAD+. is this supplement or prescription where, do you get it? I have an ass and I am very interested.
DiAnne . I also would like particulars about what u take and where you get it...or are u joking? L
The only compound capable of increasing NAD is niacin or its metabolites (niacinamide or inositol hexa-nicitinate et cetera). Someone mentioned triptophan and in a very inefficient way it's true but irrelevant. The body uses 63 mg of the amino acid to make just 1 mg niacin...useless!
The main obstacle to supply niacin to our supplemental list of nutrients is Mr. Flushing. There's a competitive battle between research labs worldwide to find the way to take the flushing "thing" out of the equation. I've done it but of course I'm not disclosing it for obvious reasons. However I wish them Good Luck in their search... :-)
I have been taking a sleep cocktail for many years that consists of GABA, niacin, inositol, melatonin and 5htp. I have read that GABA can increase HGH (human growth hormone)levels. I am wondering if there might be a synergistic effect and maybe some of the components interact to stimulate the production of NAD in the brain and slow down the aging process. I'm not a doctor or biochemist but I feel great and people tell me that I look very young for my age. Anybody have any thoughts on this?