Understanding NAD+ Metabolism and the Potential of NMN for Age-Related Diseases
Introduction:
- NAD+ is a vital co-enzyme involved in many biochemical reactions and crucial for various biological processes.
- NAD+ deficiency is associated with several diseases, and maintaining NAD+ homeostasis is important for overall health.
- The sirtuins family, which relies on NAD+ for its functions, is also discussed.
NAD+ Biosynthesis Pathways:
- There are three pathways for NAD+ biosynthesis, including the Preiss-Handler, de novo synthesis, and salvage pathways.
- Nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) is an important intermediate in NAD+ biosynthesis and has shown promising results in preclinical studies.
Role of NAD+ in Age-Related Diseases:
- Age-related diseases such as diabetes, obesity, Alzheimer's disease, and retinal degeneration are associated with NAD+ imbalance.
- NAD+ metabolism plays a critical role in insulin sensitivity, energy metabolism, and neuronal function.
- NAD+ supplementation, including NMN administration, has shown improvement in animal models of age-related diseases.
Clinical Trials and Safety of NMN:
- Clinical trials are underway to investigate the safety and benefits of NMN.
- Capsule formulations of NMN have been approved as health supplements.
- Phase I and II studies have shown the safety and bioavailability of NMN in humans.
NMN in Different Diseases:
- NMN has shown potential therapeutic effects in various diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, kidney injury, liver disease, neurological disorders, and retinal degeneration.
- Administration of NMN can improve mitochondrial function, reduce oxidative stress, and enhance cellular metabolism in these conditions.
Conclusion:
- NAD+ metabolism is important for maintaining overall health and is involved in various physiological processes.
- NMN supplementation shows promising results in preclinical studies and ongoing clinical trials, making it a potential therapy for age-related diseases.
- Further research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms and determine the optimal dosage and long-term safety of NMN.
Title of paper: Nicotinamide Mononucleotide: A Promising Molecule for Therapy of Diverse Diseases by Targeting NAD+ Metabolism
Author(s): Hong W, Mo F, Zhang Z, Huang M, Wei X.
Year published: 2020
Published in: Front Cell Dev Biol
Original article can be found here.
