As someone who is passionate about aging well and continuing their active lifestyle, you may be looking for ways to reduce feelings of tiredness that are commonly associated with aging. One of the main contributors to a decline in energy levels as we age is a decline in cellular NAD+ levels. NAD+ has many important functions in your cells but one of the most important is its role in energy production. This article will describe how NAD+ is vital for energy production and how taking an NAD+ supplement such as Nuchido TIME+ can improve your energy levels.
NAD+ is vital for energy production
NAD+ is critical for maintaining our cellular health because it powers so many important cellular reactions. However, it is the role of NAD+ in energy production which is linked with declining energy levels during aging.
Our cells are constantly performing a multitude of chemical reactions, including metabolic reactions, which convert the food we eat into the energy that our cells need to function (ATP). Metabolism is a complex process involving many different enzymes and reactions, but the main stages are:
- Glycolysis
- The citric acid cycle (also called the Krebs Cycle)
- The electron transport chain
NAD+ is essential to each of these stages, without NAD+ cellular energy production cannot occur. That is why if all the NAD+ was removed from our bodies we would be dead in 30 seconds, as our cells would have no energy. Energy production occurs within the mitochondria, often referred to as the powerhouse of the cell, supporting their function is also vital to maintaining energy levels.
Consequently, when our NAD+ levels are altered e.g. during aging this directly impacts our cells ability to produce cellular energy, contributing to feelings of tiredness. Many lifestyle factors also influence NAD+ levels with a lack of sleep, excessive alcohol consumption, and lack of exercise all depleting NAD+ levels.
The two forms of NAD: NAD+ and NADH
Energy production consists of many ‘redox reactions’. These reactions simply involve the transfer of electrons from one molecule to another. NAD is often referred to as either NAD+ or NADH. The slight change in name is due to the change that occurs as NAD picks up and drops of electrons.
Think of NAD as a bus moving the electrons between various places within the cell to extract the chemical energy from them.
NAD+ is called the oxidised form, and in this state, it accepts electrons from other molecules (like an empty bus ready to pick up passengers). When NAD+ accepts 2 electron and a hydrogen molecule (H+) it becomes the reduced form NADH.
In this state the bus is full, and it is ready to transport the passengers (the electrons) and drop them off at the desired location. As electrons are negatively charged the two positive charges for the NAD+ an H+ are cancelled out by the two negatively charged electrons, resulting in NADH which is neutral and therefore has no ‘+’.
Once the NADH (that is loaded with electrons) reaches the mitochondria it donates the electrons and is oxidised back to NAD+. Ultimately ATP production is dependent on this function of NAD+, which is why declining NAD+ levels is detrimental to our energy levels.
Nuchido TIME+ increases NAD+ levels
Taking an NAD+ boosting supplement such as Nuchido TIME+ can therefore increase your energy levels. The most common feedback from our customers is that they have improved energy levels after taking Nuchido TIME+.
Nuchido TIME+ has been shown to increase NAD+ levels in our clinical trial. Beyond just increasing NAD+ levels Nuchido TIME+ increases sirtuin levels and contains ingredients which are known to support the function of your mitochondria. As mitochondria lie at the heart of energy production ensuring they are functioning optimally is also essential to maintaining your energy levels.
To learn more about Nuchido TIME+ and our multi-targeted approach click here.