NAD+, The Sirtuin Activator That Governs Aging
In your body, NMN is converted into a related compound called nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+), which is found in every cell of living organisms and is essential for life. NAD+ fuels the function of many genes, and one of the most interesting family of genes are called the sirtuins.
These seven enzymes (SIRT1–7) are thought to be responsible, in large part, for the cardiometabolic benefits of lean diets and exercise and when upregulated can delay key aspects of aging. The sirtuins are a family of proteins involved in regulating cellular processes including the aging and death of cells and their resistance to stress. Sirtuins can stimulate the clearance of dysfunctional mitochondria and improve intercellular communication. They almost seem to act as a kind of team of proteins, restoring cellular functions to a much higher level of youthful effectiveness. Sirtuins are indispensable for DNA repair, supporting immune health and antioxidative defense which makes them good anti-senescence/anti-aging targets.
With increasing age, however, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide levels and sirtuin activity steadily decrease, and the decline is further exacerbated by obesity and sedentary lifestyles. Activation of sirtuins or NAD+ repletion support vascular growth, insulin sensitivity, and other health benefits in a wide range of tissues. Human clinical trials testing agents that activate SIRT1 or boost nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide levels are in progress and show promise in their ability to improve cardiovascular and metabolic health.
