Life requires energy. Our cells need energy to stay alive. Without energy a cell dies because energy production represents the essential prerequisite for every living cell.
NADH is found in every living cell from plants or animals, and we take it in through our daily dietary regime. The components of food – proteins, carbohydrates, fats, are degraded into smaller molecules such as amino acids, sugars and lipids. They are processed leading to a ‘reducing power’ in the form of NADH.
It is an integral part of the Krebs Cycle.
The antioxidant cycle.
To demonstrate the importance of NADH, let us consider just one example of antioxidant regeneration:
One can see therefore that just a few NADH molecules can have a significant effect on the body’s antioxidant regeneration processes.
As we have seen, NADH increases the ATP energy in the cells. With more energy the nerve cells produce more adrenaline, dopamine, serotonin and also other components necessary for good performance. NADH is the only substance which has been shown to increase cellular energy and can be used to treat the following conditions:
And for the general healthy population, NADH offers the following benefits:
A lack of energy affects the brain by producing symptoms such as poor concentration or a lack of alertness. NADH provides the brain with more ATP energy to boost cognitive ability.
NADH also affects general cognitive function by stimulating the production of adrenaline and dopamine, both of which are essential for our cognitive performance and memory.
The immune system is based on the activities of our white blood cells. One of the main white blood cell sub-groups is macrophages. Macrophages are responsible for the direct elimination of bacteria or viruses.
There is a direct relationship between the intake and digestion process of the macrophages and the activation of the immune system. When bacteria or viruses enter the body, the metabolic activity of macrophages causes an increase in oxygen consumption. Oxygen is converted to superoxide which destroys these bacteria and viruses. During this oxygen demand, high amounts of NADH are consumed. Hence the more NADH that is available, the better the immune system works.
During the processing of bacteria and viruses macrophages produce ‘signal molecules’ which activate lymphocytes, which are themselves another white blood cell sub-group. These signal molecules are known as cytokines and they provide the appropriate communication between different white blood cells.
The most important of the cytokine signal molecules are Interleukins, so named because they provide the inter-communication between the various subgroups of the leucocytes. NADH stimulates the production of Interleukin IL-6, which provides an immune response to trauma, especially burns or other tissue damage leading to inflammation.
NADH is also vital in making the popular supplement Coenzyme Q10 behave as an effective antioxidant – a fact not often understood by the majority of Coenzyme Q10 users. Coenzyme Q10 is used to treat migraines, heart failure, gum disease, Parkinson’s disease, high blood pressure and diabetes. As a treatment only when Coenzyme Q10 is combined with NADH does it become effective and beneficial to the body. NADH reduces Coenzyme Q10 into an antioxidant and an energy producing compound.
PHARMACISTS ASKS: SURELY NIACIN AND NICOTINAMIDE ARE THE SAME?
But they are not, although they are both vitamin B3. But nicotinamide has an amide NH moiety substituted for one oxygen molecule in nicotinic acid, hence nicotinamide is an antioxidant, nicotinic acid is not.
Both occur in balanced in the food chain. Niacin metabolizes to nicotinamide and NAD. It doesnt work the other way round, so nicotinamide has no benefit on lipidemia.
Ss supplements the two different forms of vit B3 have major different effects. In a multi-supplement we put both in ~ RDA dose.
But for pharmacological benefits we use up to 100 fold higher doses eg over a gm of niacin for lipidemia or a few hundred mg of nicotamide as part of an antiinflammatory or antidiabetic combo.
This table (derived from Wikipedia, from Pubmed and from the Linus Pauling Institute website of Oregon State university) summarizes the biochemical and clinical differences:
| EFFECTS OF THERAPEUTIC DOSES WELL BELOW 3GM/D | ||
| property | NICOTINIC ACID | NICOTINAMIDE |
| formula | C6H5NO2 acid | C6H6N2O amide |
| molecular wt | 123.1 | 122.1 |
| lipids- LDL, Lp(a), Tg, | fall significantly | no effect |
| HDL | rises significantly | no effect |
| Anti-inflammatory | yes -anti-acne, skin whitener, antiosteoarthritic. | |
| psychiatric | antidepressant | anxiolytic |
| sirtuins | activates (anti-Alzheimers) | |
| vasodilator | yes | no |
| coronary artery disease | reduced. | reduced |
| deficiency | pellagra | only if nicotinic acid deficient. |
| cancer | reduced. | reduced |
| antidiabetic | significant; antioxidant | |
| AIDS – HIV infection | slowed | |
| TOXICITY at therapeutic doses | ||
| itch | ++ . | no |
| flushing | ++ at >30mg/d | if dose > 3gm/d |
| can cause jaundice | ++ . | liver protective |
| can cause gout | yes | no |
Conclusion
Additional NADH will create more ATP energy that powers the main organs of the body – the brain, heart, muscles, nerves, immune system, cell repair – basically everything that needs power. And as our energy levels decline with age, the performance of these organs can be maintained by providing more energy with NADH.
Watch Dr. Golding talk on Integrative and Anti-Aging Medicine.
Sign up for our newsletter to find out more about the exciting world of integrative medicine
