In the last twenty years or so, research has emerged that supports the idea that boosting levels of NAD+ (the oxidized form of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) in animals (including mammals) can slow or even reverse many aspects of biological aging, either by activating sirtuins (proteins that regulate key biological pathways), by facilitating cell-to-cell and intracellular communication, and/or by other means. NAD+ levels can be boosted by orally supplementing with NAD+ precursors, including nicotinamide riboside (patented and marketed as Niagen, abbreviated as NR), and nicotinamide mononucleotide (abbreviated as NMN). To a much lesser extent, NAD+ can be increased by supplementing with plain old niacinamide/nicotinamide (NAM), and niacin/nicotinic acid (NA).
Tag: TMG
Recently a family member asked me for some tips for improving short-term memory. I ended up doing a deeper-than-usual dive into the topic. Some of my findings confirmed what I already knew or suspected, but others caught me by surprise. You know those giant canisters of powder with a picture of a bulging venous bicep on the label? Well, more on that later …
B-vitamins, building blocks of mental health? Or B.S.?
There’s a great deal of misinformation on the internet regarding B-vitamins and health. I know this because I’ve read most of it. During the 5 years or so when I was researching how to cure my own asthma, I devoured every text I could find regarding the physiological effects of specific vitamins and minerals — especially the B-vitamins. Large doses of B-complex or individual B-vitamins are recommended to improve mood, reduce PMS, reduce asthma symptoms, reduce the risk of various cancers, reduce the risk of heart disease, fight yeast infections, ward off mosquitoes, and prevent or cure numerous other ailments.
Which of these claims are based on reputable clinical research, and which are bullshit?