What is the Difference Between NAD and NMN?

Have you ever pondered the mysterious particles that carry out essential biological processes? NAD(Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide) and NMN(Nicotinamide Mononucleotide) have gained a great deal of attention in the realm of longevity and overall health. In this piece, we'll dive into the differences between these two molecules, their duties, and the advantages they can bring about.

Table of Contents

What is NAD?

NAD, also known as Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide, is a coenzyme found across every cell of our body - a key component for metabolic processes that contributes to energy production, DNA repair, and general maintenance of cellular functioning. This coenzyme is crucial for normal respiration, transforming vital nutrients into utilised energy in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). In addition, NAD plays an influential role in enhancing the accuracy of our genetic material by participating in DNA repair functions. Therefore, its presence and seamless functioning are a necessity for the proper health of our bodies and the effective execution of biological activities.

Dinucleotide means that it consists of two nucleotides, one nucleotide contains adenine and one contains nicotinamide. If you’ve done any research on NAD recently, you may have seen it called numerous names such as NAD, NAD+ or even NADH. What is the reason for all of these names? NAD+ is given the plus sign to show the molecules positive charge and the specific chemical state. NADH is the specific opposite chemical state that NAD can be found in your cells. Essentially, this is the reduced form of NAD. 

These are two forms that NAD exists in. It has the ability to switch between these two forms and that is what allows NAD to carry out its main function. The main function is to carry electrons from one reaction to another to produce energy and assist in the role of metabolism. 

NAD and NADH help to convert nutrients from your food into energy that your cells can then use.

As we age, our NAD levels decrease. There are two main reasons why our NAD levels decline and they are as simple as…

  1. The production of NAD declines

  2. The consumption of NAD increases.

Your mitochondria are the powerhouse of every cell in your body and they use the energy to repair themselves when they’re damaged and they help to maintain homeostasis.  If your mitochondria aren’t working effectively, this can have several effects in terms of your health and can lead to a number of age related brain problems. 

NAD is also vital for the telomeres which are the caps on the end of your DNA strands that protect your chromosomes. Shorter telomeres are also linked to shorter lifespan. The loss of telomeres can lead to senescent cells or the death of cells. 

NAD and Sirtuins

NAD is the fuel used by your Sirtuins and similar to NAD levels, sirtuin activity declines with age. 

Sirtuins are a family of 7 proteins that keep your cells healthy and help to repair damaged DNA. They can only do their job when there is enough NAD to keep them fuelled. 

Think of your body as a business. Sirtuins are the head of the business and NAD represents the wages of the employees and the space, training and equipment that is needed for the employees to fulfil their job role. The business (in this instance, your body) cannot function without the employees and as mentioned above, NAD declines with age meaning this impacts your sirtuins too. Sirtuins manage everything that happens in your cells and if these are failing to perform then ultimately the business will fail. 

This is why we provide NMN and apigenin, to boost your NAD levels. Then to further activate your sirtuins, we provide resveratrol and our novel SIRT6Activator, which has been shown to extend lifespan. 

CD38 is an enzyme that increases as we age, in conjunction to NAD decreasing. CD38 is an NADase which in simple terms means it reduces NAD levels. If you are boosting your NAD levels whilst your CD38 levels are too high, it will be less effective, therefore we provide apigenin and quercetin to inhibit CD38, in order to make your NAD boosting more effective. 

Boosting NAD Levels

Over the years, NAD has become one of the leading topics of conversation in the longevity world and one of the most popular questions is how can we raise our NAD levels?

The NAD molecule is too large for your body to absorb, so we must look at alternative methods. Tthere are a number of different ways you can raise your levels. We provide Nicotinamide Mononucleotide (NMN) which is a direct precursor to NAD and has been proven to raise NAD levels. There are other ways of raising your NAD levels and these include exercise, intermittent fasting, getting enough sleep, eating healthily and protecting your body from too much direct sunlight.

Doing a combination of the above factors means that you are giving yourself the best shot at extending your health span and reaping the benefits of a much longer and healthier life. 

Importance of NAD in the Body

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide is a vital coenzyme found in all cells, serving diverse roles in the body. It is essential for energy production, participating in cellular respiration and ATP synthesis. NAD regulates metabolism through its involvement with sirtuins, impacting gene expression and metabolic pathways. Furthermore, it plays a crucial role in DNA repair and maintenance by supporting the activity of PARP enzymes. NAD also contributes to cellular defence against oxidative stress, acts as a signalling molecule in various pathways, and serves as an electron carrier in redox reactions. Overall, NAD's presence and proper functioning are crucial for a range of biological processes and optimal health.

Role of NAD in Energy Production

NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) plays a vital role in energy production within cells. It serves as a coenzyme, shuttling electrons during cellular respiration, a process that converts nutrients into usable energy. NAD accepts electrons from molecules involved in the breakdown of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, and transfers these electrons to the electron transport chain. Through this process, NAD helps facilitate the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the primary energy currency of cells. By participating in redox reactions, NAD ensures the efficient transfer of energy within cells, contributing to the overall energy production and functionality of living organisms.

What is NMN?

NMN promotes anti-ageing and is a naturally occurring compound that has gained significant attention for its potential anti-ageing properties. The difference between NAD and NMN is that NMN is a precursor to nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+), a coenzyme that plays a crucial role in various biological processes, including energy metabolism and DNA repair. Research suggests that NMN supplementation may boost NAD+ levels in the body, which could potentially support healthy ageing and improve cellular function. Studies have indicated that NMN supplementation in animal models has shown promising results in enhancing lifespan, improving mitochondrial function, and combating age-related conditions. While further research is needed to fully understand the effects of NMN in humans, it holds promise as a potential anti-ageing intervention.

How NMN is Converted into NAD?

NMN is converted into NAD through a series of enzymatic reactions within cells. The key enzyme involved in this conversion is called NMN adenylyltransferase, also known as Nmnat. Nmnat catalyses the transfer of an adenylyl group from NMN to ATP (adenosine triphosphate), resulting in the formation of NAD. This conversion is an important step in the biosynthesis of NAD, a vital coenzyme involved in cellular energy production and various metabolic processes. By replenishing NAD levels, NMN supplementation has been proposed to support cellular energy metabolism and potentially benefit overall health.

Differences Between NAD and NMN

Molecular Structure

NAD (Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) and NMN (Nicotinamide mononucleotide) are highly complex molecules with distinct structures and roles in the human body. NAD is comprised of two distinctly different molecules - nicotinamide and adenine - which are held together through phosphate groups. NAD is a vital helper molecule in many cellular activities, such as transferring electrons, repairing DNA, and controlling gene expression. NMN is a unique building block that assists in creating NAD. Its structure consists of nicotinamide, a sugar molecule known as ribose, and a phosphate group. NMN is critical in energy production within the cells and its involvement in various biological processes is essential. Supporting NAD production through consuming NMN can be beneficial for our overall cellular health and energy metabolism.

Absorption and Bioavailability

NAD, being a larger molecule, faces limitations in its ability to efficiently penetrate the cell membrane. However, NMN overcomes this hurdle with its superior bioavailability, allowing it to readily enter cells. NMN is different to NAD because once inside the body, NMN undergoes enzymatic conversion by the enzyme NMN adenylyltransferase (NMNAT) to generate NAD. This conversion ensures a more efficient and direct pathway for replenishing cellular NAD levels. By providing a readily available precursor, NMN offers a promising strategy to support NAD-dependent cellular functions, including energy metabolism, DNA repair, and gene expression regulation. The ability of NMN to bypass the membrane barrier and serve as a direct precursor to NAD underscores its potential importance as a supplement for supporting overall cellular health and vitality.

Benefits and Uses of NAD and NMN

Both NAD and NMN have been linked to a lot of potential health benefits. In particular, NAD has been extensively studied for its role in ageing and age-related conditions, while NMN has been propelled to the limelight for its potential in anti-ageing and in supporting cellular health. Accruing the recommended levels of NAD may enable the maintenance of cellular functions and consequently potentially reduce aged-related degradation. Meanwhile, NMN acts as an antecedent of NAD and it may be able to replenish levels of NAD, thus boosting biological procedures. Assertive studies hint at NMN augmenting mitochondrial function, improving metabolism, and potentially hampering age-related decline. Despite further research being imperative, both NAD and NMN have opened up noteworthy paths for exploration and could potentially prove to have therapeutic applications in the future.

The Difference Between NAD Supplements and NAD Precursors

NAD supplements and NAD precursors are distinct in their characteristics and implications. NAD precursors, such as NMN, are substances that can be converted into NAD within the body. NMN, specifically recognised as a notable NAD precursor, undergoes specific enzymatic reactions to transform into NAD. This conversion process is a significant step in the body's natural NAD synthesis pathway.

On the other hand, NAD supplements generally refer to direct supplementation with NAD itself or similar derivatives, like NAD+. These supplements are meant to provide NAD directly to the body, bypassing the necessity of synthesising it internally.

The key differentiation arises from the perceived advantages of NAD precursors, like NMN, compared to direct NAD supplements. Due to its relatively large size, there are uncertainties regarding the effective intact absorption of NAD supplements. Additionally, during the process of digestion, NAD supplements may undergo degradation, thereby limiting their availability to reach the cells where it is needed. In contrast, studies suggest that NAD precursors, such as NMN, demonstrate improved bioavailability and stability, enhancing their efficacy in elevating cellular NAD levels.

Furthermore, NAD precursors, including NMN, undergo natural enzymatic processes within the body, facilitating a more regulated and controlled increase in NAD levels. This natural conversion mechanism supports the preservation of the body's intrinsic regulatory mechanisms. Studies point to potential improvements in mitochondrial function, increased cellular energy production, and reversals of age-related decline with NMN precursors. NMN supplements remain an intriguing avenue for those seeking to maintain and support cellular health and possibly promote healthy ageing.

Choosing the Right NMN Supplement

Considering the use of NMN supplements is a must for anyone hoping to attain their health and well-being goals. It's vitally important to select high-quality products from reliable sources. Investigate NMN supplements, looking into their purity and potency with independent third-party tests, and consider the guidance of a healthcare professional for proper dosage and any possible medicinal interactions. Those desiring a trusted NMN provider should explore the offerings of DoNotAge.org. We have a solid reputation for quality and honesty. Don't skimp on product quality and seek professional advice to ensure the best NMN supplement is chosen for your needs.

Conclusion

In conclusion, NAD and NMN are two vital molecules with distinct roles in cellular functioning and overall health. NAD acts as a coenzyme involved in energy production, DNA repair, and metabolic processes, while NMN serves as a precursor to NAD and supports its production in the body. NMN supplementation shows promise in boosting NAD levels, benefiting cellular function, mitochondrial health, and healthy ageing. It is important to note that NAD supplements, being larger molecules, face challenges in intact absorption and stability, limiting their effectiveness. In contrast, NAD precursors such as NMN offer improved bioavailability, stability, and a natural enzymatic conversion process within the body, facilitating a more regulated increase in NAD levels. This makes NAD precursors a preferable choice for those seeking to elevate cellular NAD levels and promote overall cellular health and vitality. Therefore, selecting high-quality NMN supplements from reliable sources such as DoNotAge.org’s pure NMN supplement is crucial for individuals aiming to support their cellular health and well-being.