The Nine Hallmarks of Aging
In 1991, the book Evolutionary Biology of Aging defined aging as “a persistent decline in the age-specific fitness components of an organism due to internal physiological deterioration.”
It’s a rather broad definition to describe the aging process.
The challenge with trying to define aging is that aging is a complicated journey. There is no single answer that explains why we age.
But interest within the scientific community around aging research accelerated significantly within the past 30 years, looking deeply at the cellular and molecular basis of life.
In a review published in Cell, Carlos Lopez-Otın and a team of researchers proposed nine hallmarks of aging considered to contribute to the aging process.
The nine hallmarks are the following:
1. Genomic instability
Your DNA is pretty important, and it’s not surprising to know that your DNA is worth protecting.
Acting as the blueprint of your body, your DNA is responsible for providing all the intricate plans on how every operation in your body should function.
Your cells know DNA’s importance as well, harboring them with thick walls to keep them safely tucked away from damaging forces.
Despite your cell’s best efforts, your DNA is constantly under attack. Free radicals, pollutants, pesticides, and UV rays from the sun are all exposing your DNA to damage.
According to the American Federation of Aging Research, your DNA undergoes damage one million times per day.
Luckily, your DNA also encodes a set of instructions to repair itself from such aggressors, but this repair can only go so far. With age, damage to your DNA (or genome) accumulates—known as genomic instability.
You can also inherit mutations during the DNA repair process as well, an added detriment to your DNA.
The correlation between aging and genomic instability is much like the lifespan of a well-maintained car. You can be incredibly meticulous in rotating your tires, changing your oil, checking your tire pressure, and driving more fuel-efficient. But like all cars, your DNA can eventually break down from the simple passage of time.
2. Telomere attrition
Telomere attrition is a specific type of genomic instability that has received so much attention in recent research; it bears mentioning separately amongst the nine hallmarks of aging.
Telomeres are protective caps at the end of each chromosome, like the plastic caps at the end of a shoelace.
To understand why telomeres are studied so closely in aging research, we have to look at how your DNA replicates.
Every time your cells undergo cell division, a fraction of your telomeres is lobbed off, making them shorter and shorter every time your cell replicates.
Eventually, your telomeres run out of runway, and there’s no room to cut. Your cells are unable to divide at this stage, accelerating the aging process.
Due to the finite nature of telomere length, researchers looked into their correlation to determine lifespan. A research article published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences investigated telomere length in various species.
The article concludes,
“The results shown here indicate that the telomere shortening rate of a species can be used to predict the life span of that species…”
The discovery of telomeres shifted the way we think about aging, challenging researchers to think beyond our chronological age. The work was so profound that the researchers were awarded the Nobel Prize.
3. Epigenetic alterations
Aging research is not only focused on your DNA. After all, several different functions work with your DNA to operate, like the epigenome.
Every cell in your body has the same DNA. But how is it that a liver cell functions differently from a brain cell?
The answer lies in your epigenome.
An epigenome is a multitude of chemical compounds that tell your DNA what to do. If DNA is the blueprint of your body, your epigenome is the contractor. They call the shots and decide what to build. This function is also known as gene expression.
For example, for your liver cells, the epigenome “turns on” certain parts of your DNA to assign it as a liver cell.
Unfortunately, as we age, your epigenome can be affected by environmental exposures and disease. These changes can change how your epigenome operates gene expression, affecting the way the epigenome processes your DNA.
An article published in the Journal of Applied Physiology outlines that epigenetic alterations such as mutations, deletions, and translocations are among the leading causes of genomic instability.
Your epigenome and your DNA cannot operate without the other. Research in epigenetic alterations and aging further highlights how all the hallmarks of aging are intrinsically tied.
4. Loss of proteostasis
Proteostasis comes from the root words “protein” and “stasis,” meaning a state of balance.
It’s the process of maintaining a stable production of proteins in your body without any issues. A loss of proteostasis describes when this vital protein-building machinery doesn’t function properly.
Proteins are precious molecules. They hold essential jobs in the cell, anywhere from gatekeeping the cellular wall to acting as enzymes for all the major chemical reactions on the body.
Your body maintains proteostasis via a network of proteins but can sometimes create too few or too many proteins when errors occur. These errors may create folds within the network, disrupting order and creating misshapen and dysfunctional proteins, almost like a paper jam in a printer.
A review in the journal Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology states that environmental factors can cause stress on this protein-building system, causing these errors to occur more frequently over time.
The abstract reads,
“Sustaining proteome balance is a challenging task in the face of various external and endogenous stresses that accumulate during ageing. These stresses lead to the decline of proteostasis network capacity and proteome integrity.”
Periods of oxidative stress, an imbalance between your free radicals and antioxidants in your body, can cause these protein-production mishaps to occur more frequently. And like in oxidative stress, there must be a balance in protein production and protein degradation.
A research article published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences affirms,
“the tipping point...occurs when replenishing good proteins no longer keeps up with depletion from misfolding, aggregation, and damage.”
5. Deregulated nutrient sensing
Your cells need nutrients to operate, and they get their nutrients from the food you eat.
But your nutrients aren’t always steady. You aren’t eating every waking hour of the day (if you are, that’s a whole separate set of issues). So how do your cells know when nutrients are available and when they aren’t?
Your cells have sensors that can respond to the fluctuations of nutrient levels in your body. But your cells have to be careful. They need to take just the right amount. Why? Because metabolism, the process of turning your food into energy, is a double-edged sword.
Every time your body turns food into energy, your body creates damaging byproducts like free radicals. Imagine a gasoline engine. It produces efficient power for our cars but produces carbon emissions out of the exhaust.
Your cells’ nutrient sensors ensure it doesn’t take too much or too little of the food you eat. However, over time, as your cells accumulate damage from oxidative stress, these sensors have trouble regulating your nutrient intake.
An article published in Communications Biology denotes that these nutrient sensors provide the molecular basis for the association between lifestyle habits and aging.
The more damage your nutrient sensors take, the more damage they create by over metabolizing. It becomes a vicious cycle of damage.
But it isn’t all bad news. Continued study of nutrient-sensing concerning caloric deficits can have a profound impact on aging research, as a review published in Nature highlights:
“On the other hand, one of the most successful interventions against the onset of aging is limitation in nutrient intake, or caloric restriction. Hence, understanding normal nutrient sensing mechanisms is a prerequisite for designing better interventions…”
6. Mitochondrial dysfunction
The mitochondria are the “powerhouse of the cell.” They generate all the necessary energy your cells need, working as the primary component of metabolism. Your mitochondria produce 90% of your body’s energy.
But the energy comes at a cost. As shown in a review published in the Journal of Signal Transduction, mitochondria make most of the cell’s free radicals, a byproduct of their metabolic engines.
The vicious cycle of damage that occurs in your cell’s nutrient sensors also appears in the mitochondria. Free radicals damage your mitochondria’s efficiency, overworking their systems and creating more free radicals in the process.
Also, research from the School of Kinesiology and Health Science from York University shows you make fewer mitochondria as you age, making the few mitochondria you do have left work that much harder.
Integrative Medicine highlights that the loss of function in your mitochondria can result in excess fatigue, a common symptom associated with aging.
However, your mitochondria are very responsive to the energy demand of the body.
Like a power grid, if there is a decline in power demand, some power plants will shut off for greater efficiency. Likewise, sedentary lifestyles lead to further mitochondrial decline as the body responds to a lower energy need.
Fortunately, the inverse is also true. A study by David A. Hood from York University shows that exercise can promote mitochondrial biogenesis, the process where the body creates more mitochondria to meet the new energy demand.
7. Cellular senescence
Cellular senescence is a condition in which a cell no longer has the ability to divide, leading to its inevitable demise.
Cellular senescence is a natural process. Typically, your body can produce enough new cells to outweigh senescent cells. However, the number of senescent cells increases with age.
Think of cellular senescence as a natural protective mechanism. When a cell endures irreparable DNA damage or telomere dysfunction, cellular senescence prevents those damaged traits from proliferating further.
It’s your body’s “last-ditch” approach to an accumulation of environmental stressors. A review published in Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology notes, “cellular senescence occurs in response to endogenous and exogenous stresses.”
However, a review article in Nature Reviews Endocrinology highlights evidence that cellular senescence has a causative role in conditions associated with aging.
Without the replacement of new cells, a proliferation of cellular senescence can be problematic. For example, a review published by Nature Medicine outlines emerging evidence that suggests senescence causes a loss of tissue-repair capacity and proinflammatory molecules.
However, research investigating cellular senescence hopes to unlock the senescence mechanism for positive therapies, particularly in preventing the proliferation of problematic cells.
The same review from Nature Reviews Endocrinology points to the beneficial effects of cellular senescence for tumor suppression. But there is much to be studied to unlock the control of these benefits.
8. Stem cell exhaustion
Stem cell research consistently hits the airwaves and newsreels for its buzzworthy science in the past few decades.
There’s a good reason for it. Stem cell research is shrouded with a sense of both promise and controversy.
In particular, stem cell research can unlock potential growth for new tissue in humans. However, in the early stages of research, the use of embryos created political dissension for its continuation.
Thankfully, recent research has been able to circumvent this controversial practice by using adult stem cells.
So how do stem cells work?
To understand stem cell function, we need to look back to the epigenome and its ability to turn specific genes on and off.
The epigenome is responsible for assigning roles for our cells.
All of your cells have one function. Skin cells, liver cells, brain cells, heart cells—they are all assigned one role. But stem cells are like fresh college graduates that are ready to join your body’s cellular workforce. They don’t have a specialized job yet and are eager to be given some responsibility.
Based on your body’s needs, stem cells can assign themselves to become a specific cell. Think of them as reinforcements to all the cells in your body. For example, if there’s a need for more liver cells, stem cells will adjust their specialty to become liver cells.
This cycle of cell replenishment is vital for tissue homeostasis and regeneration. Stem cell exhaustion occurs when this new, budding workforce cannot replace the retiring cells fast enough to maintain peak tissue function.
Stem cell exhaustion is closely tied with the other hallmarks of aging. The imbalance between stem cells and retiring cells can occur from the proliferation of senescent cells, caused mainly by DNA damage.
A review published in Cell Metabolism highlights,
“Replication stress caused by age-related cell-cycle defects (e.g., DNA damage or chromosome disorganization) can diminish HSC functional activity, leading to decreased blood production and impaired therapeutic potential in transplantation assays.”
There is still a lot more research left to be done to unlock the potential capabilities of stem cells, but its relation to aging is clear. And aging research requires scientists to consider stem cells in tandem with the other hallmarks of aging.
9. Altered intercellular communication
Your cells love to chat. They use an intricate network of chemical signaling molecules to communicate with each other. Your cells use these networks to work together in adapting to environmental changes and manage the complex mechanisms that a multicellular organism (like humans) requires.
However, as you age, this vast communication network suffers signal degradation. The signals weaken, and communications run haywire, also known as altered intercellular communication.
One of the main culprits of this signal degradation is inflammation.
Inflammation is your body’s natural response to clear away threats and damaged cells. However, sometimes, inflammation can extend beyond its desired short-lived output and cause significant damage to nearby healthy cells.
Why is the inflammation triggered?
One of the main reasons is the existence of senescent cells, old cells that can no longer replicate. Senescent cells exert inflammation-causing chemicals, and in turn, create more damage to the cell environment.
Some studies suggest senescent cells can use these same intercellular communication signals to transform nearby healthy cells into senescent cells. A review in Trends in Cell Biology hypothesizes,
“One of the consequences of ageing and related diseases is the accumulation of senescent cells and their active intercellular communication profile.”
Studies around altered intercellular communication challenge the perception that autonomous cells are the sole subject of molecular aging.
Although there is still much we don’t know about how this vast network of chemical signaling works, research around intercellular communication illustrates how aging can be a consequence of cells in their environment.
Why should you care about the nine hallmarks of aging?
The nine hallmarks of aging help us understand that the process of aging is very complicated.
The answer to why we age does not equate to one answer. It doesn’t even equate to a multitude of answers. It looks more like a multitude of answers closely intertwined with another, like a ball of rubber bands.
And the research behind why we age is still very young. Scientists worldwide continue to find new findings, expanding our understanding of the nine hallmarks of aging. Likely, our knowledge of the aging process may not be limited to these nine in the future.
But our understanding of why we age should conclude the same. In every hallmark, science continually reveals how much our everyday habits and environment can impact the way we age on a microscopic level.
Remember that it’s never too late to make a healthier dedication to your body—a commitment to healthy aging.
It’s a rather broad definition to describe the aging process.
The challenge with trying to define aging is that aging is a complicated journey. There is no single answer that explains why we age.
But interest within the scientific community around aging research accelerated significantly within the past 30 years, looking deeply at the cellular and molecular basis of life.
In a review published in Cell, Carlos Lopez-Otın and a team of researchers proposed nine hallmarks of aging considered to contribute to the aging process.
The nine hallmarks are the following:
- Genomic Instability
- Telomere Attrition
- Epigenetic Alterations
- Loss of Proteostasis
- Deregulated Nutrient Sensing
- Mitochondrial Dysfunction
- Cellular Senescence
- Stem Cell Exhaustion
- Altered Intercellular Communication
1. Genomic instability
Your DNA is pretty important, and it’s not surprising to know that your DNA is worth protecting.
Acting as the blueprint of your body, your DNA is responsible for providing all the intricate plans on how every operation in your body should function.
Your cells know DNA’s importance as well, harboring them with thick walls to keep them safely tucked away from damaging forces.
Despite your cell’s best efforts, your DNA is constantly under attack. Free radicals, pollutants, pesticides, and UV rays from the sun are all exposing your DNA to damage.
According to the American Federation of Aging Research, your DNA undergoes damage one million times per day.
Luckily, your DNA also encodes a set of instructions to repair itself from such aggressors, but this repair can only go so far. With age, damage to your DNA (or genome) accumulates—known as genomic instability.
You can also inherit mutations during the DNA repair process as well, an added detriment to your DNA.
The correlation between aging and genomic instability is much like the lifespan of a well-maintained car. You can be incredibly meticulous in rotating your tires, changing your oil, checking your tire pressure, and driving more fuel-efficient. But like all cars, your DNA can eventually break down from the simple passage of time.
2. Telomere attrition
Telomere attrition is a specific type of genomic instability that has received so much attention in recent research; it bears mentioning separately amongst the nine hallmarks of aging.
Telomeres are protective caps at the end of each chromosome, like the plastic caps at the end of a shoelace.
To understand why telomeres are studied so closely in aging research, we have to look at how your DNA replicates.
Every time your cells undergo cell division, a fraction of your telomeres is lobbed off, making them shorter and shorter every time your cell replicates.
Eventually, your telomeres run out of runway, and there’s no room to cut. Your cells are unable to divide at this stage, accelerating the aging process.
Due to the finite nature of telomere length, researchers looked into their correlation to determine lifespan. A research article published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences investigated telomere length in various species.
The article concludes,
“The results shown here indicate that the telomere shortening rate of a species can be used to predict the life span of that species…”
The discovery of telomeres shifted the way we think about aging, challenging researchers to think beyond our chronological age. The work was so profound that the researchers were awarded the Nobel Prize.
3. Epigenetic alterations
Aging research is not only focused on your DNA. After all, several different functions work with your DNA to operate, like the epigenome.
Every cell in your body has the same DNA. But how is it that a liver cell functions differently from a brain cell?
The answer lies in your epigenome.
An epigenome is a multitude of chemical compounds that tell your DNA what to do. If DNA is the blueprint of your body, your epigenome is the contractor. They call the shots and decide what to build. This function is also known as gene expression.
For example, for your liver cells, the epigenome “turns on” certain parts of your DNA to assign it as a liver cell.
Unfortunately, as we age, your epigenome can be affected by environmental exposures and disease. These changes can change how your epigenome operates gene expression, affecting the way the epigenome processes your DNA.
An article published in the Journal of Applied Physiology outlines that epigenetic alterations such as mutations, deletions, and translocations are among the leading causes of genomic instability.
Your epigenome and your DNA cannot operate without the other. Research in epigenetic alterations and aging further highlights how all the hallmarks of aging are intrinsically tied.
4. Loss of proteostasis
Proteostasis comes from the root words “protein” and “stasis,” meaning a state of balance.
It’s the process of maintaining a stable production of proteins in your body without any issues. A loss of proteostasis describes when this vital protein-building machinery doesn’t function properly.
Proteins are precious molecules. They hold essential jobs in the cell, anywhere from gatekeeping the cellular wall to acting as enzymes for all the major chemical reactions on the body.
Your body maintains proteostasis via a network of proteins but can sometimes create too few or too many proteins when errors occur. These errors may create folds within the network, disrupting order and creating misshapen and dysfunctional proteins, almost like a paper jam in a printer.
A review in the journal Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology states that environmental factors can cause stress on this protein-building system, causing these errors to occur more frequently over time.
The abstract reads,
“Sustaining proteome balance is a challenging task in the face of various external and endogenous stresses that accumulate during ageing. These stresses lead to the decline of proteostasis network capacity and proteome integrity.”
Periods of oxidative stress, an imbalance between your free radicals and antioxidants in your body, can cause these protein-production mishaps to occur more frequently. And like in oxidative stress, there must be a balance in protein production and protein degradation.
A research article published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences affirms,
“the tipping point...occurs when replenishing good proteins no longer keeps up with depletion from misfolding, aggregation, and damage.”
5. Deregulated nutrient sensing
Your cells need nutrients to operate, and they get their nutrients from the food you eat.
But your nutrients aren’t always steady. You aren’t eating every waking hour of the day (if you are, that’s a whole separate set of issues). So how do your cells know when nutrients are available and when they aren’t?
Your cells have sensors that can respond to the fluctuations of nutrient levels in your body. But your cells have to be careful. They need to take just the right amount. Why? Because metabolism, the process of turning your food into energy, is a double-edged sword.
Every time your body turns food into energy, your body creates damaging byproducts like free radicals. Imagine a gasoline engine. It produces efficient power for our cars but produces carbon emissions out of the exhaust.
Your cells’ nutrient sensors ensure it doesn’t take too much or too little of the food you eat. However, over time, as your cells accumulate damage from oxidative stress, these sensors have trouble regulating your nutrient intake.
An article published in Communications Biology denotes that these nutrient sensors provide the molecular basis for the association between lifestyle habits and aging.
The more damage your nutrient sensors take, the more damage they create by over metabolizing. It becomes a vicious cycle of damage.
But it isn’t all bad news. Continued study of nutrient-sensing concerning caloric deficits can have a profound impact on aging research, as a review published in Nature highlights:
“On the other hand, one of the most successful interventions against the onset of aging is limitation in nutrient intake, or caloric restriction. Hence, understanding normal nutrient sensing mechanisms is a prerequisite for designing better interventions…”
6. Mitochondrial dysfunction
The mitochondria are the “powerhouse of the cell.” They generate all the necessary energy your cells need, working as the primary component of metabolism. Your mitochondria produce 90% of your body’s energy.
But the energy comes at a cost. As shown in a review published in the Journal of Signal Transduction, mitochondria make most of the cell’s free radicals, a byproduct of their metabolic engines.
The vicious cycle of damage that occurs in your cell’s nutrient sensors also appears in the mitochondria. Free radicals damage your mitochondria’s efficiency, overworking their systems and creating more free radicals in the process.
Also, research from the School of Kinesiology and Health Science from York University shows you make fewer mitochondria as you age, making the few mitochondria you do have left work that much harder.
Integrative Medicine highlights that the loss of function in your mitochondria can result in excess fatigue, a common symptom associated with aging.
However, your mitochondria are very responsive to the energy demand of the body.
Like a power grid, if there is a decline in power demand, some power plants will shut off for greater efficiency. Likewise, sedentary lifestyles lead to further mitochondrial decline as the body responds to a lower energy need.
Fortunately, the inverse is also true. A study by David A. Hood from York University shows that exercise can promote mitochondrial biogenesis, the process where the body creates more mitochondria to meet the new energy demand.
7. Cellular senescence
Cellular senescence is a condition in which a cell no longer has the ability to divide, leading to its inevitable demise.
Cellular senescence is a natural process. Typically, your body can produce enough new cells to outweigh senescent cells. However, the number of senescent cells increases with age.
Think of cellular senescence as a natural protective mechanism. When a cell endures irreparable DNA damage or telomere dysfunction, cellular senescence prevents those damaged traits from proliferating further.
It’s your body’s “last-ditch” approach to an accumulation of environmental stressors. A review published in Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology notes, “cellular senescence occurs in response to endogenous and exogenous stresses.”
However, a review article in Nature Reviews Endocrinology highlights evidence that cellular senescence has a causative role in conditions associated with aging.
Without the replacement of new cells, a proliferation of cellular senescence can be problematic. For example, a review published by Nature Medicine outlines emerging evidence that suggests senescence causes a loss of tissue-repair capacity and proinflammatory molecules.
However, research investigating cellular senescence hopes to unlock the senescence mechanism for positive therapies, particularly in preventing the proliferation of problematic cells.
The same review from Nature Reviews Endocrinology points to the beneficial effects of cellular senescence for tumor suppression. But there is much to be studied to unlock the control of these benefits.
8. Stem cell exhaustion
Stem cell research consistently hits the airwaves and newsreels for its buzzworthy science in the past few decades.
There’s a good reason for it. Stem cell research is shrouded with a sense of both promise and controversy.
In particular, stem cell research can unlock potential growth for new tissue in humans. However, in the early stages of research, the use of embryos created political dissension for its continuation.
Thankfully, recent research has been able to circumvent this controversial practice by using adult stem cells.
So how do stem cells work?
To understand stem cell function, we need to look back to the epigenome and its ability to turn specific genes on and off.
The epigenome is responsible for assigning roles for our cells.
All of your cells have one function. Skin cells, liver cells, brain cells, heart cells—they are all assigned one role. But stem cells are like fresh college graduates that are ready to join your body’s cellular workforce. They don’t have a specialized job yet and are eager to be given some responsibility.
Based on your body’s needs, stem cells can assign themselves to become a specific cell. Think of them as reinforcements to all the cells in your body. For example, if there’s a need for more liver cells, stem cells will adjust their specialty to become liver cells.
This cycle of cell replenishment is vital for tissue homeostasis and regeneration. Stem cell exhaustion occurs when this new, budding workforce cannot replace the retiring cells fast enough to maintain peak tissue function.
Stem cell exhaustion is closely tied with the other hallmarks of aging. The imbalance between stem cells and retiring cells can occur from the proliferation of senescent cells, caused mainly by DNA damage.
A review published in Cell Metabolism highlights,
“Replication stress caused by age-related cell-cycle defects (e.g., DNA damage or chromosome disorganization) can diminish HSC functional activity, leading to decreased blood production and impaired therapeutic potential in transplantation assays.”
There is still a lot more research left to be done to unlock the potential capabilities of stem cells, but its relation to aging is clear. And aging research requires scientists to consider stem cells in tandem with the other hallmarks of aging.
9. Altered intercellular communication
Your cells love to chat. They use an intricate network of chemical signaling molecules to communicate with each other. Your cells use these networks to work together in adapting to environmental changes and manage the complex mechanisms that a multicellular organism (like humans) requires.
However, as you age, this vast communication network suffers signal degradation. The signals weaken, and communications run haywire, also known as altered intercellular communication.
One of the main culprits of this signal degradation is inflammation.
Inflammation is your body’s natural response to clear away threats and damaged cells. However, sometimes, inflammation can extend beyond its desired short-lived output and cause significant damage to nearby healthy cells.
Why is the inflammation triggered?
One of the main reasons is the existence of senescent cells, old cells that can no longer replicate. Senescent cells exert inflammation-causing chemicals, and in turn, create more damage to the cell environment.
Some studies suggest senescent cells can use these same intercellular communication signals to transform nearby healthy cells into senescent cells. A review in Trends in Cell Biology hypothesizes,
“One of the consequences of ageing and related diseases is the accumulation of senescent cells and their active intercellular communication profile.”
Studies around altered intercellular communication challenge the perception that autonomous cells are the sole subject of molecular aging.
Although there is still much we don’t know about how this vast network of chemical signaling works, research around intercellular communication illustrates how aging can be a consequence of cells in their environment.
Why should you care about the nine hallmarks of aging?
The nine hallmarks of aging help us understand that the process of aging is very complicated.
The answer to why we age does not equate to one answer. It doesn’t even equate to a multitude of answers. It looks more like a multitude of answers closely intertwined with another, like a ball of rubber bands.
And the research behind why we age is still very young. Scientists worldwide continue to find new findings, expanding our understanding of the nine hallmarks of aging. Likely, our knowledge of the aging process may not be limited to these nine in the future.
But our understanding of why we age should conclude the same. In every hallmark, science continually reveals how much our everyday habits and environment can impact the way we age on a microscopic level.
Remember that it’s never too late to make a healthier dedication to your body—a commitment to healthy aging.
A Closer Look into NAD+ IV Therapy
Research around NAD+’s role with aging continues to receive widespread attention in the scientific community.
For example, a team of researchers in New South Wales suggests low levels of NAD+ are linked to mitochondrial inefficiency, one of the nine hallmarks of aging.
NAD+ is a vital coenzyme that functions mainly in the mitochondria of our cells. It declines as we age, reaching a pivotal downward trend between the ages of 40 and 60, according to the same New South Wales study.
Although natural methods, like caloric restriction and moderate exercise, can increase your NAD+ levels, supplements have proven to be an easy way to replenish the necessary nutrients for maintaining NAD+. However, lately, NAD+ IV therapy has received a lot of buzz as a new way to boost this critical molecule.
What is NAD+ IV therapy?
Growing in popularity with wellness blogs and podcasts, you may have heard about IV treatments being provided at trendy wellness spas that feature vitamin infusions. These types of therapies claim to boost immunity, cure hangovers, detox the body, and promote youthful qualities.
IV therapies, or intravenous therapies, administer nutrients through a vein using a standard saline solution.
These treatments usually happen in clinics, wellness spas, or via at-home service where customers opt for monthly or even weekly IV sessions.
Unlike most NAD+ boosting supplements that use precursor ingredients like nicotinamide riboside or niacin, IV therapy sessions typically use NAD+ as the direct delivery.
NAD+ IV sessions cost around $600 for up to 60 minutes of treatment. The course of the therapy ranges anywhere from six to eight weeks, and some providers even offer packages of sessions, much like physical training packages at gyms.
While it depends on the length of treatment and the location, a full course of treatment might cost up to $15,000 over the span of a year.
What does NAD+ IV Therapy treat?
The market for NAD+ IV therapy uses heavy language around longevity and anti-aging. Services target people experiencing fatigue, cognitive decline, chronic pain, and sleep disruption. The promise they deliver is that the therapy will help you feel “young and rejuvenated.”
In more bold cases, these IV therapy clinics claim that NAD+ IV treatment may provide relief or lessen the symptoms of Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, and autoimmune diseases.
Overall, the language is largely exaggerated and is absent of adequate substantiation. The few that provide a scientific basis usually reference a pre-clinical trial (studies on animal subjects) or a study that uses oral supplementation of NAD+ or an NAD+ precursor. The differences in intake and ingredients are quite important as the science differs depending on these factors.
Is NAD+ IV therapy effective?
Providers of NAD+ IV therapy claim that an intravenous solution is more effective because it bypasses the digestive system, allowing your body to feel the effects quicker.
Many wellness clinics and doctors cite a Harvard Medical School study that states NAD+ IV therapy has a proven 87% success rate. However, the study speaks only about the use of NAD+ precursors, not the actual use of intravenous administration for NAD+.
Broadly speaking, the effectiveness of direct NAD+ supplementation is in question. NAD+ is a large, phosphorylated molecule, and it can not directly permeate the cell wall.
A published study from the Journal of Biological Chemistry shows that your body breaks NAD+ down into smaller precursors before absorbing it into the cell. Once through, your cells convert the precursors back to NAD+.
This arduous process denotes direct NAD+ supplementation, whether through intravenous methods or oral-administration, may not be the best solution to elevating NAD+ levels.
NPR also notes these NAD+ IV treatments often contain other nutritional supplements, like amino acids mixed with NAD+, so it’s difficult to attribute the success of the therapies to NAD+ alone.
Put simply; the scientific community just doesn't know enough about NAD+ IV therapy to make conclusive recommendations.
Can NAD+ IV Therapy help addiction patients?
The most interesting claim surrounding NAD+ IV therapy is its supposed benefit for treating alcohol and drug addiction patients.
NAD+’s benefits to addiction patients are illustrated deeply in works like Paul Norris Mestayer’s, Addiction the Dark Night of the Soul, NAD+ the Light of Hope. However, most of this evidence is anecdotal with no use or basis in the scientific method.
Testimonies of NAD+ IV therapies in patients claim that it can curb cravings and lower the instances of hallucinations. Clinics market the treatment armed with similar stories.
Unfortunately, unfounded claims like these are nothing new. NPR notes, “Unsubstantiated claims have long been a part of addiction treatment. For instance, in the late 19th century, a doctor dubbed his formula the "Double Chloride of Gold Cure" and sold it via mail order for addiction, claiming a 95% cure rate.”
Follow the science.
The science behind NAD+ is progressing rather fervently, but so is the fanfare around it. While NAD+ IV therapy has some interesting anecdotal evidence, it's difficult to support its methodology without concrete science.
The conversation around elevating NAD+ in connection with aging is serious and by no means a farce, but it's important for us to check for the following things when it comes to products or services that claim to elevate NAD+:
When in doubt, follow the science. Look for published studies and check out the ingredient on www.clinicaltrials.gov. Each study should give an adequate description of the product being tested in their trials.
It’s your right to be informed of the products you put into your body. After all, your health is an investment. And a little research and know-how can go a long way.
For example, a team of researchers in New South Wales suggests low levels of NAD+ are linked to mitochondrial inefficiency, one of the nine hallmarks of aging.
NAD+ is a vital coenzyme that functions mainly in the mitochondria of our cells. It declines as we age, reaching a pivotal downward trend between the ages of 40 and 60, according to the same New South Wales study.
Although natural methods, like caloric restriction and moderate exercise, can increase your NAD+ levels, supplements have proven to be an easy way to replenish the necessary nutrients for maintaining NAD+. However, lately, NAD+ IV therapy has received a lot of buzz as a new way to boost this critical molecule.
What is NAD+ IV therapy?
Growing in popularity with wellness blogs and podcasts, you may have heard about IV treatments being provided at trendy wellness spas that feature vitamin infusions. These types of therapies claim to boost immunity, cure hangovers, detox the body, and promote youthful qualities.
IV therapies, or intravenous therapies, administer nutrients through a vein using a standard saline solution.
These treatments usually happen in clinics, wellness spas, or via at-home service where customers opt for monthly or even weekly IV sessions.
Unlike most NAD+ boosting supplements that use precursor ingredients like nicotinamide riboside or niacin, IV therapy sessions typically use NAD+ as the direct delivery.
NAD+ IV sessions cost around $600 for up to 60 minutes of treatment. The course of the therapy ranges anywhere from six to eight weeks, and some providers even offer packages of sessions, much like physical training packages at gyms.
While it depends on the length of treatment and the location, a full course of treatment might cost up to $15,000 over the span of a year.
What does NAD+ IV Therapy treat?
The market for NAD+ IV therapy uses heavy language around longevity and anti-aging. Services target people experiencing fatigue, cognitive decline, chronic pain, and sleep disruption. The promise they deliver is that the therapy will help you feel “young and rejuvenated.”
In more bold cases, these IV therapy clinics claim that NAD+ IV treatment may provide relief or lessen the symptoms of Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, and autoimmune diseases.
Overall, the language is largely exaggerated and is absent of adequate substantiation. The few that provide a scientific basis usually reference a pre-clinical trial (studies on animal subjects) or a study that uses oral supplementation of NAD+ or an NAD+ precursor. The differences in intake and ingredients are quite important as the science differs depending on these factors.
Is NAD+ IV therapy effective?
Providers of NAD+ IV therapy claim that an intravenous solution is more effective because it bypasses the digestive system, allowing your body to feel the effects quicker.
Many wellness clinics and doctors cite a Harvard Medical School study that states NAD+ IV therapy has a proven 87% success rate. However, the study speaks only about the use of NAD+ precursors, not the actual use of intravenous administration for NAD+.
Broadly speaking, the effectiveness of direct NAD+ supplementation is in question. NAD+ is a large, phosphorylated molecule, and it can not directly permeate the cell wall.
A published study from the Journal of Biological Chemistry shows that your body breaks NAD+ down into smaller precursors before absorbing it into the cell. Once through, your cells convert the precursors back to NAD+.
This arduous process denotes direct NAD+ supplementation, whether through intravenous methods or oral-administration, may not be the best solution to elevating NAD+ levels.
NPR also notes these NAD+ IV treatments often contain other nutritional supplements, like amino acids mixed with NAD+, so it’s difficult to attribute the success of the therapies to NAD+ alone.
Put simply; the scientific community just doesn't know enough about NAD+ IV therapy to make conclusive recommendations.
Can NAD+ IV Therapy help addiction patients?
The most interesting claim surrounding NAD+ IV therapy is its supposed benefit for treating alcohol and drug addiction patients.
NAD+’s benefits to addiction patients are illustrated deeply in works like Paul Norris Mestayer’s, Addiction the Dark Night of the Soul, NAD+ the Light of Hope. However, most of this evidence is anecdotal with no use or basis in the scientific method.
Testimonies of NAD+ IV therapies in patients claim that it can curb cravings and lower the instances of hallucinations. Clinics market the treatment armed with similar stories.
Unfortunately, unfounded claims like these are nothing new. NPR notes, “Unsubstantiated claims have long been a part of addiction treatment. For instance, in the late 19th century, a doctor dubbed his formula the "Double Chloride of Gold Cure" and sold it via mail order for addiction, claiming a 95% cure rate.”
Follow the science.
The science behind NAD+ is progressing rather fervently, but so is the fanfare around it. While NAD+ IV therapy has some interesting anecdotal evidence, it's difficult to support its methodology without concrete science.
The conversation around elevating NAD+ in connection with aging is serious and by no means a farce, but it's important for us to check for the following things when it comes to products or services that claim to elevate NAD+:
- What’s the active ingredient? Some may use precursors. Some may use direct NAD+. Your experience will be heavily impacted by the kind of ingredient used in your regimen. We outline those differences here.
- Where is the product sourced? For example, not all nicotinamide riboside ingredients are the same. Does the product contain the patented form or an unverified 3rd party?
- Check for the clinical studies. We provide an important checklist of things you should review here when reviewing a supplement’s clinical research.
- Where is the product manufactured? Is it cGMP certified? Are there any other safety certifications?
- Has the ingredient been reviewed by a pertinent regulatory authority?
When in doubt, follow the science. Look for published studies and check out the ingredient on www.clinicaltrials.gov. Each study should give an adequate description of the product being tested in their trials.
It’s your right to be informed of the products you put into your body. After all, your health is an investment. And a little research and know-how can go a long way.
NAD+ and Heart Health
How your heart can change with age.
Your heart is an amazing workhorse. No more than the size of your fist, this amazing muscle pumps blood throughout your entire body.
But as you age, your heart can begin to change. As you get older, your heart doesn't respond to physical activity the same way. Why?
Don't forget about the mitochondria.
Age can manifest in very real changes in your heart's physiology. But there are changes in your heart that occur on an even smaller scale that require attention as well.
The cells that make up your heart are the tiny unsung heroes that coordinate your heart's essential micro-operations. A large part of what fuels these cells are your mitochondria, the powerhouse of the cell.
Your mitochondria produce nearly 90% of your body’s energy, and heart cells require thousands of mitochondria. Unfortunately, as you age, your mitochondria don't produce energy as efficiently.
A review from Circulation Research shows that your mitochondrial count and function in cardiac cells decline as you age. Fever mitochondria mean less energy.
You've heard it before: Eat right and exercise.
Every heart health guide will tell you to adopt a heart-healthy diet, specifically watching for foods that might raise your blood pressure and cholesterol.
These guides will implore you to limit saturated fat and trans-fat, known to raise the levels of bad cholesterol, also known as LDL, which can contribute to the build-up of plaque in your arteries. They will also suggest incorporating some form of aerobic exercise every day to train your heart like any other muscle in the body.
But did you know these healthy practices benefit your heart’s hardworking mitochondria as well?
A study by David A. Hood from York University shows that exercise can promote mitochondrial biogenesis, a process your mitochondria undertake to increase their number. Mitochondrial biogenesis increases cellular efficiency and provides better support for organs with large energy demand, like the heart.
Likewise, healthy eating habits limit mitochondrial damage by reducing the number of free radicals.
Free radicals are damaging byproducts produced by your mitochondria throughout their normal metabolic process. Typically, your body creates enough antioxidants to counter them; however, a poor diet can tip the scales and create an imbalance.
A review published in the Journal of Lipid Research shows that adopting a new eating pattern can decrease the number of free radicals.
Raise NAD+ to support your mitochondrial health.
Mitochondria churn out energy using a process called cellular respiration. A key player in this process is NAD+, a coenzyme that helps maintain mitochondrial efficiency.
Hassina Massudi and a team of researchers from the University of New South Wales discovered that NAD+ levels decline by 50% between the ages of 40 and 60.
NAD+ supplements, like nicotinamide riboside, can help maintain your NAD+ levels as you age. A clinical trial published in Scientific Reports shows daily supplementation of 300mg nicotinamide riboside significantly elevates NAD+ levels by 40-50% in whole blood after two weeks.
Studies have shown maintaining NAD+ levels is an essential component to mitochondrial health for important organs like the heart.
A pilot study published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation looked at the health of mitochondria in the heart after supplementing them with nicotinamide riboside. The study observed peripheral blood mononuclear cells, or PBMCs, important monitors for heart health. The study showed the mitochondrial respiration rate of PBMCs improved following nicotinamide riboside supplementation for five to nine days.
Support your heart from big to small. Regularly checking your blood pressure, watching your cholesterol, maintaining a healthy diet, and getting plenty of exercise are important steps to support your heart health. But you can always go a little farther, a little deeper.
Pay attention to your cells, the basic building blocks of your heart. Incorporating supplements like an NAD+ booster can give you additional support for one of the most essential organs in your body.
How your heart can change with age.
Your heart is an amazing workhorse. No more than the size of your fist, this amazing muscle pumps blood throughout your entire body.
But as you age, your heart can begin to change. As you get older, your heart doesn't respond to physical activity the same way. Why?
- The SA Node loses some cells. Your heart has its own natural pacemaker, also known as the SA node (SA stands for sinoatrial). The SA node helps your heart maintain its pace by generating electrical impulses throughout the heart, stimulating it to contract and pump. As you age, your SA node can lose some of its cells, which may impact heart rate.
- The walls of your heart can increase in size. As you age, it's common for the walls of your heart to thicken. The thicker walls make your heart appear to be larger, especially the left ventricle. However, the thicker walls decrease the available space. When reducing your heart chamber's blood capacity, your heart may fill more slowly than before.
- Your arteries become stiff. Also known as arteriosclerosis, the hardening of your arteries can lead to high blood pressure. This also becomes common with age; however, it is not necessarily a normal part of aging. The hardening of your arteries is a result of plaque build-up along the walls, resulting from many different factors, including aging.
- Your valves become stiff. There are valves in your heart that act a lot like doors, controlling the blood flow. As you age, these valves become stiff, causing them to work a little harder to operate their open-close mechanisms.
Don't forget about the mitochondria.
Age can manifest in very real changes in your heart's physiology. But there are changes in your heart that occur on an even smaller scale that require attention as well.
The cells that make up your heart are the tiny unsung heroes that coordinate your heart's essential micro-operations. A large part of what fuels these cells are your mitochondria, the powerhouse of the cell.
Your mitochondria produce nearly 90% of your body’s energy, and heart cells require thousands of mitochondria. Unfortunately, as you age, your mitochondria don't produce energy as efficiently.
A review from Circulation Research shows that your mitochondrial count and function in cardiac cells decline as you age. Fever mitochondria mean less energy.
You've heard it before: Eat right and exercise.
Every heart health guide will tell you to adopt a heart-healthy diet, specifically watching for foods that might raise your blood pressure and cholesterol.
These guides will implore you to limit saturated fat and trans-fat, known to raise the levels of bad cholesterol, also known as LDL, which can contribute to the build-up of plaque in your arteries. They will also suggest incorporating some form of aerobic exercise every day to train your heart like any other muscle in the body.
But did you know these healthy practices benefit your heart’s hardworking mitochondria as well?
A study by David A. Hood from York University shows that exercise can promote mitochondrial biogenesis, a process your mitochondria undertake to increase their number. Mitochondrial biogenesis increases cellular efficiency and provides better support for organs with large energy demand, like the heart.
Likewise, healthy eating habits limit mitochondrial damage by reducing the number of free radicals.
Free radicals are damaging byproducts produced by your mitochondria throughout their normal metabolic process. Typically, your body creates enough antioxidants to counter them; however, a poor diet can tip the scales and create an imbalance.
A review published in the Journal of Lipid Research shows that adopting a new eating pattern can decrease the number of free radicals.
Raise NAD+ to support your mitochondrial health.
Mitochondria churn out energy using a process called cellular respiration. A key player in this process is NAD+, a coenzyme that helps maintain mitochondrial efficiency.
Hassina Massudi and a team of researchers from the University of New South Wales discovered that NAD+ levels decline by 50% between the ages of 40 and 60.
NAD+ supplements, like nicotinamide riboside, can help maintain your NAD+ levels as you age. A clinical trial published in Scientific Reports shows daily supplementation of 300mg nicotinamide riboside significantly elevates NAD+ levels by 40-50% in whole blood after two weeks.
Studies have shown maintaining NAD+ levels is an essential component to mitochondrial health for important organs like the heart.
A pilot study published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation looked at the health of mitochondria in the heart after supplementing them with nicotinamide riboside. The study observed peripheral blood mononuclear cells, or PBMCs, important monitors for heart health. The study showed the mitochondrial respiration rate of PBMCs improved following nicotinamide riboside supplementation for five to nine days.
Support your heart from big to small. Regularly checking your blood pressure, watching your cholesterol, maintaining a healthy diet, and getting plenty of exercise are important steps to support your heart health. But you can always go a little farther, a little deeper.
Pay attention to your cells, the basic building blocks of your heart. Incorporating supplements like an NAD+ booster can give you additional support for one of the most essential organs in your body.
Is nicotinamide riboside safe?
If you came here for a quick yes or no, let’s save you some time. Niagen® (Chromadex's patented form of nicotinamide riboside) is safe for all adults when taken as recommended.
Clinical studies, multiple certifications, good manufacturing practices, multiple regulatory approvals and scientific standards have validated Niagen® since its commercialization in 2013.
But the nutrition industry, with its many vitamins, supplements, and fad diets, is difficult to navigate. It’s populated with products making false, sensational claims and bad actors pushing risky ingredients.
Sadly, nicotinamide riboside is no exception. There are forms of nicotinamide riboside (and products containing nicotinamide riboside) that have not been studied and are not established as safe.
It’s non-negotiable. Orally-administrated nutrients should prioritize the consumer’s safety. With that in mind, Niagen® nicotinamide riboside is thoroughly tested, regulated, and substantiated to safeguard your health.
Clinical studies, multiple certifications, good manufacturing practices, multiple regulatory approvals and scientific standards have validated Niagen® since its commercialization in 2013.
But the nutrition industry, with its many vitamins, supplements, and fad diets, is difficult to navigate. It’s populated with products making false, sensational claims and bad actors pushing risky ingredients.
Sadly, nicotinamide riboside is no exception. There are forms of nicotinamide riboside (and products containing nicotinamide riboside) that have not been studied and are not established as safe.
It’s non-negotiable. Orally-administrated nutrients should prioritize the consumer’s safety. With that in mind, Niagen® nicotinamide riboside is thoroughly tested, regulated, and substantiated to safeguard your health.
What is nicotinamide riboside?
Nicotinamide riboside is a form of vitamin B3 that is converted into a molecule called nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+). NAD+ helps your cells generate the energy that powers all the functions in your body.
NAD+ is an essential molecule called a coenzyme. Working alongside an enzyme, NAD+ helps your mitochondria, or your cellular powerhouses, generate energy. Clinical studies even demonstrate its potential to support healthy aging.
NAD+ is an essential molecule called a coenzyme. Working alongside an enzyme, NAD+ helps your mitochondria, or your cellular powerhouses, generate energy. Clinical studies even demonstrate its potential to support healthy aging.
How do I know nicotinamide riboside is safe to use?
We can’t speak to other forms of nicotinamide riboside, but nine published clinical studies have verified Niagen® as a safe and effective NAD+ booster. Niagen® is vegetarian-friendly, and chemically identical to naturally-occurring nicotinamide riboside. Niagen® is formulated without nuts or gluten. It contains no caffeine, no animal byproducts, and no artificial colors or flavors.
Niagen® is also safe to take with other supplements and is not known to negatively interact with medications. As a form of vitamin B3, nicotinamide riboside is just a new form of something old. Your daily multivitamin may already contain a close cousin of nicotinamide riboside, niacin. However, niacin isn’t usually favored to boost NAD+ because of its uncomfortable, skin-flushing side effects.
For many years, niacin and nicotinamide were the most accessible methods of raising NAD+ through supplementation. But with the discovery of nicotinamide riboside, consumers have a better option.
Of course, without the science, all this information would be purely anecdotal. The proof lies in the data and scientific findings.
Niagen® is also safe to take with other supplements and is not known to negatively interact with medications. As a form of vitamin B3, nicotinamide riboside is just a new form of something old. Your daily multivitamin may already contain a close cousin of nicotinamide riboside, niacin. However, niacin isn’t usually favored to boost NAD+ because of its uncomfortable, skin-flushing side effects.
For many years, niacin and nicotinamide were the most accessible methods of raising NAD+ through supplementation. But with the discovery of nicotinamide riboside, consumers have a better option.
Of course, without the science, all this information would be purely anecdotal. The proof lies in the data and scientific findings.
The human trials behind nicotinamide riboside.
There are more than ten clinical studies published on Niagen®.
A double-blind placebo study designed by Conze et al. in 2019 demonstrates how nicotinamide riboside increases NAD+ in human blood in a dose-dependent manner. Nicotinamide riboside was supplemented in overweight men and women over the course of eight weeks and did not lead to any attributable adverse effects.
The study abstract summarizes that NAD+ “increases were maintained throughout the remainder of the study. There were no reports of flushing and no significant differences in adverse events between the NR (nicotinamide riboside) and placebo-treated groups.”
To add, a 2018 clinical trial published in Nature proved that chronic supplementation of nicotinamide riboside is “well tolerated and... stimulates NAD+ metabolism in healthy middle-aged and older adults.” Once again, serious adverse effects were not experienced during the study.
And finally, a study by Airhart et al. tested the pharmacokinetics of nicotinamide riboside in adults. Pharmacokinetics is the study of how the body absorbs and responds to substances to test an ingredient’s safety and efficacy. Like the rest, the trial concluded by demonstrating nicotinamide riboside is well-tolerated in adults and causes no adverse effects.
A double-blind placebo study designed by Conze et al. in 2019 demonstrates how nicotinamide riboside increases NAD+ in human blood in a dose-dependent manner. Nicotinamide riboside was supplemented in overweight men and women over the course of eight weeks and did not lead to any attributable adverse effects.
The study abstract summarizes that NAD+ “increases were maintained throughout the remainder of the study. There were no reports of flushing and no significant differences in adverse events between the NR (nicotinamide riboside) and placebo-treated groups.”
To add, a 2018 clinical trial published in Nature proved that chronic supplementation of nicotinamide riboside is “well tolerated and... stimulates NAD+ metabolism in healthy middle-aged and older adults.” Once again, serious adverse effects were not experienced during the study.
And finally, a study by Airhart et al. tested the pharmacokinetics of nicotinamide riboside in adults. Pharmacokinetics is the study of how the body absorbs and responds to substances to test an ingredient’s safety and efficacy. Like the rest, the trial concluded by demonstrating nicotinamide riboside is well-tolerated in adults and causes no adverse effects.
Is nicotinamide riboside FDA approved?
Niagen® has two FDA notifications. Let’s break down what that means.
The Food and Drug Administration does not regulate nutrients or supplements the way it regulates pharmaceuticals. Generally speaking, the process for vitamins and other dietary supplement products does not require the same premarket review and approval as drugs.
If a dietary supplement product contains an ingredient that was not on the market prior to 1994, it must be notified to the FDA as a New Dietary Ingredient (NDI). The parent company must provide an extensive dossier containing relevant safety, quality control and manufacturing data before entering the market. The FDA then reviews the document over a 75-day period and issues a response. If the agency raises no objection in its response, it means there are no safety concerns with the NDI.
A company or brand may need to submit further notifications to the FDA depending on how the science or manufacturing process for the ingredient evolves. Niagen® has been the subject of two FDA NDI notifications and has received no objections.
It should be noted that Niagen®, and the company that exclusively licenses the patent, ChromaDex, exceed the FDA’s minimum requirements through its own internal standards, procedures, and testing. These processes are validated through certification of our product by NSF International.
The Food and Drug Administration does not regulate nutrients or supplements the way it regulates pharmaceuticals. Generally speaking, the process for vitamins and other dietary supplement products does not require the same premarket review and approval as drugs.
If a dietary supplement product contains an ingredient that was not on the market prior to 1994, it must be notified to the FDA as a New Dietary Ingredient (NDI). The parent company must provide an extensive dossier containing relevant safety, quality control and manufacturing data before entering the market. The FDA then reviews the document over a 75-day period and issues a response. If the agency raises no objection in its response, it means there are no safety concerns with the NDI.
A company or brand may need to submit further notifications to the FDA depending on how the science or manufacturing process for the ingredient evolves. Niagen® has been the subject of two FDA NDI notifications and has received no objections.
It should be noted that Niagen®, and the company that exclusively licenses the patent, ChromaDex, exceed the FDA’s minimum requirements through its own internal standards, procedures, and testing. These processes are validated through certification of our product by NSF International.
Tru Niagen® is certified as sport-safe by NSF International.
Tru Niagen® contains a single active ingredient, Niagen®, and has been certified as sport-safe by the NSF. NSF certification assures that products contain their claimed ingredients at the proper levels, that there are no unsafe levels of contaminants, and that the product is free of athletic banned substances. This ensures athletes (and the everyday consumer) can “make educated decisions when choosing a sports supplement.”
NSF certification is an ongoing process that includes product testing, material analysis, and facility inspections to create a safer consumer experience, and is only granted when a product complies with these rigid standards. On-site inspections keep brands accountable and uphold good manufacturing practices. The NSF also substantiates safety by verifying scientific claims and product labeling.
It should be noted that not all dietary supplement products obtain NSF certification (or even attempt to do so). Year after year, Niagen® maintains its certification.
NSF certification is an ongoing process that includes product testing, material analysis, and facility inspections to create a safer consumer experience, and is only granted when a product complies with these rigid standards. On-site inspections keep brands accountable and uphold good manufacturing practices. The NSF also substantiates safety by verifying scientific claims and product labeling.
It should be noted that not all dietary supplement products obtain NSF certification (or even attempt to do so). Year after year, Niagen® maintains its certification.
What are good manufacturing practices?
ChromaDex, the company that manufactures Niagen®, abides by a set of manufacturing regulations known as Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).
The FDA established GMP to ensure product consistency, prevent contamination, and uphold “robust operating procedures.” Good manufacturing practice guidelines ensures a product is made with ethics and quality in mind.
ChromaDex manufactures Niagen® in GMP Certified facilities. They obtained certification with the following manufacturing standards:
The FDA established GMP to ensure product consistency, prevent contamination, and uphold “robust operating procedures.” Good manufacturing practice guidelines ensures a product is made with ethics and quality in mind.
ChromaDex manufactures Niagen® in GMP Certified facilities. They obtained certification with the following manufacturing standards:
- Chromadex’s facilities maintain the purity of their products with 36 internal tests or quality inspections.
- ChromaDex verifies the dose, strength, purity and composition of its products and abides by required labelling regulations.
- ChromaDex follows procedures and performs inspections to meet the defined specifications of the appropriate capsules per bottle and the amount of NR in the capsule.
Nicotinamide riboside is a safe, effective method of boosting NAD+.
Niagen® has no serious attributable side-effects in clinical settings. It’s backed up by scientific literature (and scientists themselves) and rooted in high manufacturing and quality standards.
From FDA compliance to sport-safe certification, the safety of Niagen® is validated by over 15 years of study.
Good ingredients make a statement about what consumers deserve. If you introduce a nutrient to your routine, you are entitled to the clarity, simplicity, and standards that ensure its safety.
From FDA compliance to sport-safe certification, the safety of Niagen® is validated by over 15 years of study.
Good ingredients make a statement about what consumers deserve. If you introduce a nutrient to your routine, you are entitled to the clarity, simplicity, and standards that ensure its safety.
1. NAD+ and aging
Out of all the factors that require NAD+, aging is probably the most significant and least avoidable. According to a study published in PLOS One, by age 60, a person’s NAD+ levels are approximately half of what they were in their 40s. This is simply because our cells make NAD+, and as we age our bodies can’t replace the cells that die as quickly with new ones. But even if we’re still young and healthy, everything listed below may contribute to this age-related decline in NAD+ as well.
2. NAD+ and alcohol
Whether you get your buzz out of grapes, barley, potatoes, or molasses, all alcohol is created from sugar. For our bodies to process that after-hours beverage, the alcohol must first be detoxified by enzymes that require NAD+ to function. According to a short communication published by Hugo Theorell and Roger Bonnichsen, NAD+ is involved in two steps of this process: first to detoxify the alcohol into sugar, and then to help that sugar turn into energy.
3. NAD+ and fat
One of NAD+’s most essential functions is energy metabolism. Our cells use NAD+ to turn the food we consume into the energy we need to stay healthy. NAD+ does this by turning into the hydrogen-carrying version of itself (NADH) which aids in burning fats and proteins in the cell.
4. NAD+ and carbs
NAD+ also turns into NADH to help convert carbs into energy. This is because it plays an important role in glycolysis, the cycle by which our bodies convert sugars into energy.
5. NAD+ and sleep
The production of NAD+ is one of the many biological processes in our bodies that follows a circadian rhythm. Energy metabolism, hormone regulation, and body temperature variations all rely on a 24-hour cycle as well. NAD+ helps regulate circadian rhythms, keeping them all in sync and working at their best. Which is a good thing because misaligned circadian rhythms lead to things like jet lag and sleep deprivation.
6. NAD+ and sunlight
We’ve known for years that too much sun can definitely be a bad thing. But one of the reasons why that’s true is because of NAD+. According to a study published in Aging and Mechanisms of Disease, our cells use NAD+ to help activate sirtuin proteins and to create the cellular energy needed for responding to long-term sun exposure.
7. NAD+ and musclesStrenuous exercise requires NAD+ for muscle recovery, while mice studies show that moderate or light exercise can actually increase NAD+ levels.
8. NAD+ and sittingEven someone living a sedentary lifestyle requires NAD+ for basic biological functions like eating, sleeping, and breathing.
9. NAD+ and breathingWhile our bodies need oxygen, the metabolism of oxygen can sometimes affect other parts of a cell through an imbalance known as oxidative stress. According to a review published in Free Radical Biology and Medicine, NADPH is an important part of the body’s defense against oxidative stress, oxygen metabolism depletes NADPH.
With NAD+ being involved in so many processes in our bodies, it’s easy to understand why scientists couldn’t really factor it into their research early. But now that they can safely increase and measure NAD+ levels, they’re looking into just how many ways this one molecule could improve human health, especially in older adults.
Out of all the factors that require NAD+, aging is probably the most significant and least avoidable. According to a study published in PLOS One, by age 60, a person’s NAD+ levels are approximately half of what they were in their 40s. This is simply because our cells make NAD+, and as we age our bodies can’t replace the cells that die as quickly with new ones. But even if we’re still young and healthy, everything listed below may contribute to this age-related decline in NAD+ as well.
2. NAD+ and alcohol
Whether you get your buzz out of grapes, barley, potatoes, or molasses, all alcohol is created from sugar. For our bodies to process that after-hours beverage, the alcohol must first be detoxified by enzymes that require NAD+ to function. According to a short communication published by Hugo Theorell and Roger Bonnichsen, NAD+ is involved in two steps of this process: first to detoxify the alcohol into sugar, and then to help that sugar turn into energy.
3. NAD+ and fat
One of NAD+’s most essential functions is energy metabolism. Our cells use NAD+ to turn the food we consume into the energy we need to stay healthy. NAD+ does this by turning into the hydrogen-carrying version of itself (NADH) which aids in burning fats and proteins in the cell.
4. NAD+ and carbs
NAD+ also turns into NADH to help convert carbs into energy. This is because it plays an important role in glycolysis, the cycle by which our bodies convert sugars into energy.
5. NAD+ and sleep
The production of NAD+ is one of the many biological processes in our bodies that follows a circadian rhythm. Energy metabolism, hormone regulation, and body temperature variations all rely on a 24-hour cycle as well. NAD+ helps regulate circadian rhythms, keeping them all in sync and working at their best. Which is a good thing because misaligned circadian rhythms lead to things like jet lag and sleep deprivation.
6. NAD+ and sunlight
We’ve known for years that too much sun can definitely be a bad thing. But one of the reasons why that’s true is because of NAD+. According to a study published in Aging and Mechanisms of Disease, our cells use NAD+ to help activate sirtuin proteins and to create the cellular energy needed for responding to long-term sun exposure.
7. NAD+ and musclesStrenuous exercise requires NAD+ for muscle recovery, while mice studies show that moderate or light exercise can actually increase NAD+ levels.
8. NAD+ and sittingEven someone living a sedentary lifestyle requires NAD+ for basic biological functions like eating, sleeping, and breathing.
9. NAD+ and breathingWhile our bodies need oxygen, the metabolism of oxygen can sometimes affect other parts of a cell through an imbalance known as oxidative stress. According to a review published in Free Radical Biology and Medicine, NADPH is an important part of the body’s defense against oxidative stress, oxygen metabolism depletes NADPH.
With NAD+ being involved in so many processes in our bodies, it’s easy to understand why scientists couldn’t really factor it into their research early. But now that they can safely increase and measure NAD+ levels, they’re looking into just how many ways this one molecule could improve human health, especially in older adults.
Tips For Overcoming Jet Lag
Are you going on holiday this summer? If you’re crossing time zones, you may be up against jet lag. There is all kinds of information out there about how to cope with the temporary sleep disorder, but how much of it is based on real science? Here's the science of jet lag and tips on how to manage it.
Get Outside Light is how our internal body clock senses what time it is and when to sync up with its other 24-hour cycle processes. Controlling when you’re exposed to light can help keep your internal clock in sync with its new environment. |
Know It's Worse When Heading East
That common experience we have of one direction feeling harder to recover from than the other is real. Jet lag effects from eastward travel tend to last longer than those from traveling westward.
Get Your Day Drink On
This also isn't a general jet lap tip, but if you’re going to enjoy a drink in another time zone, it’s better to do it during the day. While alcohol can help us fall asleep faster, it also disrupts our overall quality and quantity of sleep. So shoot for an early afternoon drink instead of a late-night one.
Avoid Heavy Meals
Settling for a light meal on your first night in town may be worth it for a good night’s rest. Heavier meals are difficult to digest, and we don’t really want our cells working to turn food into energy while we’re trying to sleep. That can knock the rest of your 24-hour cycles out of sync and only add to the effects of jet lag.
Energize Your Cells
Just being in a different time zone can make you feel like you could use some more energy. So infuse your body with energy where it starts—your cells. TRU NIAGEN® increases cellular energy production, no matter which time zone you're in
That common experience we have of one direction feeling harder to recover from than the other is real. Jet lag effects from eastward travel tend to last longer than those from traveling westward.
Get Your Day Drink On
This also isn't a general jet lap tip, but if you’re going to enjoy a drink in another time zone, it’s better to do it during the day. While alcohol can help us fall asleep faster, it also disrupts our overall quality and quantity of sleep. So shoot for an early afternoon drink instead of a late-night one.
Avoid Heavy Meals
Settling for a light meal on your first night in town may be worth it for a good night’s rest. Heavier meals are difficult to digest, and we don’t really want our cells working to turn food into energy while we’re trying to sleep. That can knock the rest of your 24-hour cycles out of sync and only add to the effects of jet lag.
Energize Your Cells
Just being in a different time zone can make you feel like you could use some more energy. So infuse your body with energy where it starts—your cells. TRU NIAGEN® increases cellular energy production, no matter which time zone you're in
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By Stephanie Eckelkamp
Wellness Editor
MindBodyGreen
Wellness Editor
MindBodyGreen
Let's face it, just about everyone is looking for effective, science-backed ways to turn back the clock and boost longevity. So it's no wonder that anti-aging products and procedures—from stretch mark creams to antioxidant supplements to chemical peels to plastic surgery—have become a Billion Dollar industry (projected to hit $330 billion by 2021).
Much of what comprises this industry, however, simply hides aging from the outside—it doesn't actually counter the aging process on a cellular level from the inside out. There's no "fountain of youth" pill just yet.
But, it turns out, scientists do think they're getting closer to longevity in a capsule in the form of something called nicotinamide riboside (NR), which they're formulating into increasingly popular supplements that claim to boost energy and longevity, prevent disease, and slow the aging process.
Continue reading...
Much of what comprises this industry, however, simply hides aging from the outside—it doesn't actually counter the aging process on a cellular level from the inside out. There's no "fountain of youth" pill just yet.
But, it turns out, scientists do think they're getting closer to longevity in a capsule in the form of something called nicotinamide riboside (NR), which they're formulating into increasingly popular supplements that claim to boost energy and longevity, prevent disease, and slow the aging process.
Continue reading...
"NIAGEN® has a remarkable ability to boost NAD in tissues that need it"
– Charles Brenner, Ph.D.
In 2004, Dr. Charles Brenner discovered nicotinamide riboside (NR) could increase levels of a vital cellular resource. This resource is a central regulator in energy metabolism and is believed to play an important role in healthy human aging. Although NR is a naturally-occurring vitamin in milk, it’s only found in trace amounts. Based on Dr. Brenner’s patents and the established techniques of our parent company ChromaDex, NR was exclusively licensed and developed as NIAGEN®.
Continue reading...
In 2004, Dr. Charles Brenner discovered nicotinamide riboside (NR) could increase levels of a vital cellular resource. This resource is a central regulator in energy metabolism and is believed to play an important role in healthy human aging. Although NR is a naturally-occurring vitamin in milk, it’s only found in trace amounts. Based on Dr. Brenner’s patents and the established techniques of our parent company ChromaDex, NR was exclusively licensed and developed as NIAGEN®.
Continue reading...
Stunning anti-ageing breakthrough could see humans live to 150 and regenerate organs by 2020 'for the price of a coffee a day'
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An extraordinary new anti-ageing technique could see humans live to 150 years old and allow them to regrow their organs by 2020.
Harvard Professor David Sinclair and researchers from the University of New South Wales developed the new process, which involves reprogramming cells.
Dr Sinclair said the technique could allow people to regenerate organs, and even allow paralysis sufferers to move again, with human trials due within two years.
The same researchers also found they could increase the lifespan of mice by ten per cent by giving them a vitamin B derivative pill.
Continue reading...
Harvard Professor David Sinclair and researchers from the University of New South Wales developed the new process, which involves reprogramming cells.
Dr Sinclair said the technique could allow people to regenerate organs, and even allow paralysis sufferers to move again, with human trials due within two years.
The same researchers also found they could increase the lifespan of mice by ten per cent by giving them a vitamin B derivative pill.
Continue reading...