A Scientific Overview of NADH

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Scientific studies associated with reducing DNA damage, maintaining telomeres, and preventing neurodegenerative disorders encouraged me to try NADH supplements available to the public safely. Longevity, coupled with cognitive reserves for dementia, is a particular health and fitness interest to me. I want to share my experimentation with the NADH supplement based on scientific facts and testimonials from the science community. Hoping my research and practice with this can provide some insights.

I always believe that no supplement can replace good nutrition. However, there may be times when we need supplements. For example, some health conditions may require supplementation based on informed advice from qualified health care professionals.

Supplementation is not necessarily medication. While medication is sold via authorized prescriptions, some supplements are publicly available over the counter.

I enjoy experimentation with safe and proven supplements available to the public without a prescription with an open mind.

Like other lifestyle factors, taking supplements is also an individual thing. Some supplements work well for some people, and some don’t. There is little science about supplements.

In this post, I want to share my experience with an exciting supplement called NADH. It stands for Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide. NADH is not very popular in the fitness industry yet, but I know some health enthusiasts who have used it for a long time. I read interesting reviews in the online fitness and nutrition communities.

I found out that it has been used by medical practitioners since the 1970s. The coenzyme NADH was discovered by biochemists Arthur Harden and William John Young in 1906. However, the mechanism is still unclear.

The problems with supplements are a lack of research. Most of the endorsements can be anecdotal. However, I came across a considerable amount of studies mentioning the safety of NADH on animal trials. I also read a few clinical studies on various health conditions.

The most common one was related to chronic fatigue syndrome. For example, a study in 1999 looked promising to me: “Therapeutic effects of oral NADH on the symptoms of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome”.

Another study in 2002 on animals about chronic toxicity also produced positive results. This study was titled “Safety of stabilized, orally absorbable, reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH): a 26-week oral tablet administration of ENADA/NADH for chronic toxicity study in rats”.

This study concluded that “A daily dose of 5 mg in a rat corresponds to a dose of 175 mg per day in a 70-kg human. This is 175 times the recommended daily dosage of 1 ENADA tablet per day. Hence ENADA/NADH 5 mg tablets can be generally regarded as safe”.

Image from Wiki Commons - Public Domain

Before sharing my experience, let me briefly introduce this supplement and its purpose.

As a supplement, NADH is the active coenzyme form of vitamin B3. As a pivotal metabolite, NADH naturally occurs in the body. It plays a vital role in every human cell's energy production.

Low NADH in the body is linked to several metabolic problems. I came across five common health issues in the medical literature as listed below:

• Weight gain,
• Chronic fatigue syndrome,
• Toxicity,
• DNA damage,
• Cardiovascular problems.

Our bodies produce NADH. An optimized level of NADH is essential for DNA repair and overall healthy cellular function.

NADH regulates metabolism. For example, mitochondria get their electrons from NADH. Mitochondria are known as the energy powerhouse for our cells. Therefore, NADH is essential for improving metabolism as it helps in creating energy from food.

The primary function of NADH is cellular signalling. For me, the most compelling reason to consider NADH was DNA repair and telomere maintenance. These two biochemical activities are associated with healthy life and longevity.

Interestingly, in some clinical studies, NADH plus including amino acids is used to reduce cravings from addictions.

We can increase NADH through a nutrient-dense diet and intense exercise and heat exposure, such as using a dry sauna. These healthy practices can help us optimize NADH levels.

Based on these facts, the recent research documenting the effects of low and optimized NADH levels, I decided to take it.

The risks and side effects looked reasonable to me, so I ordered a high-quality NADH from a reputable health store. It is a relatively expensive supplement. Considering the benefits, the cost did not matter to me.

I started with a low dose of 10 mg every second day.

Before starting the trial, I created a baseline for the objective and subjective state. The objective state includes my blood markers, and the subjective state relates to my feelings and moods at a particular time of the day.

Within the first three months, I noticed some improvement in my subjective state.

I felt improved mental clarity, alertness, and concentration on my daily activities. My fatigue and lethargy were considerably reduced, particularly in the afternoons.

After three months, I did not notice notable changes in my blood markers.

I used NADH for around three years due to my subjective feelings. These feelings were pleasant and cheerful. Overall, it was too good to be true for me.

During this period, I discussed my progress with my trusted advisors coming from the medical and nutritional fields. Most of them agreed with the supplementation of NADH.

However, I learnt an essential fact in the process. The issue was related to methylation. The experts in the field recommended the use of TMG (trimethylglycine) to address potential methylation issues.

I safely used NADH with TMG for a while. However, the research on this supplementation is still inconclusive. To stay on the safe side, I stopped taking the supplement to observe my objective and subjective state. I plan to document my finding in an upcoming article.

Since seeing remarkable claims in recent studies, I am inclined to use NADH as preventative maintenance for my DNA and telomeres leading longer and healthier life.

As I focus on cognitive decline and cognitive reserves in my transhumanism studies, the research on brain health for NADH is of particular interest to me. A study published in 2019 gave me useful perspectives on brain aging and neurodegenerative disorders.

Some may need supplements to address nutrient deficiencies and underlying health conditions, especially for metabolic issues. Some of us use them for preventative maintenance. It is an individual matter. There is no one fit all size about the supplements.

I found NADH research and anecdotal testimonials compelling. However, I am still not one hundred per cent sure whether to continue with NADH supplementation despite all.

Like any scientist and as a sensible biohacker, I keep an open mind. Therefore, I am closely watching NADH research's scientific progress and can decide to proceed with my experimentation based on more conclusive results.

Thank you for reading my perspectives.

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