Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide
(Redirected from NAD+)
Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) is a coenzyme found in all living cells. It is a dinucleotide, which means it consists of two nucleotides joined through their phosphate groups. One nucleotide contains an adenine base and the other nicotinamide.
NAD exists in two forms: an oxidized and reduced form, abbreviated as NAD+ and NADH respectively. It serves both as a critical coenzyme for enzymes that fuel reduction-oxidation reactions, carrying electrons from one reaction to another, and as a cosubstrate for other enzymes such as the sirtuins and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerases.
Functions[edit | edit source]
NAD+ and NADH are crucial in cellular respiration, the process by which cells convert food into energy. During this process, NAD+ is reduced to NADH, as it accepts electrons and a proton. The NADH then carries these electrons to the mitochondria, the "power plants" of the cell, where they are used to produce ATP, the fuel that cells use for most of their work.
NAD+ also plays a key role in the regulation of circadian rhythms and the aging process. It is a substrate for sirtuins, a class of proteins that regulate cellular processes such as aging, inflammation, stress resistance, and energy efficiency. NAD+ levels decrease with age, and this decrease is thought to contribute to the aging process.
Biosynthesis[edit | edit source]
NAD+ can be synthesized from simple building-blocks (de novo) from the amino acids tryptophan or aspartic acid. In an alternative pathway, components of NAD+ are salvaged from breakdown products of complex molecules like NAD+ or NADH.
Therapeutic potential[edit | edit source]
Because of the crucial role of NAD+ in cellular metabolism and the aging process, it has been suggested as a potential therapeutic target for a variety of diseases, including metabolic disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, and aging itself. Several studies have shown that supplementation with NAD+ precursors, such as nicotinamide riboside or nicotinamide mononucleotide, can increase NAD+ levels and improve healthspan in mice.
See also[edit | edit source]
- Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate
- Nicotinamide riboside
- Nicotinamide mononucleotide
- Sirtuins
- Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerases
| Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide Resources | |
|---|---|
|
 |
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
