NMN, NR, Resveratrol, Metformin & Other Longevity Molecules | Episode 4

Why can't we just take vitamin B3 which is a precursor to NR? You can, but it doesn't raise NAD levels anywhere near the level that NR does. NR doesn't seem to be as effective as NMN. So, the closer you get to NAD with your molecule, the better, it seems.

Going back a number of years ago, it was found that NR, when given to mice, extends their lifespan by about 9%. But it was given to them late in life at about 700 days, which is pretty old ... There were also improvements in health. They had more mitochondria, which is the energy; they had more athleticism, less inflammation.

NAD stands for nicotinamide, which is vitamin B3, and adenine dinucleotide, this a sugar and a phosphate. The important part about it is that the cells, our cells, use NAD to transfer hydrogen atoms between proteins and even DNA. That is really important for life, and without it, we can't make chemical energy.

The problem is, as we get older, we make less NAD, and we also destroy it more for reasons that we don't fully understand. But it leads to a decline in our ability to fight off aging and the diseases that it causes.