Boosting NAD+ Might Not Be As Heart-Friendly As Thought

There's a lot of buzz around NAD+ and its role in health. NAD+ is a key player in our cells, helping with energy production and other vital tasks. Some studies suggest that boosting NAD+ levels can extend lifespan and improve metabolic health in mice. This has led to a surge in interest in NAD+ precursors, like nicotinamide riboside (NR), as potential health supplements. However, the story isn't as straightforward as it seems. The human body is a complex system. NAD+ isn't just used by sirtuins, the proteins that help with longevity and metabolism. It's also a substrate for other enzymes, like PARP1 and CD38. These enzymes compete with sirtuins for NAD+. This competition could potentially dilute the benefits of NAD+ boosting. Moreover, boosting NAD+ might not always be beneficial for the heart. A clinical trial called AIM-HIGH found that supplementing NAD+ precursors didn't improve cardiovascular outcomes. This is a significant finding, as it challenges the idea that NAD+ boosting is universally beneficial. Recent research has also linked a terminal NAD+ metabolite, 4PY, to increased inflammation and cardiovascular risk. This adds another layer of complexity to the NAD+ story. It suggests that boosting NAD+ could potentially have unintended consequences. So, what does this all mean? It's clear that the relationship between NAD+ and health is more nuanced than initially thought. While NAD+ boosting might have benefits, it's not a magic bullet. It's important to consider the broader context and potential trade-offs. As always, more research is needed to fully understand these complex interactions.