As we get older, our metabolism slows and energy production decreases; free radicals cause increasing oxidative damage to our DNA and cells; and chronic inflammation (sterile, long-term) increases.
Less energy, more damage, more inflammation.
I recommend three interventions: one is an energy booster, another is an antioxidant, the third is an anti-inflammatory.
The Energy Booster
Nicotinamide Riboside (NR)
WHAT IS IT?
Nicotinamide is a type of Niacin (Vitamin B3); aka Niacinamide, the ‘no flush’ type of Niacin
Nicotinamide Riboside just means it has a Ribose sugar bonded to it
Mitochondria are the powerhouses of our cells, the generators. Our mitochondria contain a naturallyoccurring compound called NAD+ that is foundational to mitochondrial function and therefore to cell energy production and metabolism. NAD helps to transfer high-energy electrons from the food that we eat in order to make ATP, and ATP is what all of our cells use as energy, it is the cell’s currency of energy
NAD levels naturally decline with age and NR has repeatedly been shown to boost NAD production. Which therefore helps our mitochondria to function at more youthful levels and therefore helps our cells to produce more energy.
There’s a similar compound called NMN: NR in the body first converts to NMN and then to NAD, the concern is that NMN may be pulled from the market since a biotech company is trying to convince the FDA that it’s a drug and not a supplement.
NR can further boost mitochondria, in addition to the NAD electron transfer functions: Recent studies show that NAD decline drives aging through decreased sirtuin activities in the nucleus and mitochondria. Sirtuins are a group of 7 protective compounds. NR activates Sirtuins, and specifically SIRT3, which helps to activate the mitochondrial proteins themselves. And so some of the benefits of NR supplementation come from the reactivation of sirtuins.
Conclusion:
NR helps boost energy production levels in our mitochondria, restore them to a more youthful level of function. And NR also, through the activation of Sirtuins, helps to power up the mitochondrial proteins themselves and keep them functioning optimally. A double win.
The Antioxidant
Glutathione
WHAT IS IT?
Glutathione is the body’s ‘master antioxidant’ and is naturally found in all of our cells. And so whereas NR boosts mitochondrial function, Glutathione helps prevent oxidative damage to your DNA and your cells.
Mitochondria being the powerhouses, they produce large amounts of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS). ROS are a type of free radicals that contain oxygen, and they cause oxidative damage to your DNA and cells and to the mitochondria themselves.
Glutathione is the body’s master antioxidant, it neutralizes the oxidative stress and prevents damage.
Glutathione has a TRIPEPTIDE chemical structure
“The Three Aminos”: Glycine, Cysteine, Glutamic Acid = 3 peptide bonds = Tripeptide
TWO WAYS TO BOOST GLUTATHIONE IN YOUR BODY
1. INGREDIENTS: Cysteine is the rate-limiting amino acid for GSH synthesis, therefore you can supplement cysteine and boost synthesis using the available GSH-synthesizing enzymes, AND/OR
2. ENZYMES: You can boost the synthesizing enzymes themselves by supplementing Alpha Lipoic Acid
WHAT TO TAKE
GlyNAC, which is Glycine plus Cysteine (NAC is a type of Cysteine; N-Acetyl Cysteine), this provides the raw materials needed to construct Glutathione.
ALA (Alpha Lipoic Acid) boosts the number of enzymes needed to construct Glutathione
Q: Why not just take glutathione directly?
A: Because glutathione is hydrolyzed (digested) in the stomach, supplementation with glutathione boosters is recommended.
Conclusion:
taking Glycine and Cysteine (as NAC) boosts production by providing the ingredients that the constructing enzymes need to make glutathione. Taking ALA (Alpha Lipoic Acid) boosts production by increasing the number of the glutathione constructing enzymes themselves.
The Anti-Inflammatory
Arginine AKG (Alpha-ketoglutarate)
WHAT IS IT?
Arginine is an amino acid that boosts Nitric Oxide (NO) levels, leading to vasodilation. AKG is Alpha-ketoglutarate, derived from glutamic acid and part of our cell metabolism.
AKG has been shown to increase healthspan in multiple animal species, including in mice that scored an average of more than 40% better on tests of "frailty," as measured by 31 physiological outcomes including hair color, hearing, walking gait, grip strength.
Diseases of aging are accompanied by chronic inflammation, which is linked to an age-associated functional decline. Dietary supplementation of AKG has been shown to promote a longer, healthier life associated with a decrease in levels of systemic inflammatory cytokines, meaning AKG suppresses chronic inflammation and that leads to improvements such as reduced frailty.
Blood AKG levels gradually drop with age - in humans, plasma AKG levels decline 10-fold between the ages of 40 and 80. Since AKG is not available in the human diet, direct supplementation the only feasible route to restore youthful levels.
And unlike other compounds with similar effects, such as the antiaging drug rapamycin, AKG is naturally made by our own bodies and it’s already considered to be GRAS by regulators.
Conclusion:
AKG suppresses chronic inflammation, decreases physical frailty and increases functional ability.