In previous posts, we’ve discussed how important NAD+ is and how you can boost your levels of NAD+ by taking NMN. It is estimated that it is required for over 500 enzymatic processes in our bodies. NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine) is essential for life—it’s the natural fuel that powers all our body cells.
Sirtuins are special proteins that require NAD+ to regulate your cellular health. They regulate the pathways that control cellular death, they turn anti-aging genes on and off, repair DNA, and regulate our metabolism.
In this article, you will discover the connection between sirtuins, NAD+, and longevity and why it’s essential for your health.
Connection Between Sirtuins and NAD+
NAD+ is found in every cell of our body and is essential for empowering and protecting our cells. When we have high levels of NAD+ in our bodies, cellular energy increases which becomes the fuel of life. As we age, however, our natural defenses and NAD+ levels decline, resulting in many age-related conditions and poor quality of life.
Sirtuins are a family of seven proteins that help regulate your cellular health. They play an important role in aging. However, sirtuins can only function in the presence of NAD+. In other words, if NAD+ levels are low, then sirtuins can’t do their job properly.
Dr. Leonard Guarente, the co-founder of Elysium Health, uses a general office set up as an analogy to describe how these two compounds come into play.
He relates our body cells to a company. In an organization, many people with different skills perform different tasks but with a common goal—to ensure the success of the business. The CEO of the company determines what needs to be done, why it needs to be done, and at what time. Even though he is the “boss,” he can’t operate on his own. He needs other team members, or at minimum finances, to keep the business operating.
It works the same for our bodies. In our cells, there are many compounds performing various tasks but all have the ultimate goal—stay healthy and function efficiently for as long as possible. Sirtuins play the role of CEO and determine what needs to be done and when. However, like the boss of a company, they can’t operate on their own: sirtuins need NAD+ to function.
What is NAD+
Discovered in 1906, NAD+ is a coenzyme found in all living cells. It’s responsible for maintaining healthy internal organs and a healthy neurological system.
Not only does NAD+ convert nutrients into ATP, but it also works hand in hand with proteins like sirtuins to execute vital biological processes such as DNA repair and mitochondrial function.
The connection between sirtuins and NAD+ plays a significant role in controlling aging and longevity. This is because NAD+ provides a suitable working environment for the proteins, which in turn perform vital biological functions such as cell health regulation, turning anti-aging genes on and off, metabolism regulation, and DNA repair.
However, research has shown that NAD+ availability declines with age unless you supplement with an NAD+ precursor such as NMN or NR. This, in turn, hinders the activity of sirtuins and therefore negatively affects all of the biological processes that it performs.
NAD+ levels in your body decrease as you get older
There are many ways to naturally increase NAD+ levels in our bodies, these include:
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acute stress
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exercise
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regular consumption of fish and vegetables
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calorie restriction
However, the best way to boost your NAD+ levels is to take an NAD+ supplement.
What are NAD+ Supplements?
NAD+ supplements contain molecules known as NAD+ precursors. The most common NAD+ precursors are NR and NMN. These precursors can mimic calorie restriction, acute stress, and exercise and are effective at boosting NAD+ levels.
The human body can naturally create NAD+ by using these molecules. Although these precursors are readily available in foods such as fruits, meat, and vegetables, they exist in very low concentrations, and this is where supplementation with NMN, for instance, comes in.
Supplements that contain polyphenols such as Resveratrol, Curcumin, and Quercetin can boost NAD+ to youthful levels, which then acts as fuel for the sirtuins gene.
What are Sirtuins?
Sirtuins consist of seven proteins that are like members of a family or a group. Experts claim that our bodies are made up of at least 60,000 families of protein. The sirtuins family is one of them. Each member of the sirtuin family is located in different parts of the cell and has a different role to play, but all of them play a protective role in preventing damage to our DNA.
When we mention proteins, you’re probably picturing dietary proteins such as chicken, meat, or legumes. However, in this case, we’re referring to protein as molecules. These molecules perform different roles in body cells.
For example, one of the general checks that your doctor may perform is to measure your “iron levels” or red blood cell count. What they are measuring is the levels of a protein molecule called hemoglobin which is responsible for transporting oxygen throughout your body. If your hemoglobin levels are low, you will be said to have a low red blood cell count or anemia.
How Do Sirtuins Make You Live Longer?
Sirtuins are known as one of the pathways to longevity because of the essential role that they play in our bodies. Some of these functions are:
Regulates Epigenetic Modifications
Epigenetics refers to external changes (modifications) to DNA that switch genes “off” and “on.” It’s the reason why cells in our skin look different to cells in our muscles. These cells contain the same DNA, but the genes are expressed differently.
Sirtuins are responsible for epigenetic modifications and building the connection between metabolism and epigenetics.
Research has shown that the manipulation of sirtuins could benefit lifespan due to epigenetic changes.
May help prevent Cancer
When a cell becomes cancerous, cellular processes become abnormal. Sirtuins play an important role in regulating cellular processes such as cellular metabolism, maintaining chromatin structure, and maintaining genomic stability.
All of these processes become negatively affected when a cell is cancerous. Therefore, sirtuins can help minimize the risk of cancer, which, as we already know, is one of the leading causes of early death and poor quality of life.
Improves Cardiovascular Function
Sirtuins can also boost cardiovascular function by inhibiting oxidative stress (cell damage caused by free radicals), regulating blood pressure, and ensuring homeostasis (a balanced cell environment) under stress and physiological conditions. Cardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of early death. Therefore sirtuins can play an important role in preventing cardiovascular disease.
Increases Metabolism
By increasing NAD+ levels, we can increase the functioning of sirtuins, which boosts our metabolism.
Another way through which sirtuins promotes longevity is by regulating metabolism.
Sirtuins regulate glucose and fat metabolism in response to physiological changes in energy levels. This helps maintain balanced energy levels and, as such, determines longevity.
Regulates Neurological Function
Sirtuins play a crucial role in the regulation of brain function. Scientists have found that sirtuins can also boost memory and brainpower.
As we age and NAD+ level falls, the level of sirtuin activity declines which results in prolonged neuroinflammation, which leads to synaptic damage and neuronal death.
Age-related decline in hypothalamic function (the part of the brain that controls body temperature, thirst, hunger, fatigue, sleep, circadian rhythms and some behavioral aspects such as attachment) can be caused by a reduction in SIRT1 activity.
Regulates Inflammatory and Stress Response
Sirtuins defend and mend against inflammation and play essential but distinct roles in chronic and acute inflammation. Chronic inflammatory diseases often persist in a “low-sirtuins” state, and increasing SIRT1 levels or activity can be beneficial.
In Conclusion
Sirtuins regulate many biological functions in the human body and is “longevity essential.” Without it, life as we know it cannot exist. There is a direct link between premature aging and reduced function of sirtuins.
As they say, “It takes two to tango.” As important as they are, sirtuins cannot function without NAD+, and we have already seen that NAD+ levels lower with age.
However, due to technology and the advancement of human knowledge in science, we now have some power to control how we live and age. We no longer have to leave everything to fate, we can prevent premature aging and slow down the aging process, now that we know how NAD+, sirtuins, and longevity correlate.
Although there are lifestyle adjustments you can make, one of the most effective ways to boost your levels of NAD+ is to supplement with high-quality NMN or our unique, all-natural supplement specifically designed to boost the longevity gene, Preservage. Our unique formula is designed to work deep within the body to slow down the aging process the natural way.
It’s time to be revitalized and slow down premature aging by partnering with those on the cutting edge of anti-aging products—Youth & Earth. Remember, it’s never too late as long as you start now!
The content of this article is for informational purposes only. It’s not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or health provider before starting a new health regime or program. Do not ignore medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you’ve read on this site or any Youth & Earth product.
