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One of the urban myths of NAD metabolism is the idea that NAD+ is good, while NADH is bad. NAD+:NADH are a redox couple that differ by a hydride group (a proton with 2 electrons) /1
NAD+ picks up the hydride when small molecules are oxidized, forming NADH. NADH donates the electrons to generate ATP and/or heat at the inner mitochondrial membrane. NADH is also the source of electrons in ketone body formation and gluconeogenesis /2
Thus, ketogenesis and gluconeogenesis are run in a reducing environment while fuel oxidation to produce ATP and/or heat requires oxygen as the ultimate electron acceptor to maintain a high NAD+/NADH ratio /3
Your monthly reminder that your body contains thousands of enzymes and scores of coenzymes that keep everything running. In general, vitamins are dietary components that allow cells to make coenzymes. Coenzymes are essential to the health of every organ system in your body. /1
Recommended daily allowances (RDAs) were developed to avoid deficiencies and do not speak to potential benefits of higher levels. Additionally, the fact that coenzymes keep everything running doesn't necessarily mean that you would benefit from the corresponding vitamin. /2
For example, riboflavin and pantothenate are the vitamin precursors of FAD and coenzyme A and you'd be sick if your diet somehow had no riboflavin or pantothenate but there's limited value of megadosing with these vitamins. /3
The body has a glucose-based economy because that is the main fuel that circulates & what the brain prefers. This is not an argument to eat refined sugar, which is clearly bad, it’s just a fact. DNA & RNA are built from forms of ribose. How do cells convert glucose to ribose? /1
They use NADP+ & the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP). This also produces NADPH and the power to build cellular materials and signaling molecules with the captured electrons #redox #wondersofnature #biochem #NADtwitter /2
No synthetic organic chemist of any skill level can convert glucose to ribose-5-phosphate with the efficiency of the humblest bacterium #enzymes #coenzymes #metabolism #NAD
4 equally important NAD coenzymes (NAD+, NADH, NADP+ & NADPH) mediate the conversion of everything we eat to everything we are. PolyADPR, cADPR & some other compounds made from NAD signal the need to repair DNA, mobilize calcium & sometimes for cells to die #NADtwitter /1
Accumulated NMN, a sign of a particular type of cell damage, can activate SARM1 and lead to cell death /2
Forms of vitamin B3 can replenish NAD through different gene pathways in different cells. For years, we've been characterizing these pathways using targeted quantitative NAD metabolomics. So far, our favorite NAD precursors are NR and NAR--both work through the NR pathway /end
