NADH – The natural boost for your energy levels, your immune system and your cognitive ability

We all recognize that as we age not only do our energy levels seem to drop in general, but we don’t seem to have enough energy in the first place to cope with the hectic pace of life. And to compound this, ageing brings with it a general slowing down and gradual decline in our cognitive ability. This may bring about an inability to memorize things - names of people we meet, where did we put the car keys for example. There is however help at hand to offset these symptoms - a naturally occurring substance called NADH.

What is NADH?

Life requires energy. Our cells need energy to stay alive. Without energy a cell dies because energy production represents the essential prerequisite for every living cell.

NADH is necessary for energy production and cellular development. It is essential for the production of energy from food and is the principal carrier of electrons in the energy-producing process in the cells.

The energy within our bodies is produced when hydrogen and oxygen react to form water and energy. NADH is the biological form of hydrogen present in our cells and oxygen comes from the air we breathe. The energy produced from this reaction is stored as a chemical compound, ATP (adenosine triphosphate).

NADH is found in every living cell from plants or animals, and we take it in through our daily dietary regime. The components of food - proteins, carbohydrates, fats, are degraded into smaller molecules such as amino acids, sugars and lipids. They are processed leading to a ‘reducing power’ in the form of NADH, which is the reduced form of Coenzyme 1.

The optimum intake of NADH levels occurs when we eat raw meat or fish, as our stomach gastric acids degrades NADH in greater amounts than if the food was cooked (which incidentally also destroys most of the NADH present in food anyway).

Of the two cell types that contain NADH, plant and animal, animal cells contain higher concentrations of NADH because animals need more energy than plants for movement. Vegetables and fruits contain lower levels of NADH than is found in meat, poultry, or fish. Because of the low volumes of NADH from plant cells, a vegetarian will have a much lower intake of NADH than those on a meat-eating diet. It is a well-known condition for vegetarians to develop NADH deficiency over time.

Scientific studies have shown that a loss of NADH leads to an ATP depletion, which in turn leads to cell death.

NADH is also recognized under the abbreviations Nicotinamide-Adenine-Dinucleotide Hydride, DPNH, ARPPRNH, Co 1.

How important is NADH?

In addition to the fact that the more NADH we have in our cells, the more energy we produce, NADH actually comes very close to being ‘the antioxidant of choice’, or ‘the most important compound in the body’.

In its role as the body’s most powerful antioxidant, it is responsible for regenerating other important antioxidants that protect the body from free radical attack. Free radical attack can manifest s itself in the form of heart disease, cancer, arthritis and general diseases of aging. Scientists have acknowledged that NADH is most important antioxidant to protect cells from damage caused by harmful substances.

The antioxidant cycle

To demonstrate the importance of NADH, let us consider just one example of antioxidant regeneration:

• NADH supplies a molecule of oxidized glutathione to form the most important antioxidant of the cell, reduced glutathione.


• Reduced glutathione in turn can convert spent Vitamin C to active Vitamin C.


• Vitamin C in turn can regenerate spent Vitamin E to active Vitamin E.

One can see therefore that just a few NADH molecules can have a significant effect on the body’s antioxidant regeneration processes.

The NADH amplification effect.

As well as antioxidant regeneration, there are also examples of NADH contributing to an ‘amplification effect’. Examples include:

• Each NADH molecule can produce 3 units of ATP, which is (as we have already discussed) the major compound for storing energy in the body.


• One NADH molecule can produce 6 molecules of dopamine, which is extremely important for mental capability. (Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that stimulates motor neurons, which are nerve cells that control the muscles. When dopamine production is depleted, the motor system nerves are unable to control movement and coordination. Parkinson's disease patients have lost 80% or more of their dopamine-producing cells by the time symptoms appear).

This amplification effect occurs because NADH powers many other enzymes to create products in the body that we need to survive. Enzymes can perform their work only if an additional essential factor is present that will combine with the enzyme itself – this factor is called a coenzyme, in this case the coenzyme is NADH.

NADH in tandem with these enzymes allows this production line to occur over and over again. Thus a small increase in NADH has a catalyst effect that can often bring about major function improvements within the individual.

Without the coenzyme, the enzyme production process will not work. A coenzyme deficiency slows down the production processes of the body, and a specific NADH deficiency will result in an energy shortfall, which may manifest itself in the symptoms of fatigue. Unfortunately, with the natural aging process NADH declines along with the dependent enzymes, in particular those required for essential energy production.

The NADH challenge

Up until now, there has been no way of improving the level of NADH in cells. For many years the health community, while recognizing the importance of NADH, has not been able to develop a simple dietary supplement to increase cellular levels of NADH.

The challenge with NADH is that it is a very sensitive substance. It degrades rapidly under the influence of light, humidity, temperature, and lactose. In addition, it is degraded by the typical filler agents that are commonly used in the preparation of tablets.

But that has all changed thanks to the work done by Dr George Birkmayer, the widely respected researcher and physician who first discovered the application of NADH in cellular development and energy transmission.

Birkmayer found that the energy level of a cell could be increased by incubating the cell with NADH. When cells are incubated with NADH, the ATP concentration in these cells increases. In other words these cells have more ATP i.e. energy, and therefore they function better and live longer.

As a result of his research, Birkmayer was able to patent a stabilized form of NADH as a general supplement.

The health implications are immense - if cells live longer, then organs live longer, hence NADH has a scientifically proven anti-aging effect.

The Benefits of NADH

As we have seen, NADH increases the ATP energy in the cells. With more energy the nerve cells produce more adrenaline, dopamine, serotonin and also other components necessary for good performance. NADH is the only substance which has been shown to increase cellular energy and can be used to treat the following conditions:

• Chronic fatigue syndrome
• Fibromyalgia
• Parkinson’s disease
• Alzheimer’s disease
• Depression
• Jet lag
• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

And for the general healthy population, NADH offers the following benefits:

• Increased energy
• Improved reaction times
• Improved alertness
• Improved immunity levels
• Weight loss
• Improved libido

We will now look at some of the benefits of NADH in more detail.

NADH and Mental Ability

A lack of energy affects the brain by producing symptoms such as poor concentration or a lack of alertness. NADH provides the brain with more ATP energy to boost cognitive ability.

NADH also affects general cognitive function by stimulating the production of adrenaline and dopamine, both of which are essential for our cognitive performance and memory.

NADH and the Immune System

The immune system is based on the activities of our white blood cells. One of the main white blood cell sub-groups is macrophages. Macrophages are responsible for the direct elimination of bacteria or viruses.

There is a direct relationship between the intake and digestion process of the macrophages and the activation of the immune system. When bacteria or viruses enter the body, the metabolic activity of macrophages causes an increase in oxygen consumption. Oxygen is converted to superoxide which destroys these bacteria and viruses. During this oxygen demand, high amounts of NADH are consumed. Hence the more NADH that is available, the better the immune system works.

During the processing of bacteria and viruses macrophages produce ‘signal molecules’ which activate lymphocytes, which are themselves another white blood cell sub-group. These signal molecules are known as cytokines and they provide the appropriate communication between different white blood cells.

The most important of the cytokine signal molecules are Interleukines, so named because they provide the inter-communication between the various subgroups of the leucocytes. NADH stimulates the production of Interleukine IL-6, which provides an immune response to trauma, especially burns or other tissue damage leading to inflammation.

NADH and Coenzyme Q10

NADH is also vital in making the popular supplement Coenzyme Q10 behave as an effective antioxidant - a fact not often understood by the majority of Coenzyme Q10 users. Coenzyme Q10 is used to treat migraines, heart failure, gum disease, Parkinson’s disease, high blood pressure and diabetes. As a treatment only when Coenzyme Q10 is combined with NADH does it become effective and beneficial to the body. NADH reduces Coenzyme Q10 into an antioxidant and an energy producing compound.

Conclusion

To gain more energy simply take NADH supplements. Additional NADH will create more ATP energy that powers the main organs of the body - the brain, heart, muscles, nerves, immune system, cell repair - basically everything that needs power.

And as our energy levels decline with age, the performance of these organs can be maintained by providing more energy with NADH as a dietary supplement.

Dosage

10mg (to 20mg maximum) once, twice or three times a day (dependent upon the need), please note that we only supply the original Professor Birkmayer product and the NADH Astarte product also contains 450mg of L-arginine per capsule.

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What our customers say...

Each unit of NADH is capable of generating 3 units of ATP, in a very real sense NADH is the energy-of-life coenzyme
James South MA, Oregon.

My father's Parkinson's disease symptoms are improved, even our doctor thinks so. NADH has been a Godsend for his condition.
L.A.D., Wisconsin.

Your new sublingual NADH is a great product and a most cost effective way to take this important supplement.
P.B.S., Oregon

Wake up your brain with NADH

NADH improves brain energy levels, which in turn helps to alleviate depression and reduce mental fatigue.

NADH (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) assists enzymes in the work they do throughout the body. NADH particularly plays a role in the production of energy. It also participates in the production of L-dopa, which the body turns into the important neurotransmitter dopamine.

Due to these three biochemical features of NADH, it has been evaluated as a treatment for jet lag, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, chronic fatigue syndrome, depression and as a sports supplement.

Dosage:

For anti-aging, take 2mg to 6mg sublingually (under the tongue) two or three times a day.