NAD (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) is a metabolic co-enzyme which continuously varies between the NAD and NADH compounds in the body. Enzymes are responsible for every activity of life. There are two primary classes of enzymes: digestive and metabolic. Metabolic enzymes are responsible for the structuring, repair, and remodelling of every cell, and the body is under a great daily burden to supply sufficient enzymes for optimal health. Metabolic enzymes operate in every cell, every organ and every tissue, and they need constant replenishment. NAD plays an essential role in the production of ATP (Adenosine triphosphate), the basic energy molecule in the body, and has more than 100 metabolic functions in our human biochemistry.
What is a NAD Energy Deficiency?
All human activities require energy. Research has indicated that 90% of our physical energy must be made available from the biochemical processes within our cells. Each cell in your body has a particular function that needs energy to do its job. This energy is produced by various chemical processes in the cells, in little “power plants”. We refer to such power plants as the mitochondrion. Glucose is the fuel for our power plants and is obtained from the food which we consume by means of digestion. Most processes in a power plant which releases energy however require a particular co-enzyme to produce energy. Without the co-enzyme, the power plant will simply not function. NAD is such a co-enzyme and it maintains the processes in all power plants. When there is a deficiency in NAD, or too few power plants in the cells, there will be a metabolic energy deficiency. This metabolic energy deficiency is called a NAD Energy Deficiency (NED). This NED is insufficient chemical energy for life and can be defined as the physical state which develops when the body does not have enough NAD molecules and accompanying energy metabolic cofactors to generate enough metabolic energy on a cellular level to maintain the body in a constant state of health. Such a NED can result in a wide spectrum of NED related diseases. NED mostly manifests itself as chronic fatigue, chronic fatigue syndrome, substance abuse, depression, stress, anxiety and various other chronic illnesses.
It is estimated that 10% of people suffer from an irreversible chronic NED. Genetic and chronic NED is transferred from mother to child and is already present at the moment of conception.
The egg cell of the mother has a shortage of power plants. Her children inherit no power plants from their father, because all of his power generators are located in the tail of the sperm cell which is discarded during conception. The daughter and son will therefore inherit an energy deficiency, but the son may marry a woman who has enough power plants. The problem therefore ends at that stage. The daughter, however, will spread the problem. Ninety percent of persons get enough NAD from food and can utilize it completely, because enough energy factories (mitochondria) are available in cells. The 10% who suffer from NED, will never be able to obtain enough NAD from food on its own. They will have to use NAD as a nutritional dietary supplement if they want to have a stable body with sufficient physical energy, which will make it possible to enjoy a good quality life. Despite the teaching of biology to millions of children and students, most people think of energy as something mystical and out of the reach of ordinary man. They view the restoration of energy, by applicable NAD supplementation, as unthinkable and too simple a remedy for a long lasting and debilitating problem affecting their whole being.
Phagocytes use NADPH as a source of energy to destroy pathogens. The NAD(P)H, that is available, is also used to protect the body against free radicals and to, in this way, prevent illnesses and damage. NAD and niacin (a precursor of NAD) play an important role in defending cells against DNA damage by genotoxic particles.
The brain uses ten times more NAD energy than any other organ.
Derivatives of niacin, mainly in the form of NAD and NADP coenzymes, are found abundantly in brain tissue. NADH plays a role in the synthesis of the neurotransmitters, i.e. noradrenaline and dopamine, which are important for maintaining a positive state of mind.
Who can benefit from NAD Therapy?
Although NAD therapy can be of benefit to everyone, its use over a long period of time is essential only for approximately 10% of persons, to ensure that they can maintain their quality of life.