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Episode 14: NADH, a revolution in the beauty world
What is NADH and why is it revolutionizing the beauty world? How does it work on a cellular level to keep our skin young? Arne and newcomer Jonah delve into the science behind it.
About Arne Heyse
Arne already knew at the age of 14 that he wanted to study chemistry. Four years later, he made that choice and has never regretted it. After experience in the steel and paint industry, he focused on biological and biochemical processes in the human body. After ten years of working with top international athletes and self-study, he's learned a lot about the human body. At Insentials, Arne works with Amandine on science, reads scientific studies, follows European legislation and develops raw materials. He manages notification files and is often a guest in podcasts or a speaker at events.
About Jona De Baerdemaeker
Jona once earned a Master's degree in Psychology, but always had a strong interest in nutrition. A few years back, she therefore decided to pursue a Bachelor's degree in Nutrition and Dietetics. It's mainly the link between psychology and healthy eating that fascinates her the most: how do you create healthy habits in the long run? How do you maintain a healthy relationship with food? What's the effect of healthy food on your mental health? With a passion for writing and organizing, she does a lot of copywriting and works on events at Insentials, always with a focus on science on the one hand and mental, physical health on the other.
What does NADH stand for?
NADH is an acronym, where the N stands for nicotinamide, a form of vitamin B3 found in our diet. The A stands for adenine, one of the four building blocks of our DNA, a molecule frequently found in our bodies. The DH stands for dinucleotide, which is the backbone of vitamin B3 and adenine; in fact, it's what connects the two. Dinucleotide means it consists of two nucleotides bound together on this backbone. The H refers to hydrogen.
This brings us to the main task of NADH in the body. NADH is a coenzyme whose function is to capture or release electron pairs. This is done by splitting off or absorbing the H (hydrogen).
The production of NADH
In principle, our body makes its own NADH. Most cells can make NADH, but the reality is that certain tissues or cells in our body cannot. These then have the need to recuperate NADH.
That production of NADH occurs in most cells from amino acids that we get through our diet. Tryptophan is one of these amino acids. Through a complex process, this allows us to produce NADH. However, as we age, the efficiency of this process decreases, so we produce less NADH.
For those cells that are unable to produce NADH on their own, there is an alternative option, which is a kind of recovery technique. These cells can pick up and convert vitamin B3, which we get through our diet, and then use it as a building block for NADH. So vitamin B3 plays a crucial role in this process.
What exactly does NADH do?
Energy production
NADH plays a crucial role in energy production in the human body. It's strongly involved in electron transport, an essential process in the mitochondria, the so-called “energy factories” of our cells. Mitochondria contain their own DNA and convert nutrients such as sugars and fats into energy.
During this process, electron pairs are released, which are captured by NADH and transported to the cell wall, where they are used to make ATP, the main energy carrier in the body. NADH levels are thus directly linked to the amount of energy your body can produce.
In addition, NADH plays a role in neoglucogenesis, the process by which the body makes its own glucose, especially in times of scarcity. Here, NADH provides the electrons needed to convert proteins or fats into glucose, which is essential for powering the brain, for example.
Protection of DNA
Another essential function of NADH is to protect your DNA and telomeres. Telomeres are the ends of our chromosomes, similar to the plastic pieces at the end of your laces, that prevent them from fraying. Telomeres protect functional DNA by preventing it from being damaged.
NADH plays a crucial role in maintaining the length and integrity of these telomeres, thus keeping DNA better protected. In addition, NADH helps repair any errors in DNA. This makes it an indispensable molecule with important protective roles throughout the body.
The decrease of NADH
The amount of NADH in our body fluctuates constantly and varies depending on various factors. A major cause of the decrease in NADH is the natural aging process, in which the production of NADH in the body's cells decreases.
In addition, there are factors we can influence. Obesity and lack of exercise are two major reasons for decreased NADH production. These two factors are often linked and can lead to a vicious cycle of less energy and less activity.
Increase NADH production
Fortunately, there are ways to boost NADH production. Maintaining a healthy body weight and regular exercise, especially aerobic activities such as walking, cycling or swimming, can increase NADH levels. In addition, short periods of fasting can also contribute to an increase in NADH, as it stimulates the body to produce energy more efficiently.
The consequences of a deficiency
NADH deficiency, caused by natural aging or an unhealthy lifestyle, can have several effects. One of the main effects is damage to your DNA and telomeres. Telomeres, the protective ends of chromosomes, become shorter and shorter due to daily oxidative stress, such as pollution, smoking and even excessive exercise. When telomeres shorten, your DNA becomes more vulnerable to damage, which can lead to accelerated aging and cell death.
In addition to DNA damage, NADH deficiency can potentially contribute to the development of metabolic syndrome, increased insulin resistance and visceral fat deposition, which is also common during menopause. This type of fat deposition around organs is harmful and can lead to cardiovascular disease. Furthermore, lower ATP production, due to NADH deficiency, results in fatigue and less energy. This can create a vicious cycle in which fatigue leads to even less exercise and thus a further decrease in NADH.
The potential role of sirtuins
Sirtuins are proteins produced by the body that play a role in cell health and longevity. This could potentially help maintain youthful characteristics. It's sometimes called 'the key to a longer life'.
The production of sirtuins is stimulated by NADH. The more NADH, the more sirtuins your body can make. Resveratrol, an antioxidant found in dark fruits such as grapes and berries, can also contribute to the production of sirtuins.
In addition, there's a lot of interest in NMN, a substance that along with NADH is often mentioned in connection with sirtuins. However, NMN has not yet been approved for use in Europe due to the lack of sufficient safety studies.
At Insentials, the focus remains on promoting exercise and healthy eating, as these two factors can support the production of NADH and thus sirtuins. This emphasizes the importance of a healthy lifestyle in maintaining a healthy and youthful body.
New Inner Beauty formula
Certain supplements can increase the production of NADH in the body. Although the molecules that have these effects are also found in food, in practice it's often difficult to consume enough of these foods to achieve a significant effect. In such cases, supplementation can be a more practical and effective solution.
At Insentials, we have taken this science to heart in our latest development. We have reformulated our Inner Beauty product and added NADH to respond to the latest science. This adjustment, along with other improvements such as an increased dose of hyaluronic acid and additions of copper for maintaining hair color, as well as the trusted ingredients of zinc, vitamin C and B2, makes Inner Beauty H5-NADH an innovative product.