Integrative medicine and biohackers are all talking about the benefits of NAD+ and NADH. PANMOL®NADH-High Potency Niacin (B3) used in Restore is the #1 electron donor available of any vitamin or mineral on the market with six patents and four more pending.
This is why Dr. Tennant chose this ingredient.
It’s not just Niacin, it’s the conversion Niacin to Niacinamide to NAD+ to NADH that’s the big deal. The NADH is the form that is the foremost electron donor.
While the focus of the caloric doctrine is primarily on the energy content of our food, there's been a growing recognition of the importance of electron donors in modern nutritional medicine. Electron donors provide our bodies with electrons, which are crucial for various functions such as boosting the immune system, fueling essential systems like the brain, heart, and muscles, aiding in regeneration, and slowing down the aging process. This sounds like something straight from a lecture from Dr. Tennant.
Vitamins and enzymes are among the most vital sources of electron donors. Factors such as poor nutrition, excessive consumption of indulgent substances (like alcohol and tobacco), persistent stress, and strenuous physical activity can all increase the body's need for electron donors. When there's a shortage of these donors, it can lead to reduced mental and physical performance and speed up the aging process.
Within the realm of nutritional medicine, biological electron donors are described as antioxidants, including carotenoids, vitamin C, and vitamin E. Among them, NADH stands out as the most potent antioxidant in our body. NADH (short for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide), serves as a critical cofactor in numerous biochemical reactions associated with energy metabolism. Despite its vital role, NADH is highly sensitive to light and oxygen, rendering it unstable. Until recently, NADH administration was limited to intravenous infusions due to its instability. However, PANMOL®-NADH has emerged as a stabilized organic form of NADH, making it orally administrable and stable for extended periods. This breakthrough offers a convenient and effective way to supplement NADH in the diet.
Dr. Tennant’s® Restore contains NADH from PANMOL®NADH-High Potency Niacin but how is that different than Niacin that is found in most B vitamin supplements? Let’s start at the beginning.
What is Niacin?
Niacin, also known as vitamin B3, is a water-soluble vitamin that the body uses for several essential functions.
In supplements, Niacin is typically sourced from synthetic forms of the vitamin, such as Niacinamide or Nicotinic acid. These synthetic forms of Niacin are chemically identical to the Niacin naturally found in foods, but are produced in laboratories through chemical synthesis processes. Synthetic Niacin is commonly used in supplements due to its stability, cost-effectiveness, and ease of production.
What Does It Do?
Overall, Niacin plays diverse and critical roles in the body, contributing to energy metabolism, DNA maintenance, cellular signaling, lipid metabolism, skin health, and nervous system function. Adequate intake of Niacin through diet or supplementation is essential for overall health and well-being.
Energy Metabolism: Niacin is a key component of two coenzymes, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP), which play crucial roles in energy metabolism. These coenzymes participate in numerous enzymatic reactions involved in the breakdown of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins to produce energy for the body.
DNA Repair and Synthesis: Niacin is involved in DNA repair and synthesis processes, helping to maintain the integrity and stability of the genetic material in cells. Adequate niacin levels are essential for proper cell growth, division, and replication.
Cell Signaling: Niacin plays a role in cell signaling pathways, influencing various physiological processes such as hormone regulation, immune response, and inflammatory signaling. Niacin and its derivatives can interact with specific receptors, affecting gene expression and cellular responses.
Cholesterol and Lipid Metabolism: Niacin has lipid-lowering effects, particularly on triglycerides and LDL cholesterol levels. It can help reduce the production of triglycerides in the liver and increase the clearance of LDL cholesterol from the bloodstream. Niacin is often used as a therapeutic agent for managing dyslipidemia (abnormal lipid levels) and reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Skin Health: Niacin has been shown to support skin health and function. It can help improve the barrier function of the skin, enhance moisture retention, and promote the synthesis of ceramides, which are lipid molecules essential for maintaining skin integrity and hydration.
Nervous System Function: Niacin is important for the proper functioning of the nervous system. It participates in the synthesis of neurotransmitters, such as serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine, which play roles in mood regulation, cognitive function, and stress response.
Food Sources of Niacin
Including a variety of these foods in your diet can help ensure an adequate intake of niacin to support overall health and well-being.
Meat: Beef, pork, and poultry are rich sources of niacin, particularly in the form of Niacinamide.
Fish: Tuna, salmon, and other types of fish contain niacin, along with beneficial omega-3 fatty acids.
Legumes: Peanuts, lentils, chickpeas, and other legumes are good plant-based sources of niacin.
Whole Grains: Whole grain products such as brown rice, barley, quinoa, and whole wheat bread are rich in niacin.
Steps to Conversion
I’ve often heard that supplement ingredients including Niacin must go through “steps” to become something usable by the body. I usually nodded my head in agreement, but had no idea what that really meant. And the greater question was—without a science degree—could I understand it?
The conversion of Niacin (Nicotinic acid or Nicotinamide) to its active coenzyme form, Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide (NADH), involves several steps within the body's metabolic pathways. Here's a simplified overview of the process:
Niacin Absorption: Niacin can be obtained from dietary sources or synthesized from tryptophan, an essential amino acid found in protein-rich foods. Once ingested, Niacin is absorbed in the small intestine and enters the bloodstream.
Niacinamide Formation: Niacin is converted into Niacinamide (Nicotinamide) within the cells through enzymatic reactions. This conversion can occur in various tissues, including the liver.
Preparation for NADH Synthesis: Niacinamide undergoes phosphorylation, a chemical process where a phosphate group is added to the Niacinamide molecule. This step prepares Niacinamide for further conversion into NADH.
NAD+ Synthesis: Niacinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) is synthesized from Niacinamide by adding an adenine molecule through another enzymatic reaction. NAD+ serves as a crucial coenzyme in various metabolic processes, including glycolysis, the citric acid cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation.
NADH Formation: NAD+ can be converted into its reduced form, Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide (NADH), through the acceptance of a pair of electrons and a proton (H+) during cellular respiration or other metabolic reactions. This reduction reaction occurs in the mitochondria, the cell's energy-producing organelles, as well as in the cytoplasm.
Role of NADH
NADH serves as a carrier of high-energy electrons produced during metabolic reactions, such as the breakdown of glucose and fatty acids. These electrons are eventually transferred to the electron transport chain in the mitochondria, where they contribute to the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the primary energy currency of the cell.
In summary, niacin is converted into its active coenzyme form, NADH, through enzymatic reactions involving phosphorylation, adenine addition, and reduction. NADH plays a critical role in energy metabolism and various cellular processes essential for the body's functioning. This is the best electron donor available in a supplement specifically chosen by Dr. Tennant for its role in healing.
More Resources:
Unlocking the Power of NAD: Your Guide to Understanding NAD+ and NADH and Cellular Energy
Guide for taking Dr. Tennant's Restore [FREE DOWNLOAD]
Learn More about Dr. Tennant's Restore
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