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Alternative Names: NAD, Coenzyme I, or by the older name Diphosphopyridine Nucleotide Reduced, or DPNH.
NADH (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide hydrogen) is a natural substance found in most life forms and is necessary for energy production. NADH is synthesized by the body and thus is not an essential nutrient. It does, however, require the essential nutrient nicotinamide for its synthesis, and its role in energy production is certainly an essential one.
The action of supplemental NADH is unclear. Its fans claim that it alleviates fatigue, fights jet lag, enhances mental clarity, and lifts depression.
Source
NADH is typically supplied in the form of 2.5mg or 5mg tablets. The most common brand name is "Enada", which is stabilized and enteric-coated, thus preventing stomach acid from destroying the NADH before it enters the bloodstream.
Function; Reasons For Use
NADH is the body's most potent antioxidant, but any comments on the mechanism of action are speculative. NADH is a redox active substance and participates in biologic energy production. However, how the known roles of endogenous NADH relate to any possible action of supplemental NADH is not known.
Speculation on how it works: NADH is the coenzyme form of vitamin B3, and you'll find it in every cell in your body. The more active the cell, the more NADH it has. Heart cells, for example, have plenty. And they wouldn't need any additional help from you if it weren't for the fact that NADH gets depleted over time. Once a cell has less than it needs, everything slows down -- the very definition of aging. And the body doesn't make additional NADH, so to replenish your supply you have to turn to an outside source.
There is preliminary evidence suggesting that NADH might be useful in Parkinson's disease, chronic fatigue syndrome, Alzheimer's disease and cardiovascular disease.
Reports that NADH may stimulate endogenous dopamine biosynthesis have led to its experimental use in Parkinson's disease. Some favorable results have been reported in case studies and open-label trials using both intravenous and oral NADH. In one study of 885 subjects with Parkinson's disease, half received oral NADH and half received parenteral NADH with similar results. Some 80% of patients were said to have benefited clinically, with 19.3% showing good improvement, 58.8% moderate improvement and 21.8% not responding. Younger patients and those with the shortest duration of disease showed the most improvement.
Only one very small double-blind study (with five Parkinson's patients) has been conducted as at the time of writing. This was a short-term study which found no benefit from NADH. More research is needed to determine the therapeutic role, if any, of NADH in Parkinson's disease.
Hope that NADH might be helpful in treating Chronic Fatigue Syndrome was raised by a double-blind, placebo-controlled cross-over study of 26 patients. In the first phase of the study, subjects were randomly assigned to receive either 10mg of NADH or a placebo for four weeks. After a four-week washout period, subjects were assigned to the alternate regimen for the final four-week trial period. Among the NADH-treated patients, 31% were judged to have notable improvement, while 8% of controls were similarly improved.
Results of a FDA-approved study conducted at Georgetown University Medical Center in Washington, DC, indicated that a nutritional supplement called NADH may be a valuable adjunctive therapy in the management of chronic fatigue and immune dysfunction syndrome (CFIDS). These research findings were presented at the November 9, 1997 meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology in San Diego. The positive nature of these findings also suggests that more and larger clinical trials be performed to further establish NADH's efficacy.
In another pilot study, 17 patients with dementia associated with Alzheimer's disease were treated with NADH for eight to 12 weeks. Researchers reported improvement in cognitive function in all 17 patients in this open-label trial, but they cautioned that "a double-blind, placebo-controlled study is necessary to demonstrate the clinical efficacy of NADH."
Yet another study sought to see whether oral NADH might lower blood pressure and affect lipids in a hypertensive animal model. This was a blinded, placebo-controlled, 10-week study. Systolic blood pressure was the same in the treated and placebo groups over the first month but thereafter was significantly reduced in the NADH group. Total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol were significantly reduced in the NADH group. No significant differences were noted in blood levels of glucose, insulin, triglyceride or HDL cholesterol. More research is warranted to see whether NADH might be useful in cardiovascular disease.
Directions
Those who use NADH typically take either 5mg once daily or 5mg twice a day. Take it on an empty stomach, with at least eight ounces of water. Try this for four months, then take one month off.
Side-Effects; Counter-Indicators and Warnings
There are a few reports of gastrointestinal side effects, including nausea and loss of appetite. There are no reported drug, nutritional supplement, food or herb interactions.
Because of lack of long-term safety studies, NADH should be avoided by children, pregnant women and nursing mothers.
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NADH can help with the following: | | | | | Mental |  Senile Dementia | Because of its potential to stimulate endogenous L- DOPA synthesis, 17 patients in one study with symptoms ranging from mild cognitive decline to severe dementia received oral NADH as the disodium salt 10mg in the morning 30 minutes before breakfast. All showed a significant improvement in mental function within 8-12 weeks. |
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KEY | | May do some good |
GLOSSARY
Allergy (Allergies)
Hypersensitivity caused by exposure to a particular antigen (allergen), resulting in an increased reactivity to that antigen on subsequent exposure, sometimes with harmful immunologic consequences.
Alzheimer's Disease (Alzheimer's)
A progressive disease of the middle-aged and elderly, characterized by loss of function and death of nerve cells in several areas of the brain, leading to loss of mental functions such as memory and learning. Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia.
Antioxidant (Antioxidants)
A chemical compound that slows or prevents oxygen from reacting with other compounds. Some antioxidants have been shown to have cancer-protecting potential because they neutralize free radicals. Examples include vitamins C and E, beta carotene, the minerals selenium and germanium, superoxide dismutase (SOD), coenzyme Q10, catalase, and some amino acids.
Asthma (Asthmatic)
A lung disorder marked by attacks of breathing difficulty, wheezing, coughing, and thick mucus coming from the lungs. The episodes may be triggered by breathing foreign substances (allergens) or pollutants, infection, vigorous exercise, or emotional stress. Extrinsic Asthma is triggered by pollen, chemicals or some other external agent; Intrinsic Asthma is triggered by boggy membranes, congested tissues, or other native causes… even adrenalin stress or exertion.
Cardiovascular
Pertaining to the heart and blood vessels.
Cholesterol
A waxy, fat-like substance manufactured in the liver and found in all tissues, it facilitates the transport and absorption of fatty acids. In foods, only animal products contain cholesterol. An excess of cholesterol in the bloodstream can contribute to the development of atherosclerosis.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS, Chronic Fatigue)
A disorder of unknown cause that lasts for prolonged periods and causes extreme and debilitating exhaustion as well as a wide range of other symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle ache and joint pain, often resembling flu and other viral infections. Also known as Chronic Fatigue and Immune Dysfunction Syndrome (CFIDS), Chronic Epstein-Barr Virus (CEBV), Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), "Yuppy Flu" and other names, it is frequently misdiagnosed as hypochondria, psychosomatic illness, or depression, because routine medical tests do not detect any problems.
Coenzyme
A heat stable molecule that must be associated with another enzyme for the enzyme to perform its function in the body. It is necessary in the utilization of vitamins and minerals.
Dementia (Senile Dementia)
An acquired progressive impairment of intellectual function. Marked compromise exists in at least three of the following mental activity spheres: memory, language, personality, visuospatial skills, and cognition (i.e. abstraction and calculation).
Dopamine
A neurohormone; precursor to norepinephrine which acts as a stimulant to the nervous system. Carries signals between neurons and controls feelings of satisfaction, arousal, reward and mood.
Endogenous
From within the body, either a native function or the product of the extended colony. Normal flora in the colon are considered endogenous.
Enteric (Enteric-coated)
Pertaining to the small intestines. Enteric-coated: A coating that prevents a tablet or capsule from being digested until it reaches the small intestine.
Gastrointestinal (GI, GI Tract)
Pertaining to the stomach, small and large intestines, colon, rectum, liver, pancreas, and gallbladder.
Glucose
A sugar that is the simplest form of carbohydrate. It is commonly referred to as blood sugar. The body breaks down carbohydrates in foods into glucose, which serves as the primary fuel for the muscles and the brain.
Herbs (Herb, Herbal)
Herbs may be used as dried extracts (capsules, powders, teas), glycerites (glycerine extracts), or tinctures (alcohol extracts). Unless otherwise indicated, teas should be made with one teaspoon herb per cup of hot water. Steep covered 5 to 10 minutes for leaf or flowers, and 10 to 20 minutes for roots. Tinctures may be used singly or in combination as noted. The high doses of single herbs suggested may be best taken as dried extracts (in capsules), although tinctures (60 drops four times per day) and teas (4 to 6 cups per day) may also be used.
High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL)
Also known as "good" cholesterol, HDLs are large, dense, protein-fat particles that circulate in the blood picking up already used and unused cholesterol and taking them back to the liver as part of a recycling process. Higher levels of HDLs are associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease because the cholesterol is cleared more readily from the blood.
Insulin
A hormone secreted by the pancreas in response to elevated blood glucose levels. Insulin stimulates the liver, muscles, and fat cells to remove glucose from the blood for use or storage.
Lipid (Lipids)
Fat-soluble substances derived from animal or vegetable cells by nonpolar solvents (e.g. ether); the term can include the following types of materials: fatty acids, glycerides, phospholipids, alcohols and waxes.
Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL)
Also known as "bad" cholesterol, LDLs are large, dense, protein-fat particles composed of a moderate proportion of protein and a high proportion of cholesterol. Higher levels of LDLs are associated with a greater risk of cardiovascular disease.
Milligram (mg, Milligrams)
0.001 or a thousandth of a gram.
Nausea
Symptoms resulting from an inclination to vomit.
Niacin (B3, B-3, Niacinamide, Vitamin B3)
A coenzyme B-complex vitamin that assists in the breakdown of carbohydrates, fats and proteins. Essential for the health of the skin, nerves, tongue and digestive system. It is found in every cell of the body and is necessary for energy production. Niacin is also needed for DNA formation.
Ounce (Ounces, oz)
Approximately 28 grams.
Parenteral
Not in or through the digestive system, introduced otherwise than by way of the intestines and occurring outside the intestine. Examples are intravenous, subcutaneous, intramuscular, or intramedullary injection.
Parkinson's Disease (Parkinson's)
A chronic, slowly-progressing disease of the nervous system characterized clinically by the combination of tremor, rigidity, extreme slowness of movement, and stooped posture. It is characterized pathologically by loss of dopamine in the substantia nigra.
Placebo (Placebos)
A pharmacologically inactive substance. Often used to compare clinical responses against the effects of pharmacologically active substances in experiments.
Stomach
A hollow, muscular, J-shaped pouch located in the upper part of the abdomen to the left of the midline. The upper end (fundus) is large and dome-shaped; the area just below the fundus is called the body of the stomach. The fundus and the body are often referred to as the cardiac portion of the stomach. The lower (pyloric) portion curves downward and to the right and includes the antrum and the pylorus. The function of the stomach is to begin digestion by physically breaking down food received from the esophagus. The tissues of the stomach wall are composed of three types of muscle fibers: circular, longitudinal and oblique. These fibers create structural elasticity and contractibility, both of which are needed for digestion. The stomach mucosa contains cells which secrete hydrochloric acid and this in turn activates the other gastric enzymes pepsin and rennin. To protect itself from being destroyed by its own enzymes, the stomach’s mucous lining must constantly regenerate itself.
Syndrome
A medical condition characterized by a collection of related symptoms (what the patient feels) and signs (what a doctor can observe or measure).
Systolic
Pertaining to the contraction phase of the heartbeat, or the pressure in the arterial system caused by the heart as blood is being pumped out. When used in blood pressure readings (for example 120/80), it refers to the first/upper number.
Triglyceride (Triglycerides)
The main form of fat found in foods and the human body. Containing three fatty acids and one unit of glycerol, triglycerides are stored in adipose cells in the body, which, when broken down, release fatty acids into the blood. Triglycerides are fat storage molecules and are the major lipid component of the diet.
Last updated: Jun 08, 2008
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