THE ROLE OF NAD⁺ AND ITS DERIVATIVES IN METABOLISM AND AGING

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD⁺) is a universal coenzyme present in allliving cells, playing a central role in energy metabolism, cellular homeostasis, and the regulation of agingprocesses. It participates in redox reactions, DNA repair, gene expression regulation, and mitochondrialfunction. With age, the concentration of NAD⁺ in tissues declines, leading to metabolic disturbances,increased oxidative stress, and the development of chronic diseases. Elevating NAD⁺ levels through itsprecursors, such as nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) and nicotinamide riboside (NR), as well asthrough physical activity and caloric restriction(definition), is considered a promising strategy for slowing aging andpromoting healthy longevity.