Why NR is more commonly used in studies (vs. NMN) | David Sinclair
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The bulk of the research on NAD+ precursors has focused on nicotinamide riboside largely because it is inexpensive to produce. Nicotinamide mononucleotide, however, is a large, complex molecule that is difficult and, therefore, costly to produce. And, although these products are widely available on the common market in supplement form, Dr. Sinclair does not endorse them, preferring to focus his efforts on developing pharmaceutical-grade products. In this clip, Dr. David Sinclair discusses the economic issues associated with research using nicotinamide riboside and nicotinamide mononucleotide.
Rhonda: So the NMN is the reason why there are more studies with NR because NMN is so expensive?
David: Yeah. Well, historically, some companies started making NR early on and made it widely available and cheap to researchers, in fact, so cheap, they were giving it away to researchers. So, it became used much more often than NMN. But increasingly, and if any scientist, lab wants some NMN, let me know, I'm happy to subsidize it if they'd like. But, yeah. And NMN was late on the scene because it was harder to synthesize because it's a bigger molecule, needs that phosphate, and phosphate chemistry is quite difficult.
Rhonda: So you mentioned that the company that you're... Is this the company that is trying to get supplements of NMN or is this like...
David: So I don't do supplements and I don't endorse products. You can only do one. It doesn't work for both. So I've committed my career to making pharmaceuticals that are proven to work and are proven safe and are awarded, you know, marketability by the FDA.
Rhonda: So a drug, basically, from...
David: It's a drug. It's a drug. And that's because early in my career, I dabbled in the supplement world with resveratrol. And it only lasted about three weeks before I had to get out because of... It's incompatible for me, at least, me to be able to, without getting criticized, "This is what I think, this is the data," and I want to be able to say that without making any money off it. But also, I find that the supplement world, it's so controversial and litigious that I was scared away. It's a sad thing that I'm unable to talk about supplements by name because I obviously know a fair bit, but I just can't because, you know, I've already been dragged into lawsuits, I've lost a lot of money by that. I've done nothing wrong except open my mouth. And there are a lot of companies out there who have a lot of money who don't want me to say things. So, unfortunately, you know, I really am unable to do that. I do tweet out and do social media where I can. I've written blogs about it. Like, I'm probably one of the few scientists that tells the world what I do personally and use myself as a role model for people to judge. But I never recommend anything because, first of all, I'm not a physician. I'm just a scientist and I mostly study mice. So I don't really know yet how this is all going to play out in people.
Rhonda: It'd be nice if NMN could be available without a prescription now.
David: Well, it would, but it will also be nice if someone like me did a clinical trial so we knew what would happen and what dose to take.
Rhonda: Yes. Well, that would be... That's first and foremost. I mean, knowing the dose to take that's actually has any effect. Right? It's not just like, yeah... I mean, don't just take some X amount just because it makes you feel good. I mean, a placebo does something, it definitely is changing dopamine in the immune system and stuff. But I agree. Yeah.
A neurotransmitter best known for its role in motor, motivation, and pleasure control. Dopamine also functions as a paracrine (cell-to-cell) hormone in other parts of the body. It is derived from tyrosine and is the precursor to norepinephrine and epinephrine. Some evidence suggests that dopamine may also be involved in pain modulation.
An essential mineral present in many foods. Iron participates in many physiological functions and is a critical component of hemoglobin. Iron deficiency can cause anemia, fatigue, shortness of breath, and heart arrhythmias.
A polyphenolic compound produced in plants in response to injury or pathogenic attack from bacteria or fungi. Resveratrol exerts a diverse array of biological effects, including antitumor, antioxidant, antiviral, and hormonal activities. It activates sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), an enzyme that deacetylates proteins and contributes to cellular regulation (including autophagy). Dietary sources of resveratrol include grapes, blueberries, raspberries, and mulberries.
Resveratrol Autophagy ↑ Deacetylases (especially SIRT1) → ↓ Protein Acetylation → Autophagy
The highest level of intake of a given nutrient likely to pose no adverse health effects for nearly all healthy people. As intake increases above the upper intake level, the risk of adverse effects increases.
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