What are the Nucleotides NMN and NAD?

NAD, or Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide, is an enzyme derived from several different forms of the vitamin B3 (Niacin, Nicotinamide Riboside and Nicotinamide) and amino acids like tryptophan and aspartic acid (2). This enzyme is responsible for maintaining most important biological functions, like DNA repair, immune response, stress response, cellular differentiation, circadian rhythm and metabolism (6, 3). It acts as a carrier for electrons in energy production, oxidizing and reducing to become NAD+ or NADH (4). Additionally, NAD can work to trigger mitochondrial autophagy to help maintain a healthy level of mitochondria and reduce oxidative stress (2). Boiled down, NAD is important because it is present in every cell to help with almost all “biologically important systems in the body”, and the ability to maintain NAD production is “paramount for cell survival and function” (4).