NADH supplement - Does it help fight fatigue? Which medical diseases is it of benefit?

NADH stands for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, an activated form of the B vitamin niacin. Energy in the form of ATP was derived from sugars, amino acids, and fats. It is a coenzyme that helps in this complicated process of energy extraction. It is available as a supplement over the counter without a prescription.

buy NADH supplement Enada, 5.0 mg pill, 30 Tablets

This product also comes in 2.5 mg and 10 mg tablets.

Making energy and improving metabolism
Our primary source of fuel is through fats, proteins, and carbohydrates in our diet. After digestion in the stomach, foodstuffs are absorbed into the blood and circulate to various tissues and cells where they are broken down into even smaller particles. One of these is a two-carbon molecule known as acetyl. Enzymes help break down these fats, proteins, and carbohydrates into acetyl and they then help extract the final energy from acetyl. Enzymes also need helpers, and these helpers are called coenzymes. Most of the coenzymes are partly made from vitamins, such as vitamins E, C, lipoate, and riboflavin (vitamin B2). NADH, known as nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, is a coenzyme, partly made from nicotinamide (vitamin B3).
   NADH, through a series of reactions with acetyl and oxygen, is able to produce energy. This energy is in the form of ATP (adenosine triphosphate). Therefore, a good supply optimizes energy production in the body. Another function is its ability to help transform an amino acid called tyrosine into the important brain chemical dopamine. Dopamine is involved in mood, energy, sexual drive, concentration, memory and muscle movement.
   NADH is normally found in meat, fish, and poultry. The content in fruits and vegetables is negligible.

The claims
NADH is a natural health supplement introduced to the US health market in 1995. There are claims that NADH can improve memory, athletic performance, slows the aging process, and is helpful in a variety of conditions including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, chronic fatigue syndrome, depression, and overall lack of energy.
   A small number of short term studies done with an oral form of NADH have shown slight to moderate benefits in regards to depression, Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease. An eight-week double blind study done at Georgetown University Medical Center found thirty percent of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome to benefit from 10 mg of NADH compared to eight percent of the controls. It may also be helpful in treating jet lag. Birkmayer Laboratories of Vienna, Austria who organized all of these studies, are also involved in promoting their trademarked NADH product.
   Does NADH really improve energy, concentration, and mood? We have taken NADH on numerous occasions. Within an hour or two of swallowing a pill on an empty stomach in the morning, We notice an increase in alertness, wellbeing, vitality, visual clarity, and sexual interest. The effects last most of the day. However, tolerance can develop quite quickly to NADH supplements if taken daily for a few weeks.

Sexual enhancing benefit
I note that it helps transform tyrosine into dopamine. Therefore, if I wish to enhance my libido would it help to take a tyrosine supplement as well as the NADH?
   We don't see a need to take tyrosine with it, but we have not experimented with this combination so we are not fully certain about the results. Tyrosine, in dosages above 200 or 300 mg, can cause anxiety and rapid heart rate. There are many effective and reliable herbs and supplements for libido enhancement.

NADH industry update
Septembe 2006 - Tuma Pharma, the license-holder for the original ENADA brand of NADH in dietary supplement form, has announced that ProHealth of Santa Barbara California has been appointed as the Authorized Distribution Partner for the ENADA brand of NADH in the USA. ProHealth can supply ENADA brand NADH to US manufacturers and packagers in bulk foil-protected blister card form or pre-packed in cartons of their own design. NADH is the name of a natural enzyme (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide hydride) found in all cells of the body. NADH due to its importance in celiular metabolism, helps to rebuild and restore the ATP energy reserves in cells that power our metabolism and maintain our mental and physical performance levels. ENADA is the brand name of a unique patented form of NADH supplement that is both stable over time and is in a form that is bio-available to the body. Discovered and developed by the Austrian researcher Prof. Dr. Jörg Birkmayer, ENADA has had several clinical studies. Tuma Pharma owns the worldwide rights for the unique ENADA brand manufacturing process for NADH supplements, developed by Prof. Dr. Jörg Birkmayer of Austria, which ensures product stability and bio-availability in the body. No other source of NADH supplement is authorized to use the exclusive manufacturing process, product claims, or Prof. Dr. Jörg Birkmayer's name.

questions
Q. Is nadh considered a anabolic agent? Would it cause a positive drug screen? My son is a Olympic hopeful. Please help.
   A. Although Olympic drug screening is not an area of expertise for us, we seriously doubt NADH would be considered an anabolic agent and we seriously doubt it would cause a positive drug screen.

Q. I just purchased NADH supplement, but am also taking a SSRI, Lexapro. Do you have any idea if the combination of NADH and Lexapro is safe?
   A. We are not aware of any studies with this combination. Much depends on a person's body and tolerance. Some people may find the combination to be fine, others may not. It is often a good idea to first take a new supplement on a day when no other supplements or medicines are being used to determine how that particular supplement has influenced your body and mind.

Q. I have tried to make sense of the medical literature on the relationship - if any - between the supplement NADH and diabetes. Is there, in your opinion, any compelling evidence that NADH supplements will affect, for better or worse, type 2 diabetes?
   A. We have not seen studies regarding the role of NADH supplements and diabetes. Perhaps taking a NADH supplement at 2.5 mg or 5 mg two or three times a week may be helpful. There are supplements that have been studied as a benefit for diabetes much more than NADH supplements.

Q. I am wondering if NADH also helps build norepinephrine? Your article states that NADH helps convert tyrosine into dopamine. I am deficient in norepinephrine only, and am looking for an effective supplement. I read another article (not written by your organization) stating that NADH also boosts norepinephrine, sometimes up to 40%, but I do not know the credibility of that statement. I believe your organization is credible and would love to hear your thoughts on whether NADH in fact can boost norepinephrine.
   A. NADH supplements may boost norepinephrine but it is very difficult to quantify it. It may depend on the dosage used, whether taken with or without food, and the individual person's ability to enzymatically convert the different neurotransmitters. There are many factors that are involved and providing a specific number such as 40 percent is not likely to be accurate. Rather than focusing on a particular neurotransmitter level, it is best to approach clinical symptoms and treat the whole person.

I read that NADH has been researched for helping with MS symptoms, I have a similar condition and was wondering if you had any news on that subject and maybe could suggest any further studies or information.
    We have not seen any human studies where NADH supplements were tested on multiple sclerosis patients.

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