Energy issues can’t be resolved by the use of caffeine or sugar-spiked food and beverages. That’s because they only provide short-lived energy that peters out quickly. The real causes of fatigue usually lay deep within the cells-- in the energy-generation department.

What’s vital to creating cellular energy is NADH: that’s short for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide. It’s the activated co-enzyme form of NAD+, made in our bodies from vitamin B3 (niacin).

NADH functions like a spark plug for cellular energy production. Without NADH, the basic energy source for all cells could not be created. This energy—ATP—is created by the mitochondria: the tiny but mighty power-plants found in each cell.

NADH is vital to every cell in the body. Since the highest concentrations of NADH are ordinarily found in the brain, this suggests that NADH is most important to the brain’s energy supply. Think about this: each neuron—or brain cell—contains over 2 million mitochondria. NADH is the precursor to ATP, making it of great importance to our cognitive function. It’s no wonder lower levels of NADH are associated with decreased energy, mental fatigue, and brain fog. These symptoms are common experiences of those with established Parkinson’s disease, Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Long-COVID Syndrome and Alzheimer’s disease.

Just like with any combustion engine in a machine or vehicle, energy can’t be produced without creating waste products that are polluting. That’s why cars have catalytic converters on their exhaust systems—to help detoxify some of the by-products of the spent gasoline before they are released into the air. That’s why NADH is also a useful antioxidant, protecting cells by neutralizing dangerous free radicals. NADH also works indirectly by supporting our body’s self-made antioxidant, glutathione. This antioxidant function is the cells’ way of limiting damage to itself. This is important since most degenerative conditions involve inflammation and free radical damage.

Even if you aren’t dealing with a diagnosed health condition, supplementing NADH becomes a good idea the older we get. That’s because as we age, our mitochondria can become less efficient and aren’t replaced at the same rate as when we were younger. This means lower NADH levels, lower ATP production, and lower ENERGY levels.

So when stress, advanced age and/or medical diagnoses are present, it makes sense to offer safe and effective supplementary NADH where backed by clinical application.