Researchers: Georges E Janssens, Lotte Grevendonk, Ruben Zapata Perez, Bauke V Schomakers, Johan de Vogel-van den Bosch, Jan M W Geurts, Michel van Weeghel, Patrick Schrauwen, Riekelt H Houtkooper, Joris Hoeks
Skeletal muscle is greatly affected by aging, resulting in a loss of metabolic and physical function. However, the underlying molecular processes and how (lack of) physical activity is involved in age-related metabolic decline in muscle function in humans is largely unknown. Here, we compared, in a cross-sectional study, the muscle metabolome from young to older adults, whereby the older adults were exercise trained, had normal physical activity levels or were physically impaired. Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) was one of the most prominent metabolites that was lower in older adults, in line with preclinical models. This lower level was even more pronounced in impaired older individuals, and conversely, exercise-trained older individuals had NAD+ levels that were more similar to those found in younger individuals. NAD+ abundance positively correlated with average number of steps per day and mitochondrial and muscle functioning. Our work suggests that a clear association exists between NAD+ and health status in human aging.
References
- The hallmarks of aging.
- Therapeutic Potential of NAD-Boosting Molecules: The In Vivo Evidence.
- Aerobic and resistance exercise training reverses age-dependent decline in NAD+ salvage capacity in human skeletal muscle.
- Mitochondrial oxidative capacity and NAD+ biosynthesis are reduced in human sarcopenia across ethnicities.