A study discovered that a natural chemical found in coffee in the human body boosts NAD+ levels and enhances muscle performance as people age Credit: Nature.com

A study discovered that a natural chemical found in coffee in the human body boosts NAD+ levels and enhances muscle performance as people age.

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A research consortium led by Nestlé Research in Switzerland and the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore (NUS Medicine) recently discovered that the natural molecule trigonelline, found in coffee, fenugreek, and the human body, can help to improve muscle health and function.

The work, conducted in collaboration with the Universities of Southampton, Melbourne, Tehran, South Alabama, Toyama, and Copenhagen, expands on a previous collaborative study that described novel mechanisms of human sarcopenia.

 

 

Sarcopenia is a disorder in which molecular changes that occur with aging gradually weaken the muscles in the body, resulting in a rapid loss of muscular mass and strength, as well as impaired physical independence.

One significant issue with sarcopenia is that the cellular coenzyme NAD+ drops with age, while mitochondria, the energy powerhouses in our cells, produce less energy. The researchers discovered that trigonelline levels were lower in elderly persons with sarcopenia.

Providing this chemical in pre-clinical mice boosted NAD+ levels, and mitochondrial activity, and helped to maintain muscle function as people aged.

NAD+ levels can be increased by consuming dietary precursors such as the essential amino acid L-tryptophan (L-Trp) and vitamin B3 forms such as nicotinic acid (NA), nicotinamide (NAM), nicotinamide riboside (NR), and nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN).

Assistant Professor Vincenzo Sorrentino of NUS Medicine’s Healthy Longevity Translational Research Program added, “Our findings expand the current understanding of NAD+ metabolism with the discovery of trigonelline as a novel NAD+ precursor and increase the potential of establishing interventions with NAD+-producing vitamins for both healthy longevity and age-associated diseases applications.”

Nutrition and physical activity are crucial lifestyle suggestions for keeping muscles healthy as we age. “We were pleased to discover, through collaborative research, that a natural chemical from food interacts with biological aging markers. The effects of trigonelline on cellular metabolism and muscle health during aging suggest intriguing translational uses, according to Jerome Feige, Head of Nestlé Research’s Physical Health section.

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