#149 Vitamin: The Elixir of Life (English)

Vitamin: The Elixir of Life
[Science Daily: Vitamin stops the aging process of organs]

The overall performance of the human body degenerates with the increase of age. In fact, it is an inevitable phenomenon that organs deteriorate with age. The fundamental cause for the loss of some functions of all vital organs lies on the aging of cells, tissues that builds up an organ due to over exposure to ultra-violation over years.

 

According to MedlinePlus, a credible source, organs have a potent reserve ability to function exceeding the demanded level. However, such an organ like the heart would lose 1% of this reserve each year after the age of 30. The linear line demonstrating the relationship between the percentage of performance of the maximum heart rate and the age in years supports this theory. 

Recently, the team of researchers at EPFL’s Laboratory of Integrated Systems Physiology (LISP) discovered that nicotinamide riboside (NR), a similar type to vitamin B3, has the positive effects on the functioning of stem cells. Mitochondria is a cell organ that is useful in stem cells owing to its crucial role in metabolism – the “powerhouse” of the cell. Moreover, stem cells regenerates the damaged or deteriorated organ by producing new specific cells. 

The experimental results of the elderly mice’s intake of nicotinamide riboside showed that the NR molecules helped the functions of the mitochondria. NR possesses similar molecular structure to vitamin B3 and is a precursor of NAD+. NAD+ plays a substantial role in the process of the aerobic cell respiration – Krebs Cycle and Electron Transport Chain (ETC), which results in the synthesis of ATP. Also, the mice that was given with NR had longer life span than the mice that didn’t get it. 

NR has a comparable effect on stem cells of the brain and skin. Most importantly, there are no negative side effects even at high doses of NR. Although for the commercialization of NR as a medicine requires further in-depth studies, it is evident that NR demonstrates a promising mechanism for the field of regenerative medicine.  

[Bibliography]

“Vitamin stops the aging process of organs.” Science Daily. Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne. 28 April,2016. Web. 30 April, 2016.

<https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/04/160428152124.htm>

Martin, Laura J. “Aging changes in organs – tissue – cells.” MedlinePlus. 3 May, 2015. Web. 30 April, 2016. <https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/004012.htm>

KSJ