NAD (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide) is a coenzyme that’s crucial for a variety of cellular processes. It’s primarily known for its role in cellular energy metabolism, but its significance stretches into areas like DNA repair, cell signaling, and even gene expression. Let’s delve into its aspects relevant to longevity and health.

NAD’s Roles in Cellular Function

• Energy Metabolism: NAD is vital for converting nutrients into ATP, the cell’s primary energy currency.
• Oxidative Stress Reduction: It helps in maintaining the cellular redox state, which is crucial for controlling oxidative stress.
• DNA Repair: NAD is required for the function of enzymes that participate in repairing damaged DNA.
• Cell Signaling: It’s involved in processes that help the cell make crucial decisions about growth, survival, and apoptosis (programmed cell death).

Mechanism of Action

1. Direct Replenishment: NAD injections aim to directly replenish cellular NAD levels, as opposed to using precursors like NMN or NR.
2. Cellular Energy: By increasing NAD levels, the injections aim to enhance cellular energy production, thereby possibly improving physical and cognitive functions.
3. DNA Repair: Elevated NAD levels may facilitate better function of enzymes involved in DNA repair, thereby potentially slowing down cellular aging.

Conditions Targeted

• Aging: As NAD levels decline with age, replenishing them could theoretically slow aging or age-associated declines in function.
• Chronic Fatigue: Some people use NAD injections to combat chronic fatigue.
• Mental Clarity: Improved cognitive function.

Current Treatments

• NAD IV Therapy: This is the most direct form of replenishing NAD levels. A healthcare provider administers NAD via an IV drip, typically over a couple of hours.
• High-dose Injections: For those looking for a quicker administration, high-dose injections are available but needs to be administered under medical supervision due to the risks of rapid fluid and electrolyte shifts. IV therapy is necessary for the first time to gather patient tolerance.

Safety and Efficacy

While boosting NAD is a hot topic in anti-aging research, it’s important to note that while preliminary data is promising, long-term safety and efficacy studies are still ongoing.

At FemStrong Health we are well positioned to deliver the treatment in the safest environment with the most up to date protocols and certifications.

FemStrong Health’s Approach

Given its multifaceted role in cellular health and aging, NAD could be a promising addition to your longevity services. It aligns well with our multidisciplinary approach, as NAD levels can be influenced by diet, metabolic health, and even hormonal balance. When appropriate this could give our patients a more comprehensive anti-aging strategy.
In essence, NAD isn’t just a buzzword in the longevity sphere; it has a critical role in cellular function and aging.

Rapamycin, also known as sirolimus, is a drug that originally gained attention for its immunosuppressive properties, notably in preventing organ rejection after transplants. However, it’s now under the spotlight for its potential role in extending lifespan and mitigating age-related diseases. The mechanics and implications are both fascinating and complex, so let’s break it down.

Mechanism of Action in Longevity

The key pathway that rapamycin affects is called mTOR (mechanistic Target of Rapamycin). mTOR is a central regulator of cellular growth and metabolism. When activated, it encourages cells to grow and divide, but it also has a downside: it inhibits autophagy, the cellular “clean-up” process that removes damaged components. Rapamycin’s inhibition of mTOR stimulates autophagy, which is thought to be beneficial for longevity.

Effects on Aging and Age-related Diseases

• Cellular Senescence: Rapamycin may help in reducing cellular senescence, which is the state where cells lose their function but don’t die, contributing to inflammation and tissue dysfunction.
• Metabolic Health: By modulating mTOR, rapamycin can influence insulin sensitivity and lipid metabolism, potentially reducing the risk of metabolic syndromes.
• Cancer Prevention: Since mTOR activation is associated with cell growth, rapamycin’s inhibitory effect could theoretically slow down cancerous growths.

Clinical Trials and Research

Studies, mainly in animals but also in some human trials, have suggested that rapamycin can extend lifespan and mitigate age-related conditions like cognitive decline and cardiovascular diseases. However, these are early-stage findings and need more extensive validation.

Therapeutic Strategies

1. Dosage: One of the challenges is finding the right dose. Too much rapamycin can suppress the immune system, given its original use as an immunosuppressant.
2. Intermittent Use: Some protocols advocate for intermittent use to minimize side effects.
3. Combination Therapies: Rapamycin is also being studied in combination with other potential longevity-enhancing agents like metformin.

Risks and Concerns

• Immune Suppression: Lowered immunity is a significant risk, especially in an aging population already susceptible to infections.
• Metabolic Side Effects: It can lead to elevated blood sugar and lipid levels in some individuals.

FemStrong Health’s Approach

At this time our approach is to step the dosage of this medication. We also believe it should be combined with metformin to counteract the spikes in glucose blood levels possible with rapamycin alone.

Metformin is a drug that has been traditionally used to manage type 2 diabetes, but it has gained significant attention for its potential role in promoting longevity and mitigating the risks of age-related diseases. The mechanisms through which metformin acts are multifaceted and have implications not just for blood sugar but for a range of cellular processes. Let’s unpack this.

Mechanism of Action in Longevity

1. AMPK Activation: Metformin activates AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), an enzyme that plays a key role in cellular energy homeostasis. AMPK activation can have anti-aging effects by promoting autophagy, improving mitochondrial function, and reducing inflammation.
2. Insulin Sensitivity: By improving insulin sensitivity, metformin helps control blood sugar levels, which has a cascade of benefits, from reducing inflammation to improving lipid profiles.
3. Inhibition of mTOR: Similar to rapamycin, albeit less potently, metformin can inhibit the mTOR pathway, which is implicated in aging.

Effects on Aging and Age-related Diseases

• Cardiovascular Health: Metformin has shown promise in reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases, a significant factor in aging.
• Cancer Risk: Some evidence suggests that metformin may help reduce the risk of certain types of cancer.
• Cognitive Function: While not conclusive, there are studies that point to the neuroprotective potential of metformin.

Clinical Trials and Research

The TAME (Targeting Aging with Metformin) trial is one of the most talked-about studies in this context. It aims to assess whether metformin can delay the onset of age-related diseases. While results are pending, the very undertaking of such a trial speaks volumes about the scientific interest in metformin’s potential beyond diabetes management.

Therapeutic Strategies

1. Low-dose Regimen: For anti-aging purposes, metformin is often used in lower doses than for diabetes treatment to minimize side effects.
2. Personalized Dosing: Given that metformin can interact with various pathways, personalized dosing based on regular monitoring is crucial.
3. Combination Therapies: Like rapamycin, metformin is also considered for use in combination with other potential longevity-enhancing agents.

Risks and Concerns

• Gastrointestinal Issues: Metformin is often associated with gastrointestinal side effects like diarrhea.
• Vitamin B12 Deficiency: Long-term use can lead to a decrease in vitamin B12 levels, which may require supplementation. Which is why we supplement Vit B12 at FemStrong Health

FemStrong Health’s Approach

We feel this fits well within our comprehensive approach to aging. It aligns well other services you will receive in terms of lifestyle modifications and hormonal balancing. Regular monitoring and possible adjustments in other therapeutic areas, such as hormonal balancing or IV drips for vitamins, may be necessary.