When it comes to anti-aging foods and products, consumers are often on the lookout for the next best thing. Sadly, these do not necessarily materialize too often.
However, what if you were told that there was one potent anti-aging vitamin that is literally right under your nose, which has the potential to reverse the hands of time? You might say not so fast, but research may really be on to something.
Introducing Niacin
You would have undoubtedly heard of Niacin before, after all it’s just a simple, cheap run of the mill B-Vitamin, right? That’s true, but some major changes could be on the horizon relating to how much people take and how frequently it is used for this purpose.
The B-Vitamins, of which Niacin is a member, is important for the metabolism of macronutrients (carbs, proteins, and fats) into usable nutrients for energy. Niacin also plays a role in the turnover of DNA, meaning that a deficiency could inhibit normal DNA synthesis. The effect? Accelerated aging as a result of defective DNA.
When Niacin is consumed, it is converted into two metabolites which have potent anti-inflammatory effects themselves. These help to prevent excessive stress damage occurring to cells.
While this in itself is beneficial, things got very interesting following an experiment conduced in 2013 at the University of New South Wales in Australia, in which lab animals were injected with one of Niacin’s metabolites, known as NAD (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide).
The results were astounding as it was found that the injections were able to “restore” mitochondrial cell function. The mitochondria could be viewed as the center of all metabolic processes in the body, including aging.
The lab animals who were administered the injection were 2 years old at the time, and just one short week following the experiment, their aging processes actually reversed- leading to the cells acting like those of a young 6-month-old animal.
Don’t see the correlation? Look at it this way, if the injection was given to 60-year-old adults, it would hypothetically lead to them having the biology of 20 year olds!
Of course, until the studies have concluded in humans (presently ongoing) we will not be able to definitively say if it should be used. Coupled with the fact that researchers say the current cost would be prohibitive at $50000 for a daily dose, it seems a bit off before it is available for mass market sales.
With that said, you can definitely supplement with Niacin, or eat more Niacin rich foods. Yes, the conversion will be split two ways, but it is still likely to have some degree of benefits on your health.
Consume more of these to ensure you aren’t developing a niacin deficiency (especially common in diabetics)
- Chicken – there’s a reason most people aren’t deficient in Niacin, and that is because they consume chicken on an almost daily basis.
- Tuna – loaded with omega-3 and Niacin, this makes for a potent anti-aging food source.
- Sunflower Seeds – perfect for vegetarians lightly roasted sunflower seeds yield an excellent amount of Niacin per serving size.
- Peanuts – another excellent vegetarian source of Niacin, it can help prevent the more common occurrence of Niacin deficiency in vegetarians.
Conclusion
While our typical intake of Niacin is unlikely to yield measurable effects in terms of anti-aging benefits, and it is not advised to overdose and consume large doses, the future appears bright.
As soon as human studies and concluded, and researchers find a way to make cost effective doses of the Niacin metabolite, old age may become be a thing of the past!
