nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) refers to four related compounds (NAD+, NADH, NADP+ and NADPH) that are the central catalysts of metabolism. metabolism is the set of all of the vital processes that convert everything we eat into everything we are and everything we do. for example, when we eat food, our cells break down the protein, fat and carbohydrate into smaller molecules that are either fully oxidized to generate biological energy in the form of ATP or rebuilt into everything we are made of. we generate energy and make and repair our own DNA, RNA, protein, carbohydrates and lipids with metabolism. the fact that living things can do this depends on preservation and shuttling of high energy electrons that is mediated by NAD coenzymes

yes, amazingly, our cells run on electron flow and NAD coenzymes are the wiring that carries the highest energy electrons

in the last 20 years, our research group discovered a new pathway by which humans can produce and regenerate NAD coenzymes. we and others also discovered and characterized dozens of conditions of metabolic stress that disturb the NAD system

so, in brief, the NAD system is the wiring of all living things. the wiring is exposed to the elements of metabolic stress and aging. our research has taught us how to determine if the NAD system is stress and has given us tools to kill cancer cells via disturbances in the NAD system as well as boost and restore the function of several other types of tissues that have disturbances in the NAD system