The movie star's assistant

After my mitochondrial epiphany courtesy of Dr. Casey Means...

I became obsessed with re-learning the molecules and pathways involved in cellular respiration (how our cells turn cheeseburgers into usable energy).

For those of you who don’t know, my college degree was a double major in biochemistry and molecular, cellular, and developmental biology.

Once upon a time, I really knew this stuff.

But that was... let's just say... a few decades ago.

So I dusted off those neural pathways and dove back into the fascinating world of cellular metabolism.

(In case you need a refresher as well, I found this greatly simplified illustration of some of the critical biochemical pathways in cellular metabolism. Forgive me for the oversimplifications, but hopefully this is enough for the purposes of a quick email:)

Here's the quick refresher: Our mitochondria are the power plants of our cells. Their main job is to produce ATP (adenosine triphosphate) - the molecule that powers virtually every cellular process in our bodies.

No ATP, no life. It's that simple.

I started wondering - could we just supplement with ATP directly?

Unfortunately, it doesn't work that way. ATP is too unstable outside the cell and can't cross cell membranes effectively. It's like trying to power your house by throwing batteries at it.

What about precursors? That's the approach with supplements like creatine, which helps your cells regenerate ATP more quickly (that's why it works for strength training).

But I kept thinking there had to be something more fundamental to energy production that we were missing.

That's when I rediscovered NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide).

This coenzyme is absolutely CRITICAL for cellular energy production. It's essentially the worker that carries electrons in the mitochondria to produce ATP.

If ATP is the sexy movie star of cellular energy, NAD+ is the patient, hardworking assistant that makes sure the movie star is on set before the shoot, dressed and sober.

But here's the bombshell: NAD+ levels PLUMMET as we age.

By 50, most people have about half the NAD+ they had at 20.

HALF!

This means the total available cellular energy in your body is far lower than in your younger years.

And just like a big corporation with falling revenues, this means time for layoffs.

Guess what? Your energy-hungry hair follicles are some of the first to go.

I became convinced that declining NAD+ levels were a major contributor to hair loss, especially after reading study after study showing a definite correlation between the two.

So how do you boost NAD+?

Well, like ATP, it’s not effective to just put it in a pill and pop it.

However, turns out you can pop some NAD+ precursors (upstream building blocks) that help boost your overall supply of NAD+.

My first discovery was NMN (nicotinamide mononucleotide) - a direct precursor to NAD+ that had shown incredible promise in anti-aging research.

David Sinclair from Harvard was talking about it. Joe Rogan was talking about it. The longevity community was buzzing about it.

I was ready to try it immediately.

Then I hit a roadblock.

In late 2022, the FDA suddenly decided to reclassify NMN as a "drug" rather than a supplement, effectively shutting down most legitimate U.S. sellers.

Classic move. Can't patent it? Regulate it out of existence!

But I wasn't giving up that easily.

My research led me to nicotinamide riboside (NR) - another NAD+ precursor that was still legally available as a supplement.

I ordered a bottle that same day (costing over $100 for a 30-day supply, ouch!)

The first few days, I didn't notice much.

But around day 5? Holy sh*t.

I woke up with energy I hadn't felt in YEARS.

I felt like I could shoot lightning bolts from my fingertips at will, Palpatine style.

I didn't need my afternoon coffee. The 2PM slump evaporated. My brain fog lifted. I was sleeping better.

It was undeniable. My cellular engines were revving higher.

I couldn't help but wonder if those energy-hungry follicles up top were benefiting too.

It was too soon to tell, but the research suggested they might.

But here's where it gets REALLY interesting.

This same energy deficit also affects another cell type in your follicles - melanocytes.

These are the cells that produce the pigment in your hair (and your skin, by the way).

According to multiple studies, melanocytes are even more sensitive to energy deficits than the follicle cells themselves.

That's why most people start going gray before they start losing hair.

Mind. Blown.

It was a comprehensive explanation for BOTH thinning AND graying.

Could boosting NAD+ be the answer to both?

Perhaps.

There was still the issue of how to fix follicles and melanocytes (and mitochondria themselves) that had already been mothballed by the body.

Repair work.

NAD+ would provide the ongoing energy to keep things running, but who could come in and fix the damage that had already been done?

Luckily, we got a guy.

And I'll tell you all about that in my next email.

Stay curious,

Greg

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