Cardiovascular Health
Synergistic Support of Cardiovascular Health
As we age, we are at increased risk for cardiovascular disease, which includes blood clots, heart disease and heart attacks, and stroke. Research suggests that, for most people, risk for cardiovascular disease can be effectively controlled by a combination of interventions and lifestyle changes¹. Youth & Vitality harnesses the ability of nicotinamide and B vitamins to boost cardiac metabolism and reduce homocysteine levels, synergistically supporting cardiovascular health.
Homocysteine is a Key Biomarker for Cardiovascular Disease
Homocysteine is an amino acid that our cells naturally produce as a byproduct of metabolism. For decades, elevated homocysteine has been used as a valuable biomarker and a risk factor for cardiovascular disease². High homocysteine levels are thought to indicate damage to the lining of blood vessels (the endothelium)³, inflammation, and risk for the buildup of arterial plaques⁴, all key mechanisms contributing to blood clots and heart disease⁵.
Cardiovascular health is closely tied to other body systems, especially the brain. Accordingly, high homocysteine levels are also associated with risk for dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease⁶.
B Vitamins Help Control HCY and Cardiovascular Readouts
The body uses the B vitamins folate, B6, and B12 to convert homocysteine into other useful compounds; clinical trials have shown that supplementation with these vitamins⁷ can significantly reduce homocysteine levels⁸. Our supplement is specially formulated to support metabolism of homocysteine, helping to prevent these recycling pathways from becoming compromised and from homocysteine to build up.
A study on middle-aged and older adults with above-normal blood pressure found that NAD+ supplementation effectively lowered systolic blood pressure and reduced arterial stiffness⁹. This is a significant finding because even a small reduction in blood pressure can lower the risk of cardiovascular events.
Cardiovascular Health Depends on NAD+ Metabolism
The cardiovascular system, especially heart muscle, is extremely metabolically active, such that it requires good mitochondrial function and is sensitive to oxidative stress stemming from metabolic by-products. Mitochondrial dysfunction is a key hallmark of aging; as a highly metabolically active tissue, heart muscle is rich in mitochondria and strongly depends on efficient mitochondrial function¹⁰.
Aging can exacerbate both mitochondrial dysfunction and metabolic dysfunction, creating a negative feedback loop where ailing mitochondria generate oxidative stress and excess free radicals, which in turn further damage to mitochondria¹¹. Maintaining sufficient NAD+ levels is important to mitochondrial function and reducing oxidative stress¹², while low NAD+ levels have been associated with disease burden¹³. In addition, preclinical research supports the idea that NAD⁺ supplementation could promote healthy cardiac metabolism and potentially slow aspects of cardiovascular aging¹⁴.
Studies in animal models suggest that NAD+ also supports the health of blood vessels, in particular by reducing inflammation and oxidative stress¹⁵, and by promoting the production of nitric oxide, a signal in the body that tells blood vessels to dilate, maintaining healthy blood pressure levels¹⁶.
Read the Research
2. Cleveland Clinic
3. Mechanism of homocysteine-mediated endothelial injury and its consequences for atherosclerosis
4. Homocysteine: Role and implications in atherosclerosis
7. Vitamin B-12, vitamin B-6, and folate nutritional status in men with hyperhomocysteinemia
8. Lowering blood homocysteine with folic acid based supplements: meta-analysis of randomised trials
10. Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Cardiac Ageing
11. The role of NAD+ metabolism and its modulation of mitochondria in aging and disease
13. Blood NAD levels are reduced in very old patients hospitalized for heart failure
14. Emerging interactions between mitochondria and NAD+ metabolism in cardiometabolic diseases