Erythrocyte nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide concentration is enhanced by systematic sports participation.
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Cross-sectional comparative study evaluating erythrocyte NAD+ and NADP+ concentrations across athletic cohorts and untrained controls
PubMed 39407226 · doi:10.1186/s13102-024-00999-y
What was done
Erythrocyte concentrations of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP+) were measured in 68 elite endurance runners (aged 20–81 years), 58 elite sprinters (aged 21–90 years), and 62 untrained control individuals (aged 20–68 years). Linear regression models and one-way ANOVA were used to examine age-related trends and evaluate differences in erythrocyte NAD(P)+ concentrations between the athlete and control cohorts.
What was found
Erythrocyte NAD+ and NADP+ concentrations significantly decreased with advancing age across all three groups. However, regardless of age category, erythrocyte NAD(P)+ levels remained higher in both athletic groups compared to untrained controls, with the largest benefit observed in sprint-oriented athletes. No exact numerical concentrations, effect sizes, or p-values were reported in the abstract.
Why it matters
This study suggests that regular, lifelong physical training—particularly sprint exercise—may help preserve circulating erythrocyte NAD+ and NADP+ pools that naturally decline during aging.
Limits
The observational, cross-sectional design cannot confirm causality or rule out selection bias in elite athletic populations. The abstract omits exact numerical values, effect sizes, and precision metrics, and measurements in erythrocytes may not directly reflect NAD+ kinetics in skeletal muscle or other metabolic tissues.
Cited by
- supports Marathon runners have resting NAD levels roughly 50% higher than untrained individuals.