Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) depletion has been postulated as a contributor to the severity of COVID-19; however, no study has prospectively characterized NAD and its metabolites in relation to disease severity in patients with COVID-19. We measured NAD and its metabolites in 56 hospitalized patients with COVID-19 and in two control groups without COVID-19: (1) 31 age- and sex-matched adults with comorbidities, and (2) 30 adults without comorbidities. Blood NAD concentrations in COVID-19 group were only slightly lower than in the control groups (p < 0.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFriedreich's ataxia (FRDA) is a progressive disorder caused by insufficient expression of frataxin, which plays a critical role in assembly of iron-sulfur centers in mitochondria. Individuals are cognitively normal but display a loss of motor coordination and cardiac abnormalities. Many ultimately develop heart failure.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFChemotherapy induced ovarian failure and infertility is an important concern in female cancer patients of reproductive age or younger, and non-invasive, pharmacological approaches to maintain ovarian function are urgently needed. Given the role of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) as an essential cofactor for drug detoxification, we sought to test whether boosting the NAD(P) metabolome could protect ovarian function. We show that pharmacological or transgenic strategies to replenish the NAD metabolome ameliorates chemotherapy induced female infertility in mice, as measured by oocyte yield, follicle health, and functional breeding trials.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF