Erythrocyte nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide concentration is enhanced by systematic sports participation

• Main Authors: Barbara Pospieszna (Author), Krzysztof Kusy (Author), Ewa Maria Slominska (Author), Jacek Zieliński (Author), Monika Ciekot-Sołtysiak (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: BMC, 2024-10-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 10.1186/s13102-024-00999-y; 2052-1847
• Keywords: Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate; Endurance; Sprint; Master athletes; Elderly; Sports medicine; RC1200-1245
• Source: BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation, Vol 16, Iss 1, Pp 1-9 (2024)

Abstract Background Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+), nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP+), and their reduced forms (NADH and NADPH) are the vital cofactors for most cellular oxidation/reduction reactions and therefore influence most critical pathways in cellular metabolism. This study aimed to predict the trends of age-related changes in erythrocyte NAD+ and NADP+ concentrations in elite athletes compared to untrained controls and to assess whether life-long physical training stimulates favorable adaptations in erythrocyte NAD(P)+ concentrations. Methods Erythrocyte concentrations of NAD+ and NADP+ were measured in 68 elite endurance runners (20-81 years), 58 elite sprinters (21-90 years), and 62 untrained individuals (20-68 years). Linear regression analyses were performed to estimate longitudinal relationships and cross-sectional rates of change between age and erythrocyte NAD+ and NADP+ levels. One-way analysis of variance was used to determine differences between the studied groups. Results In all three groups, the erythrocyte NAD+ and NADP+ concentrations significantly decreased with advancing age, suggesting gradual deterioration of NAD-related regulatory functions in older individuals. However, the concentration of erythrocyte NAD(P)+, regardless of age category, was higher in the athletic groups compared to less active controls. Conclusions Our research shows that systematic sports participation, especially of a sprint-oriented nature, can be treated as a natural and effective strategy promoting cellular NAD(P)+ anabolism and thus cells' energy and redox metabolism. Trial registration The study was retrospectively registered in the clinical trials registry on 2021-11-09 (NCT05113914).