Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide replenishment rescues colon degeneration in aged mice.

Zhu X, Shen W, Wang Y, Jaiswal A, Ju Z, Sheng Q

Signal transduction and targeted therapy7 Jul 2017Cited by 25 (Europe PMC)

PMID29263919PMCIDPMC5657423DOI10.1038/sigtrans.2017.17PepBankPUB-29263919

Summary

Susceptibility of gastrointestinal dysmotility increases with age-associated colonic degeneration. A paucity of remedies reversing colonic degeneration per se hinders the fundamental relief of symptoms. Here we discovered the correlation between colon degeneration and altered nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) level in aged mice. Compared to 3-month-old young controls, 2-year-old mice showed a spectrum of degenerative colonic phenotypes and exhibited a significant elongated transit time and slowed stool frequency in the context of Lomotil-induced slow-transit constipation. Despite upregulated colonic tryptophan hydroxylases expression, serotonin release and expression of colon-predominant type IV serotonin receptor, reduced viability of interstitial cells of Cajal while enhanced aquaporins (Aqp1, 3 and 11) led to a less colonic motility and increased luminal dehydration in aged mice. Notably, this colonic degeneration was accompanied with reduced key NAD⁺-generating enzyme expression and lowered NAD⁺/NADH ratio in aged colon. Three-month continuous administration of beta nicotinamide mononucleotide, a NAD⁺ precursor, elevated colonic NAD⁺ level and improved defecation in aged mice. In contrast, pharmacological inhibition of nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase, the rate-limiting enzyme for NAD⁺ biosynthesis, induced a reduction in colonic NAD content and impaired gastrointestinal function in young mice. Taken together, these findings suggest the beneficial effect of NAD⁺ in maintaining colonic homoeostasis and reactivating NAD⁺ biosynthesis may represent a promising strategy to counteract age-related gastrointestinal degeneration.

CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study6

No result from this study comes from a test of the peptide.

Natural levels measured4

These results measure the body's own peptide. Nobody was given the peptide. They are not evidence about taking it. They are left out of key results, evidence counts and charts.

01AnimalEndogenous levelAnimal study (in vivo)Other
In aged mouse colon, colonic degeneration accompanied reduced expression of key NAD+-generating enzymes.
In plain wordsIn aged mice, enzymes that generate natural NAD+ had lower expression than in young mice.
Peptide
NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide)
Outcome
DecreaseNAD+-generating enzyme expression
Study
mousen: not reported in source
aged colon
Comparator
Young mice
Outcome group
Receptor activity and mechanism · Gastrointestinal
Source sentences
Summary
Notably, this colonic degeneration was accompanied with reduced key NAD⁺-generating enzyme expression and lowered NAD⁺/NADH ratio in aged colon.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Here we discovered the correlation between colon degeneration and altered nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) level in aged mice.
This result measures the body's own NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide). Nobody was given the peptide. It is not evidence about taking it.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-2926391901
02AnimalEndogenous levelAnimal study (in vivo)Other
In aged mouse colon, colonic degeneration accompanied a lower NAD+/NADH ratio.
In plain wordsIn aged mice, the natural NAD+/NADH ratio in the colon was lower than in young mice.
Peptide
NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide)
Outcome
DecreaseColonic NAD+/NADH ratio
Study
mousen: not reported in source
aged colon
Comparator
Young mice
Outcome group
Mitochondrial function · Gastrointestinal
Source sentences
Summary
Notably, this colonic degeneration was accompanied with reduced key NAD⁺-generating enzyme expression and lowered NAD⁺/NADH ratio in aged colon.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Here we discovered the correlation between colon degeneration and altered nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) level in aged mice.
This result measures the body's own NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide). Nobody was given the peptide. It is not evidence about taking it.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-2926391902
03AnimalEndogenous levelAnimal study (in vivo)Other
In aged mice, three-month beta nicotinamide mononucleotide administration elevated colonic NAD+ levels.
In plain wordsIn aged mice, beta nicotinamide mononucleotide increased natural NAD+ levels in the colon.
Peptide
NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide)
Outcome
IncreaseColonic NAD+ after precursor administration
Study
mousen: not reported in source
aged colon
Outcome group
Mitochondrial function · Gastrointestinal
Source sentences
Summary
Three-month continuous administration of beta nicotinamide mononucleotide, a NAD⁺ precursor, elevated colonic NAD⁺ level and improved defecation in aged mice.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Here we discovered the correlation between colon degeneration and altered nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) level in aged mice.
This result measures the body's own NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide). Nobody was given the peptide. It is not evidence about taking it.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-2926391903
04AnimalEndogenous levelAnimal study (in vivo)Other
In young mice, nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase inhibition reduced colonic NAD content.
In plain wordsIn young mice, inhibition of a NAD-producing enzyme lowered natural NAD levels in the colon.
Peptide
NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide)
Outcome
DecreaseColonic NAD content after enzyme inhibition
Study
mousen: not reported in source
young mouse colon
Outcome group
Mitochondrial function · Gastrointestinal
Source sentences
Summary
In contrast, pharmacological inhibition of nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase, the rate-limiting enzyme for NAD⁺ biosynthesis, induced a reduction in colonic NAD content and impaired gastrointestinal function in young mice.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Here we discovered the correlation between colon degeneration and altered nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) level in aged mice.
This result measures the body's own NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide). Nobody was given the peptide. It is not evidence about taking it.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-2926391905

Studies that did not test the peptide alone2

In this study, NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. These results are not evidence about taking NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide).

05AnimalNot a test of NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) aloneAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In aged mice, beta nicotinamide mononucleotide administration improved defecation while elevating colonic NAD+.
In plain wordsIn aged mice, a NAD+ precursor improved defecation.
Peptide
NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide)
Outcome
IncreaseDefecation after NAD+ precursor
Study
mousen: not reported in source
aged colon
Outcome group
Gastrointestinal protection · Gastrointestinal
Source sentences
Summary
Three-month continuous administration of beta nicotinamide mononucleotide, a NAD⁺ precursor, elevated colonic NAD⁺ level and improved defecation in aged mice.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Here we discovered the correlation between colon degeneration and altered nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) level in aged mice.
In this study, NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide).
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-2926391904
06AnimalNot a test of NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) aloneAnimal study (in vivo)Other
In young mice, inhibition of NAD biosynthesis impaired gastrointestinal function.
In plain wordsIn young mice, inhibition of NAD production impaired gut function.
Peptide
NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide)
Outcome
DecreaseGastrointestinal function after enzyme inhibition
Study
mousen: not reported in source
young mice
Outcome group
Gastrointestinal protection · Gastrointestinal
Source sentences
Summary
In contrast, pharmacological inhibition of nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase, the rate-limiting enzyme for NAD⁺ biosynthesis, induced a reduction in colonic NAD content and impaired gastrointestinal function in young mice.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Here we discovered the correlation between colon degeneration and altered nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) level in aged mice.
In this study, NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide).
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-2926391906

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Version history

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Version 2Current
14 Oct 2026, 05:02 UTC
Study results updated
Version 1
14 Oct 2026, 01:46 UTC
First added · source update from Europe PMC

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