Combating sarcopenia with NAD: keeping your muscles strong and healthy

Nowadays, it is possible to improve muscle and bone mass, cardiometabolic health, reduce chronic inflammation, as well as immune and cognitive decline, by replenishing the NAD coenzyme levels intravenously.

Sarcopenia is the loss of muscle mass which occurs during the ageing process. Muscle mass loss begins gradually from the age of 30 and accelerates from the age of 60 onwards. It is a pathology that can lead to disability and lack of independence, as well as increase the risk of mortality by leading to a higher incidence of falls and fractures. In addition to the loss of muscle mass, sarcopenia leads to an increase in fatty tissue and increases the risk of hypertension, diabetes and obesity.

Sarcopenia can be recognised through the low muscle mass, the loss of strength and the reduced physical performance. Its main cause is ageing, since several factors interact in this process: genetics, hormones, lifestyle changes, weight loss, and loss of the motor units of the spinal cord.

One of the most successful anti-aging treatments to combat sarcopenia is the NAD & Mito-Rebalance therapy available at SHA Wellness Clinic. It is a comprehensive anti-ageing treatment that slows down cognitive decline, sarcopenia, and age-related frailty. It also improves cardiometabolic health, reduces chronic inflammation, and strengthens the immune system.

The acronym NAD may be unfamiliar to you, but it stands for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, a coenzyme present in almost every cell in the body. Its levels decline as we age. Optimal levels of NAD are associated with a good life span and longevity.

Balancing the NAD coenzyme levels targets several aspects of ageing at once, including bone fragility and muscle loss. In addition, the therapy boosts the body’s energy levels, improves mental clarity and promotes a sense of wellbeing.

Dr. Rosario García, expert in Anti-Aging Medicine at SHA Wellness Clinic, explains that NAD is a molecule that plays an essential role in several biological functions. “It is found in all living cells and is crucial in many metabolic reactions. It acts as a coenzyme, which means that it regulates and facilitates the chemical reactions in the body. It is also involved in key processes, such as energy production, DNA repair, regulation of metabolism, and maintenance of cellular health,” she says.

The expert explains that, during ageing, NAD production decreases naturally and its degradation increases. “In oxidative stress processes caused by various factors, such as an unhealthy diet, exposure to environmental toxins, lack of sleep, and chronic stress, NAD levels are depleted. In general, an unhealthy lifestyle, characterised by being sedentary, a poor diet, excessive alcohol consumption, and smoking, contributes to a decrease in NAD levels in the body,” says Dr. Garcia.

Replenishing NAD levels can have several benefits for the body. These include improved cell function. “By increasing NAD levels, cellular health and the repair of damaged DNA are promoted, which has a positive impact on overall health and slows down the ageing process,” Garcia explains.