An article I recently came across unveils an exciting breakthrough in the realm of age-related muscle health. Trigonelline, a natural alkaloid, has been identified as a precursor for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+), a vital coenzyme that plays a crucial role in maintaining muscular function during the aging process. The article discusses the findings that trigonelline may improve muscle function during aging and is reduced in human sarcopenia (age-related muscle wasting and weakness).
Studies reveal a connection between lower serum trigonelline levels and sarcopenic individuals, as well as a positive correlation with muscle strength, mass, and mitochondrial oxidative metabolism in skeletal muscle. Trigonelline is metabolized via the Preiss-Handler pathway to increase NAD+ levels in cells, tissues, and model organisms like nematodes and mice. In nematodes, trigonelline supplementation not only enhances mitochondrial function, but also reduces age-related muscle wasting. Additionally, it increases lifespan and mobility through an NAD+ dependent mechanism requiring the sirtuin pathway. In aged mice, dietary trigonelline supplementation improves muscle strength, prevents fatigue during contraction, and mitigates age-related decline in muscle performance without affecting muscle mass.
This study is essential for regenerative medicine because it identifies a natural compound, trigonelline, that can potentially combat a debilitating age-related condition (sarcopenia) characterized by muscle mass, strength, and function loss. Trigonelline’s ability to increase NAD+ levels and improve mitochondrial function can help maintain muscle health and prevent age-related muscle decline. This could lead to the development of therapeutic interventions or nutritional strategies to promote muscle regeneration and delay the onset of sarcopenia, thereby improving quality of life for the elderly population.
While this study focused on sarcopenia, the authors’ findings suggest that trigonelline supplementation could also benefit muscle performance in younger individuals, though direct evaluations are needed. It is suggested that it may improve endurance more than increase muscle mass/strength. The authors focused on evaluating its effects in aged nematodes, aged mice, and human primary muscle cells derived from sarcopenic individuals. NAD+ levels decline with age, but they are also crucial for muscle function at younger ages. Boosting NAD+ through precursors like NR (nicotinamide riboside) has shown benefits for muscle performance in some studies on young mice/humans. There is strong reason to believe that NAD+ levels will improve athletic performance.
Two rich sources of trigonelline include coffee beans (one of the richest sources), with trigonelline making up about 1% of the dry weight of green coffee beans, along with fenugreek seeds. Given the findings, it makes sense to incorporate trigonelline in various NAD+ precursor supplements.
If you liked this article, you should read:
PUR-FORM’s Powerful Protocol to Prevent & Reverse Sarcopenia
