Why Mitochondrial Health Is Emerging as the Next Frontier in Longevity Nutrition

At Natural Products Expo West, Jim Roza, chief scientific officer at Layn Natural Ingredients, discussed the growing interest in NAD (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) and NMN (nicotinamide mononucleotide) as key compounds supporting cellular energy, mitochondrial health, and healthy aging.

Roza explained that NAD is a coenzyme involved in the citric acid cycle—also known as the Krebs cycle—a biological pathway responsible for producing ATP, the molecule that fuels cellular activity. Because ATP provides energy for virtually every cellular function, NAD plays a critical role in maintaining proper cellular performance. Most cells in the human body contain mitochondria, which generate this energy, making mitochondrial function central to overall health.

However, NAD and NMN levels naturally decline with age. Roza noted that additional factors such as environmental toxins, obesity, and insulin resistance can further deplete these compounds. As NAD levels drop, ATP production becomes less efficient, which can lead to mitochondrial dysfunction. Over time, this may result in the formation of what Roza described as “zombie cells”—mitochondria that function poorly or become senescent, meaning they no longer contribute effectively to cellular health. Such dysfunction has been associated with a variety of age-related health concerns.

Layn markets NAD alongside NMN as part of what Roza describes as a “dual pathway” approach. NMN acts as a precursor to NAD, helping initiate the biochemical process that ultimately produces ATP. Meanwhile, NAD provides the body with the coenzyme needed for the later stages of that energy-production pathway. Together, the compounds support the citric acid cycle and help replenish declining cellular energy levels.

According to Roza, maintaining adequate energy production is particularly important for organs with high energy demands, including the brain, heart, and muscles. Declines in cellular energy may contribute to conditions such as cognitive decline, cardiovascular disease, and muscle loss.

While NMN occurs naturally in foods like broccoli, avocados, and mushrooms, Roza noted that obtaining meaningful amounts through diet alone is difficult, making supplementation an increasingly attractive option.

A transcript of Roza’s conversation can be found below.

Nicholas Saraceno: Thank you for joining me. Nico Saraceno, senior editor of Nutritional Outlook magazine. Jim, we have a lot to get to here. A lot with NAD and NAD+. So let's just dive right in. Shall we?

Layn, obviously, launching NAD, following its launch of NMN, which supports healthy aging, longevity through cellular energy—there's a lot going on. What role does NAD play for people who may be unfamiliar when it comes to cellular energy and mitochondrial function? And second part to that, why do you think it's become such a huge interest when it comes to longevity and performance-focused nutrition?

Jim Roza: Well, NAD, which stands for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, or short NAD, the acronym, is a coenzyme that's an important molecule as part of the citric acid cycle, or the Krebs cycle, as it's commonly known. And his biological pathway is necessary to produce ATP, and ATP is the fuel for the cells in our body.

Every cell in our body, except for red blood cells has mitochondria, and mitochondria is the fuel for these cells. To look at these as we age, the amount of NAD and NMN that is produced declines. Other factors, such as environmental toxins, obesity, insulin insensitivity—there are so many different factors that deplete the body of these two coenzymes. What happens over time is that if your body is depleted of NMN and NAD, which again, are important coenzymes in this biological pathway, when you said ATP, what happens is the ATP isn't being manufactured within the cells, and the mitochondria begin to dysfunction, and after a while, they turn into what is known as “zombie” cells.

Now what are zombie cells? Well, zombie cells are mitochondria that's either working inefficiently or become senescence, and senescent cells are just dead cells. So basically, these are cells that aren't contributing anything for that. After a while, we understand that there's a correlation between that and many different diseases.

The reason why NAD and then the reason why they're called anti-aging, or healthy aging, is because of the fact that they decline, and we want to keep our cells robust, and we want to make sure that the mitochondria are functioning properly. And that's the reason why we're hearing so much about mitochondrial health and the importance for healthy living.

Saraceno: We always learned growing up, mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell.

Roza: Exactly, exactly. And you know, the mitochondria is a component of each and every cell, as I mentioned before. Some cells have more than one mitochondria too. For example, you know, the brown fat in your body, which is more thermogenic, that has multiple mitochondria. White fat, or the outer most tissue, the bad type, has very few mitochondria. That's the reason why, in many ways, it's very difficult to defeat the body of that white and that's the reason why it's important to exercise.

Saraceno: I know Layn’s been marketing its NAD ingredient alongside NMN, they're saying it's a whole dual pathway.

Roza: It's a dual pathway because NMN is the precursor to NAD, so by combining two together, basically what you're doing, number one is you're providing the precursor that you need in this biological pathway that leads to the creation of ATP. NMN is really the kind of substrate, the beginning portion. NAD is really where you're supplying the body directly with the coenzyme that the next step in the chain is production of ATP. By adding the two together with NMN, basically what you're doing is reporting the citric acid cycle—this biological pathway—and NAD is really a direct replenishment. They work really hand-in-hand together.

Saraceno: That’s what I wanted to get into too. I feel like it targets many different things, from aging, obviously the cognitive performance. How does that also impact metabolic health as well?

Roza: The three organs in the body that require the most energy are the brain, muscles, and heart, definitely, and so a depletion of energy body could, in time, lead to different cardiovascular diseases, Alzheimer's, reduced cognitive power, or muscle strength (sarcopenia) after a while.

It’s really important to nourish the body by eating foods that are healthy, along with exercising, because exercise and eating healthy will help to replenish some of the NMN, or NAD that declines with age. For example, NMN is found in broccoli, avocados, and mushrooms. If you tried to use that as your source, unfortunately, the amounts, you can't really. In fact, it would take about 48 pounds of broccoli to about 250 milligrams of NMN.

Getting it naturally is a little bit difficult. They have shown that, exercise and other healthy living is restorative sleep help to build it. But in the supplemental form, we're finding that there's really good signs now to support the usage of these ingredients.

In fact, as you and your listeners may know, NMN came under the watchful eye of FDA, and for a while there, FDA said, “well, it seems like more of a drug.” Fortunately, they relented, and NMN now can be sold as a dietary supplement along with NAD because they are so closely related, and fortunately, people now have access to it. They don't have to worry about it being declared a drug or a food additive.