Ready to dive into the fascinating world of muscle health and aging? Buckle up because we’ve got some groundbreaking research to share that could change the game for staying strong as we age.

The Scoop on Muscle Aging and Sarcopenia You know that feeling when you’re not as spry as you used to be? Turns out, there’s some science behind it. Mitochondrial dysfunction and low levels of a compound called nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) are key players in muscle aging and a condition called sarcopenia (basically, when your muscles start to waste away). But here’s the kicker: scientists weren’t sure if these issues were local problems within the muscles or if they could be influenced by things like diet or the stuff floating around in our bloodstream.

The Big Discovery: Trigonelline to the Rescue Enter trigonelline, a natural compound that’s structurally similar to nicotinic acid (Niacin), which is a precursor to NAD+. Scientists went on a wild ride to explore the connection between trigonelline, NAD+ levels, and muscle health across different species, including humans.

What Did They Find? Hold onto your hats, folks! Turns out, there’s a strong link between the amount of trigonelline floating around in our blood, our NAD+ levels, and the health of our muscles. In humans, lower levels of trigonelline were linked to sarcopenia, while higher levels were associated with stronger muscles and better mitochondrial function (that’s the powerhouse of our cells, by the way).

How Does Trigonelline Work its Magic? Okay, here’s where it gets really cool. Trigonelline doesn’t just sit around twiddling its thumbs. Nope, it jumps right into action, boosting our NAD+ levels like a superhero. Through a fancy process called the nicotinate phosphoribosyltransferase/Preiss–Handler pathway, trigonelline gets converted into NAD+, which then works its magic to keep our muscles healthy and happy.

But Wait, There’s More! Not only does trigonelline beef up our NAD+ levels, but it also helps improve mitochondrial function, reduces muscle wasting, and even extends lifespan in some animal models. And get this: when they gave trigonelline supplements to mice, it actually boosted their muscle strength and prevented fatigue as they aged. Talk about a game-changer!

The Bottom Line So, what’s the takeaway here? Well, it looks like trigonelline could be the secret sauce for keeping our muscles strong and vibrant as we get older. While more research is needed to fully understand its potential, it’s clear that this natural compound could hold the key to fighting back against age-related muscle decline.

Membrez M, Migliavacca E, Christen S, Yaku K, Trieu J, Lee AK, Morandini F, Giner MP, Stiner J, Makarov MV, Garratt ES, Vasiloglou MF, Chanvillard L, Dalbram E, Ehrlich AM, Sanchez-Garcia JL, Canto C, Karagounis LG, Treebak JT, Migaud ME, Heshmat R, Razi F, Karnani N, Ostovar A, Farzadfar F, Tay SKH, Sanders MJ, Lillycrop KA, Godfrey KM, Nakagawa T, Moco S, Koopman R, Lynch GS, Sorrentino V, Feige JN. Trigonelline is an NAD+ precursor that improves muscle function during ageing and is reduced in human sarcopenia. Nat Metab. 2024 Mar 19. doi: 10.1038/s42255-024-00997-x. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 38504132.