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As mammals age, the number and function of their vascular endothelial cells diminishes. In humans, this begins at about age 40. This vascular aging leads to diminished muscle mass (promoting frailty), and it contributes to many age-related diseases. Regular exercise moderates vascular aging, but exercise becomes progressively less potent as we age.
An international team reports that the supplement nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) increases levels of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+), which stimulates production of a molecule in endothelial cells that promotes response to angiogenic signals. Dietary intake of this supplement increased capillary density, improved blood flow through muscle, and increased endurance in old (but not young)…