ry.6 Top Anti-Aging Ingredients（NMN, AKG, PQQ, Urostealin A, Ergothioneine, Spermine)
- NMN is a derivative of vitamin B3 that elevates NAD+ levels; AKG enables the synthesis of essential proteins not found in the human diet.
- PQQ is an essential coenzyme that promotes mitochondrial (cellular powerhouse) growth; Urchin A is a natural compound that enhances immunity.
- Ergothioneine is a natural amino acid derivative; spermidine is a naturally occurring polyamine in living organisms.
- Detailed analyses of the target demographics for each of these six anti-aging ingredients are provided throughout the text.
- AKG + NMN + PQQ + ergothioneine can be taken together for potent antioxidant effects; PQQ + CoQ10 is a common combination for heart health.
- PQQ + PS is a cognitive-enhancing pairing that supports better brain function and memo
1NMN:Repair DNA and increase NAD+·
Dr. Mark Hyman, former personal physician to former U.S. President Clinton and a functional medicine expert, has publicly recommended supplementing with NMN to increase NAD+ levels.
As we age, DNA damage increases. During DNA repair, significant amounts of NAD+ are consumed. While the body’s demand for NAD+ rises, its ability to synthesize NAD+ declines steadily. This leads to a severe deficiency of NAD+ within the body, ultimately causing reduced energy levels and diminished bodily functions—the primary cause of aging.
NMN is a derivative of vitamin B3 and naturally exists within human cells. As a key precursor to NAD+, NMN participates in cellular energy metabolism and numerous physiological processes.
Food sources contain only 0.25–1.88 milligrams of NMN per 100 grams, making dietary intake limited. This scarcity has fueled global demand for NMN as a supplement. It is widely recognized that NMN can delay aging by elevating NAD+ levels.
A research team from Harvard Medical School published a study in a Cell journal revealing that after one week of NMN treatment in 22-month-old mice (equivalent to 60-year-old humans), the mice exhibited conditions similar to 6-month-old mice (equivalent to 20-year-old humans) in key metrics such as mitochondrial stability and muscle health.
Research has found that NAD+ levels steadily decline with age. Starting at age 30, the body’s NAD+ levels begin a downward trajectory as individuals grow older. By age 60, NAD+ levels drop to less than a quarter of those found in younger adults.
This means that after age 60, many biochemical metabolic reactions in the body cannot proceed efficiently. Consequently, health issues become more prevalent with advancing age. Timely restoration of NAD+ levels can promote health and extend lifespan. Relevant human studies indicate that NMN can improve sleep quality, reduce fatigue, and enhance physical performance in older adults by elevating NAD+ levels.
AKG: Multi-dimensional anti-aging, promotes collagen synthesis
AKG is one of the metabolites in the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, which generates energy within the human body, synthesizes essential proteins, enhances mitochondrial function, boosts cellular repair capabilities, and extends healthy lifespan.
However, as we age, our ability to synthesize AKG declines. Combined with its rapid metabolic rate (less than 5 minutes) and the fact that AKG is absent from the human diet, direct supplementation is necessary to maintain healthy bodily functions.
AKG slows aging through multiple mechanisms, including reducing inflammation, enhancing antioxidant capacity, promoting DNA repair, and regulating cellular autophagy.
In 2021, a study led by Professor Brian Kennedy, Director of the Centre for Healthy Longevity at the National University of Singapore, recruited 42 healthy adults who took an AKG complex supplement for 7 consecutive months. The surprising result was that their physiological age decreased by 8 years.
PQQ: Knight of Mitochondrial Energy
PQQ is hailed as the “key to cellular energy,” a vitamin B-like compound and an essential coenzyme for mitochondrial biosynthesis. By enhancing mitochondrial function, PQQ boosts ATP (adenosine triphosphate) production efficiency, supplying energy to cells.
PQQ occurs naturally in various foods such as breast milk, fermented foods, and plants like tea leaves, papaya, and spinach. However, its concentration in these sources is relatively low, making PQQ supplementation a viable option.
We know mitochondria are the cellular powerhouses responsible for generating the energy cells require (closely linked to our vitality). PQQ is the first nutrient discovered to promote the growth of new mitochondria. For individuals experiencing chronic fatigue or compromised immune function, PQQ significantly enhances mitochondrial activity and improves energy metabolism.
PQQ also serves as an exceptionally potent antioxidant with unique efficacy. Its antioxidant properties neutralize free radicals, reducing cellular damage.
PQQ enhances brain cognition by containing substances that support memory, attention, and learning, sometimes referred to as a nootropic. After a group of elderly individuals took PQQ supplements daily for 12 consecutive weeks, their attention and memory abilities improved.
(Essential for middle-aged and young adults to prevent memory decline; essential for the elderly to prevent dementia; because PQQ provides energy for both physical and mental demands.)
04Urostealin A: Activates cellular autophagy, slows aging
Urolithin A (abbreviated as UA) is a natural compound, and pomegranates are a representative fruit rich in urolithin A.
Uric acid supplement A is also personally endorsed by Maye Musk, mother of the world’s richest man Elon Musk. Results from a small U.S. clinical trial also indicate that taking a 500-milligram supplement provides over six times the uric acid (UA) capacity compared to drinking 240 milliliters of pure pomegranate juice.
In 2016, an experimental study published in Nature Medicine revealed that uric acid A functions as a mitochondrial regulator. It demonstrates the potential to activate mitochondrial autophagy and improve mitochondrial health. Furthermore, uric acid A has been shown to restore the hematopoietic system, delay cellular aging, and reverse the regenerative capacity of blood cells, thereby exerting anti-aging effects.
(It should be noted that ellagic acid and ellagitannins found in pomegranates, nuts, and certain berries are metabolized by gut microbiota to produce uricosterol A.)
Urostealin A has been extensively studied as an anti-aging supplement. On August 31, 2023, scientists from the University of Lausanne in Switzerland published findings in the internationally renowned journal Nature Aging, demonstrating that Urostealin A can restore the function of hematopoietic stem cells in aged mice (over 18 months old) to levels comparable to those of young mice aged 8-12 weeks.
Scientists further explained that Urchin A promotes mitochondrial autophagy and regeneration, thereby enhancing the vitality of hematopoietic stem cells and making them more “youthful.” This, in turn, boosts immunity against viral infections. In other words, Urchin A not only combats aging but also enhances immune function!
05Ergothioneine: The Ultimate Antioxidant, Nourishing Your Skin
Ergothioneine is a naturally occurring amino acid derivative widely recognized for its potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which help protect cells from damage caused by free radicals and oxidative stress.
Naturally present yet difficult for the body to synthesize on its own, ergothioneine possesses significant benefits including powerful antioxidant effects, cellular protection, and activation of longevity genes. It is therefore referred to as the “longevity vitamin.” It is primarily manifested in the following three aspects:
1. Ergothioneine is a potent antioxidant capable of neutralizing free radicals and preventing oxidative damage to cells. Research indicates that ergothioneine may represent a novel vitamin with physiological functions including antioxidant cell protection.
2. Ergothioneine can penetrate cell membranes to directly enter cells, providing protection for vital organelles such as mitochondria and reducing cellular aging and apoptosis. Studies indicate that in vitro, ergothioneine effectively shields skin cells from DNA damage caused by ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation and mitigates UVB-induced cell death.
3. Ergothioneine also possesses moisturizing and anti-aging properties. A 12-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial evaluated skin hydration and facial condition in 80 healthy women. Results showed that at week 8, the ergothioneine group exhibited significantly higher skin moisture content in the temple area compared to the placebo group. By week 12, skin moisture content in the arm area also increased significantly. After 12 weeks, the ergothioneine group demonstrated markedly superior scores for facial wrinkles and texture compared to the placebo group.
06Spermine: Induces autophagy and extends lifespan
Spermidine is a naturally occurring polyamine in living organisms. Polyamines are a class of organic compounds containing two or more amino groups, playing a crucial role in cell growth, differentiation, and survival.
Spermidine has shown surprising anti-aging effects. Research indicates that centenarians exhibit higher spermidine levels. In 2018, researchers followed 829 participants aged 45 to 84 over a 20-year period. They discovered that higher spermidine intake was associated with lower all-cause mortality rates, and long-term consumption of spermidine was linked to an approximate 5.7-year increase in lifespan.
Spermine also plays a role in enhancing cognitive abilities and preventing Alzheimer’s disease. In 2021, a three-month spermine intake study was conducted on 85 participants aged 60 to 96 across six nursing homes in Styria.
Results indicate that in the group receiving higher doses of spermidine, there was a significant correlation between spermidine intake and cognitive improvement in patients with mild to moderate dementia.
Styling Tips
1. AKG + NMN + PQQ + Ergothioneine: Powerful Antioxidant
PQQ is hailed as the “King of Cellular Metabolism,” renowned for its ability to repair cellular and mitochondrial damage while delivering exceptional anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.
This synergistically aligns with the functions of AKG, NMN, and ergothioneine. Their combined action provides dual support for cellular energy and antioxidant defense while effectively shielding the body from inflammatory damage.
2. PQQ + Coenzyme Q10: Targeting Heart Health
Both PQQ and Coenzyme Q10 participate in mitochondrial energy production. Their combined use yields enhanced effects, making this the most common pairing in PQQ-related supplements. It is primarily found in formulations focused on heart health, energy supplementation, and brain health.
3. PQQ + PS for Brain Health
Over time, mitochondria within the nervous system and brain neurons undergo progressive degeneration. Beyond impairing memory and attention, mitochondrial decline is associated with diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
PQQ, supplemented with PS and other brain-boosting ingredients, not only prevents mitochondrial degeneration but also supports enhanced brain performance and memory enhancement.