High protein intake is associated with low plasma NAD+ levels in a healthy human cohort

Neda Seyedsadjadi; Jade Berg; Ayse A Bilgin; Nady Braidy; Chris Salonikas; Ross Grant

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0201968

High protein intake is associated with low plasma NAD+ levels in a healthy human cohort

PLoS One. 2018 Aug 16;13(8):e0201968. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0201968. eCollection 2018.

Authors

Neda Seyedsadjadi^{1

2}, Jade Berg², Ayse A Bilgin³, Nady Braidy⁴, Chris Salonikas², Ross Grant^{1

2

5}

Affiliations

¹ School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
² Australasian Research Institute, Sydney Adventist Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
³ Department of Statistics, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
⁴ Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
⁵ Sydney Adventist Hospital Clinical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.

Abstract

High protein intake and reduced levels of the essential pyridine nucleotide nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) have both been independently associated with promotion of the ageing phenotype. However, it has not yet been shown whether these two independent observations are biochemically linked. To investigate this possibility, we used a cross-sectional study design of 100 apparently healthy middle-aged males (n = 48) and females, in which we assessed average dietary intakes of multiple components using a validated questionnaire. We also analysed fasting blood levels of urea, NAD+ and its metabolites, and inflammation-linked biomarkers, including interleukin-6 (IL-6), Kynurenine (Kyn), and Tryptophan (Trp). One-way ANOVA and ANCOVA were then performed for statistical analysis. Our results have shown for the first time that plasma levels of NAD+ and Total NAD(H) were lower with increasing protein intake (F (2, 92) = 4.61, P = 0.012; F (2, 92) = 4.55, P = 0.013, respectively). The associated decrease in NAD+ and NAD(H) levels was even stronger with increasing plasma levels of the protein breakdown product urea (F (2, 93) = 25.11, P≤0.001; F (2, 93) = 21.10, P≤0.001). These associations were all independent of age, gender and energy intake. However, no significant association was observed between protein intake or plasma urea, and plasma levels of NAD+ metabolites. We also observed that plasma levels of the inflammatory cytokine IL-6, and both Kyn, and Trp, but not the Kyn/Trp ratio were higher with increasing plasma urea levels (F (2, 94) = 3.30, P = 0.041; F (2, 95) = 7.41, P≤0.001; F (2, 96) = 4.23, P = 0.017, respectively). These associations were dependent on eGFR and energy intake, except for the urea and Trp association that was independent of all. In conclusion, we report for the first time, a novel association between protein intake, its metabolism, and plasma NAD+ levels with a possible link to inflammation. These findings provide further insight into how protein restriction may contribute to the anti-ageing process observed in several studies.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Aged
Australia
Biomarkers
Cohort Studies
Diet, High-Protein*
Female
Healthy Volunteers
Humans
Inflammation / blood
Inflammation / epidemiology
Inflammation Mediators / blood
Male
Metabolome
Middle Aged
NAD / blood*
Public Health Surveillance
Urea / blood

Substances

Biomarkers
Inflammation Mediators
NAD
Urea

Grants and funding

This study was funded by internal funding from the Australasian Research Institute (received by RG) and student allocated funding from the University of New South Wales (received by NS). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.