Measuring NAD+ Levels in Blood, Muscle, and Cerebrospinal Fluid: Preclinical Findings

Synopsis

The balance between NAD+ and NADH is vital for cell health, aging, and disease. However, accurately measuring NAD+ and its related metabolites is difficult because reduced forms like NADH and NADPH are unstable and prone to autooxidation. Sample handling and measurement techniques can greatly affect results. To address this, researchers developed a fast, sensitive liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry method that accounts for these chemical instabilities. Using this method, they measured the stability, presence, and concentrations of NAD+ metabolites in important human samples, including cerebrospinal fluid, red blood cells, and primate skeletal muscle.

Journal

Analytical Biochemistry