Peptides

• GLP-1 (Glucagon-Like Peptide-1) Receptor Agonism:
  • What it does: Slows stomach emptying, signals fullness to the brain, and prompts the pancreas to release insulin when blood sugar rises.
  • Result: Reduced appetite, fewer cravings, and lower post-meal blood sugar.
• GIP (Glucose-Dependent Insulinotropic Polypeptide) Receptor Agonism:
  • What it does: Works synergistically with GLP-1 to enhance insulin secretion, improve fat cell metabolism, and significantly reduce nausea (a common side effect of GLP-1s).
  • Result: Enhanced energy expenditure and a smoother user tolerance.
• Glucagon Receptor Agonism:
  • What it does: Traditionally known for raising blood sugar, glucagon also increases energy expenditure (burning calories) and directly targets fat breakdown in the liver.
  • Result: Accelerated fat burning and a drastic reduction in liver fat. The insulin-boosting effects of GLP-1 and GIP counteract any blood sugar spikes from glucagon.

GLP-1 + GIP Receptor Agonism (The Incretin Duo)

This is the most famous and highly successful dual-agonist combination. It combines two naturally occurring gut hormones called incretins.

• How it works: GLP-1 acts heavily on the brain to suppress appetite and slows digestion. GIP acts on fat cells to improve how the body stores energy, while also boosting insulin production.
• The Synergistic Effect: Crucially, GIP drastically reduces the nausea and gastrointestinal side effects typically caused by GLP-1, allowing patients to tolerate much higher, more effective doses.
• Primary Example: Tirzepatide—sold as Mounjaro for type 2 diabetes and Zepbound for weight loss. It achieves an average of 15% to 21% body weight loss in clinical trials.

2. GLP-1 + Glucagon Receptor Agonism

This pairing focuses heavily on accelerating the body’s metabolism and directly clearing organs of fat.

• How it works: GLP-1 manages blood sugar and curbs appetite, while glucagon increases energy expenditure (calorie burning) and targets fat deposits inside the liver.
• Primary Example: Survodutide (BI 456906) and Efinopegdutide. These are currently being aggressively fast-tracked through clinical trials specifically to treat MASH/NASH (fatty liver disease) because of how effectively they clear liver fat.

• Energy Production (Cellular Respiration):
  • How it works: Inside the mitochondria (the powerhouses of your cells), NAD+ accepts electrons from nutrients (carbohydrates and fats) and converts them into ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate).
  • Result: ATP is the universal energy currency your cells use to function, think, heal, and move. High NAD+ equals efficient ATP production.
• Cellular Defense and DNA Repair:
  • How it works: NAD+ acts as fuel for a specialized family of enzymes called Sirtuins (often called “longevity genes”) and PARPs (DNA repair enzymes).
  • Result: When these enzymes have enough NAD+, they can actively fix damaged DNA, lower cellular inflammation, protect against oxidative stress, and regulate healthy cellular aging. Without enough NAD+, repair work stalls.

Why People Focus on NAD+ for Longevity

As NAD+ drops with age, cells lose their energetic efficiency, which is a major contributor to age-related decline, fatigue, and metabolic slowing. Boosting NAD+ aims to reverse this bottleneck to deliver several key benefits:

1. Enhanced Energy and Focus: Increasing cellular fuel directly translates to reduced brain fog, improved physical stamina, and sharper mental clarity.
2. Metabolic Support: NAD+ heavily influences how your body processes fats and carbohydrates, helping maintain a healthy metabolic rate.
3. Muscle Recovery and Longevity: Higher levels assist in keeping mitochondria functioning youthfully, which preserves muscle mass and speeds up recovery from exercise or injury.