Hacker News Reader

Comment by jbotz | Hacker News Reader

NMN (nicotinamide mononucleotide) and even just plain nicotinamide. Taking a large dose of nicotinamide (3g/day divided into 3 spaced-out doses) has resolved several relatively minor issues which I suspected were caused by some genetically caused mitochondrial deficiency. For example, I had some skin problems, including inflammation along the hairline, acne-like lesions on the neck and so-called "histamine intolerance" (inflammation-like red splotches). After a few weeks of taking nicotinamide all of these started clearing up and after a few months disappeared completely. Also I have higher and more even energy levels throughout the day.

One specific change that points at improved mitochondrial function is that I used to get shivering cold very easily, especially when wet. Not anymore! Just yesterday while walking for exercise I got surprised by a downpour and continued my walk soaking wet without any discomfort.

View on HN

I’m going to have to look into this more. Thanks for sharing your experience. I’ve had a seemingly random skin rash that happens on my forehead and my neck and shoulders from time to time and I haven’t been able to figure out the cause of it, or even a name for it. It looks similar to pictures of what you describe as “histamine intolerance”.

Well, it's called histamine intolerance in the literature, but it's not really an intolerance in the sense of an allergy, it could more accurately called "excessive histamine build-up". The likely proximate cause is a deficiency in the enzyme (diamine oxidase) which breaks down excess histamine. This in turn has been linked to under-methylation, and mitochondria play a role in a lot of processes involving methylation. Alternatively, mitochondria are important in mitosis and cell-differenciation, and skin cells have a very short lifespan (high turn-over) so the skin is relatively sensitive to any kind of mitochondrial dysfunction. Yes, these are very vague connections, but what's very concrete is that taking nicotinamide has very visible and repeatable benefits for me, including eliminating the "histamine intolerance".

>> This in turn has been linked to under-methylation, and mitochondria play a role in a lot of processes involving methylation.

Do you mean epigenetic methylation? As the cellular reprogramming techniques for example strive to reverse the current pattern of epigenetic methylation.

DAO deficiency can be a consequence of Copper deficiency, as DAO is a Copper enzyme.

Copper deficiency used to be considered rare, but give the rise in popularity of Zinc which prevents Copper and absorption and depletes Copper stores, it has bevone more common.

Hives is what that is, they come up in the evening. My cure was clearing yeast. One sneaky source is from those slightly fancy lettuce that sandwiches or meals often come from. Avoid that and all non organic bread. Work to heal your gut as it gets into the body from leaky gums and leaky gut.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com