b'Combining Caffeine andandtaurine;andaplacebo(300mgVitamin K and Lung Health Taurine to Improvemaltodextrin). The fi ndings clearly indi- VitaminK2isacrucialnutrient Cognitive Performancecate that the mixture of caff eine and tau- known for its role inblood clottingand rine have positive eff ects upon humanwound healing, but recent research on Combining caff eine and taurine has syn- mentalperformanceandmood. Theitsinvolvementinlunghealthshows ergistic eff ects on physical and cognitivecombined intake of caff eine and taurinethat Vitamin-K2defi ciency contributes performance. Twenty elite male boxeralso improved the boxers balance andtopoor lung function, especially in peo-athleteswererecruitedinastudyinagility. When comparing the combinedple suff ering from respiratory conditions which the researchers measuredintake of caff eine and tau- like asthma and chronic obstructive pul-various parameters relatedrinetotakingthemmonary disease (COPD). A study was toanaerobicpower,separately,thereconducted with 4,092 participants aged balance, agility, andwere diff erencesbetween 24 and 77 years who underwent cognitiveperfor- inpowerout- comprehensivelung-functiontesting mance. Cognitiveput and otherknown as spirometry, provided blood performance wasperformancesamples, and completed health and life-evaluatedusingmeasures.style questionnaires.theStrooptest,This suggestsDr.TorkilJespersen,theleadre-which is a well- that combin- searcher,highlightedthesignifi cance knownneuro- ingcaffeineoftheirfi ndings:Wealreadyknow psychological test.andtaurinethat vitamin K has an important role in TheWingateAn- may have a syn- theblood, and research is beginning to aerobicTest,whichergistic eff ect andshow that its also important in heart measuresmaximalan- be more eff ective thanand bone health, but theres been very aerobicpower,wasper- taking them individually.little research looking at vitamin K and formed as well as blood lactate levels,the lungs. To our knowledge, this is the a measurement of perceived exertion,Seidl R, Peyrl A, Nicham R, et al., A taurine and caf- fi rst study on vitamin K and lung func-balance, and agility. The participantsfeine-containing drink stimulates cognitive performancetion in a large general population. Our and well-being, Amino Acids, 2000, 19: 635-642, at wererandomlyassignedtodiff erenthttps://doi.org/10.1007/s007260070013; Ozan M, Buzdagliresults suggest that vitamin K could play supplement groups in a double-blind,Y, Eyipinar C, et al., Does single or combined caffeinea part in keeping our lungs healthy.crossover design. The groups consistedand taurine supplementation improve athletic and cog- Jespersen T, Kampmann F, Dantoft T, et al., The asso-nitive performance without affecting fatigue level in of: caff eine (6 mg/kg); taurine (3 gramelite boxers? A double-blind, placebo-controlled study,ciation of vitamin K status with lung function and disease in a general population, ERJ Open Research, 2023, 9(5): single dose); a combination of caff eineNutrients,2022,14(20): 4399, at https://doi.org/10.3390/ 00208-2023, at https://doi.org/10.1183/23120541.00208-nu14204399. 2023.NAD: More Brain Food loss is linked to obesity and negative life-Decliningnicotinamideadeninedi- style habits like smoking. NR boosts the nucleotide(NAD+)concentrationinlevels of NAD+ in the blood, and in the thebrainduringagingcontributestoinitial study, lowered blood pressure. Nic-metabolicandcellulardysfunctionandotinamide has been shown to prevent and isimplicatedinthepathogenesisofag- reverse injury of neuronal cells. Nicotin-ing-associatedneurologicaldisorders. Aamide can support DNA stability and can randomized, placebo-controlled, crossovermaintain membrane integrity. It can also trial study of oral nicotinamide ribosideprevent vascular clot formation.(NR)supplementation(500 mg,2x/day, 6 weeks) in 22 healthy older adults showedMaiese K & Chong Z,Nicotinamide: necessary nutrientemergesasanovelcytoprotectantfor thatoralNRsupplementationincreas- the brain,Trends in Pharmacological Sciences, es NAD+levels in neuronal extracellular2003, 24(5): 228-232, at https://doi.org/10.1016/vesicles (NEVs) in the brain, and decreasesS0165-6147(03)00078-6; Vreones M,Mustapic M,Moaddel R,et al.,Oral nicotinamide ri-NEV levels of insulin resistance and neu- boside raises NAD+ and lowers biomarkers roinfl ammatory pathways.NR is convert- of neurodegenerative pathology in plasma ed into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotideextracellular vesicles enriched for neuro-(NAD+), which is critical to cellular re- nal origin,Aging Cell, 2023, 22(1): e13754, at https://doi.org/10.1111/pair and the repair of damaged DNA. Asacel.13754.we age, we gradually lose NAD+ and this H EALTHF REEDOMN EWS /F ALL2023 25'