Generation MZ's Choices and Changing Perceptions: The Need for NAD+ Level Management

According to the 2019 Population Census by Statistics Korea, the MZ Generation accounts for about 34% of the total population. The MZ Generation is a new word that combines the 'M' of Millennials and the 'Z' of Generation. Generation M refers to the population born from the early 1980s to the early 2000s, and Generation Z refers to the young population in Korea born from the mid-1990s to the early 2000s.

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Data provided by: Job Korea, Albamon

The fact that the "young MZ generation," which makes up more than a third of South Korea's population, is delaying marriage for various practical reasons, rather than considering it a necessity, is emerging as one reason for the declining birth rate. Furthermore, the 2018 OECD data below shows a total fertility rate (TFR) of 0.84, roughly half the OECD average of 1.63, further highlighting the seriousness of this social problem.

Source: OECD, Family Database

In this era of low birth rates, the MZ generation, especially the female MZ generation, is demanding attention to ovarian health and ovarian hormone levels (AMH).

As we age, the functions of our body's organs naturally age, and the ovaries also decline in function as we age.

For example, according to a joint study by researchers from the Department of Obstetrics and Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, USA and The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, China, published in the journal Elsevier in May 2020, a woman's fertility related to childbirth declines rapidly starting at the age of 32.

Therefore, even if the young MZ generation doesn't currently have plans for marriage or childbirth, paying attention to their ovarian health and consistently managing it can effectively prevent ovarian aging. This is a concern not only for MZ women but also for MZ men, who need to be vigilant and pay attention.

Photo credit: A to Z Fertility

In our last newsletter, we introduced NAD+ and explained how increasing NAD+ levels in the body can help strengthen immune cell function. Beyond NAD+'s immune-boosting properties, many scientists are noting, through animal studies, that increasing NAD+ levels in the body may contribute to the health of women's oocytes and eggs.

According to a February 2020 paper published in the world-renowned biotechnology journal Cell Reports, NMN, a precursor of NAD+, may contribute to oocyte aging and oocyte health. According to the paper, administering 2 grams of NMN and 1 liter of water to young mice aged 4-5 weeks and aging mice aged 12 months or older for approximately 4 weeks suppressed ovarian aging in the young mice and improved oocyte quality in the aged mice.

Photo source: Miao Y., Cui, Z., Gao Q., Rui R., Xiong B. (2020), 41 Nicotinamide Mononucleotide Supplementation Reverses the Declining Quality of Maternally Aged Oocytes, Cell Reports

In the same year, a paper published in the Communications section of Nature, another globally prestigious academic journal, reported that maintaining a high level of NAD+ by consuming NMN, a precursor to NAD+, could significantly increase the chances of becoming pregnant naturally or through in vitro fertilization (IVF).

A paper published in Cell Reports in August 2020, based on the results of the aforementioned papers, noted the possibility that administering NAD+ precursors such as NMN and NR to mice could not only prevent ovarian function decline by increasing NAD+ levels in the body, but also improve oocyte function in aged mice.

A paper published in Cell Reports in August 2020, based on the results of the aforementioned papers, noted the possibility that administering NAD+ precursors such as NMN and NR to mice could not only prevent ovarian function decline by increasing NAD+ levels in the body, but also improve oocyte function in aged mice.

<Reference Materials>

[1] Miao Y., Cui, Z., Gao Q., Rui R., Xiong B. (2020), Nicotinamide Mononucleotide Supplementation Reverses the Declining Quality of Maternally Aged Oocytes, Cell Reports

[2] Bertolodo M. (2020), NAD+ Repletion Rescues Female Fertility During Reproductive Aging, Cell Reports

[3] Wei Z., Greaney J., Loh WN., Hormer HA. (2020), Nampt-Mediated Spindle Sizing Secures a Post Anaphase Increase in Spindle Speed ​​Required for Extreme Asymmetry, Nature Communications

[4] Yang et al. (2020), Increasing Ovarian NAD+ Levels Improve Mitochondrial Functions and Reverse Ovarian Aging, Elsevier

[5] Neuroscience News (Published on Feb 12 th, 2020)

[6] Chosun Biz – Articles related to the MZ generation

[7] Chosun Biz - Articles on birth rate

[8] Science Daily