Are you feeling exhausted all the time? Recent data has shown that more than 50% of Australian workers experience fatigue,1 and it is one of the top reasons for them seeking nutritional support. The cause for the tiredness is usually more complex than simply not sleeping enough - inadequate rest, chronic stress, and nutritional insufficiencies2 can all play a role in gradually ‘tanking’ your energy. The first symptoms might be easy to miss: feeling a little more sluggish than usual, hints of brain fog and difficulty concentrating.3 But over time, these signs add up.
If you’ve been wondering why, you feel tired despite doing all the right things, nutrient gaps may be playing a key role. Low energy and fatigue due to nutritional insufficiencies is more common than you may think. Natural Factors® MitoFuel and Nicotinamide Riboside have been formulated to support cellular energy production alongside a healthy, balanced diet.
WHY DO WE FEEL TIRED? COMMON CAUSES OF FATIGUE AND LOW ENERGY
The causes of fatigue and low energy are many! Poor sleep, ongoing stress, inadequate exercise, and nutritional shortfalls are among the most common contributors.
Energy is produced in the mitochondria of cells, which convert nutrients into adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the body’s units of energy.4 Factors like ageing, oxidative stress and nutrient depletion can all compromise mitochondrial function, causing mental and/or physical fatigue.5 If you’re asking, “why am I always tired and have no energy?”, the answer most likely lies in what your cells are, or aren’t, receiving.
THE ROLE OF NUTRITION IN ENERGY METABOLISM
Optimal energy production depends on an abundant supply of certain nutrients to support each metabolic stage. Vitamins for energy and tiredness play vital roles as coenzymes in energy-generating pathways in the body. Minerals also contribute to sustained cellular energy. If you’re not eating or absorbing enough of the required nutrients to support energy production, your ability to maintain a consistent output of energy will be compromised.
KEY VITAMINS AND MINERALS FOR ENERGY
It is well established that B-complex vitamins function as coenzymes in mitochondrial energy pathways6 and are some of the best vitamins for tiredness and lack of energy when taken in supplement form. When dietary intake is insufficient, or where metabolic demands are elevated during stress, illness recovery or ageing, supplements to support energy levels may make a big difference.
SPECIALISED NUTRIENTS THAT HELP REDUCE TIREDNESS AND FATIGUE
In addition to foundational vitamins and minerals, there are some specialised compounds with strong evidence to support their role in cellular energy production and fatigue relief. What are the key nutrients for energy and fatigue? Here’s what the research says:
⊲ NICOTINAMIDE RIBOSIDE (NR) - Nicotinamide riboside (NR) is a bioactive enzyme cofactor precursor to vitamin B3, and plays a key role in supporting mitochondrial function, maintaining cellular energy production, and helping us to maintain energy levels.7 Our ability to produce NR ourselves declines steadily as we age.8
NR is bioavailable, and has a proven ability to raise B3 coenzyme activity. Research has shown that supplementation with NR can result in measurable increases in vitamin B3 coenzyme levels and has been shown to significantly increase coenzyme activity after one dose.9
⊲ COENZYME Q10 (COQ10) - CoQ10 is a fat-soluble antioxidant nutrient that fuels mitochondrial energy production while also reducing free radicals.10 A 2022 meta-analysis of 13 randomised controlled trials concluded that CoQ10 supplementation led to significant reductions in fatigue scores in healthy populations.
⊲ ACETYL-L-CARNITINE - Acetyl-L-carnitine helps transport fatty acids into the mitochondria, where they are converted into ATP,4 supporting the body’s supply of cellular energy.
⊲ GLUTATHIONE - Oxidative stress is strongly associated with fatigue11 and maintaining adequate glutathione levels, the body’s most abundant antioxidant, helps reduce free radicals formed in the body.12 One randomised-controlled trial found that daily supplementation for six months significantly increased blood glutathione concentrations and reduced oxidative stress markers.13
STRESS SUPPORT AND ITS ROLE IN SUPPORTING ENERGY
Sustained stress, whether physical or psychological, is known to contribute to nutrient depletion,14 increase oxidative stress15 and can overwhelm mitochondrial function.16 Managing the physiological effects of stress are tied deeply to the development of fatigue, and managing stress is an important part of improving energy.
SUPPLEMENTING FOR STRESS SUPPORT
SOD B EXTRAMEL® (SWEET MELON CONCENTRATE)
Superoxide dismutase (SOD) is the body’s primary enzymatic defence against free radicals. We make it ourselves, but it can also be sourced from some special foods.17 SOD B Extramel® is a concentrated extract of SOD from a specific variety of sweet melon. In a 12-week, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 61 healthy volunteers, SOD melon concentrate supplementation significantly reduced the perceived stress of participants and decreased mental fatigue signs when compared to placebo.18
HOW TO CHOOSE HIGH-QUALITY SUPPLEMENTS FOR SUSTAINED ENERGY
There are so many energy supplements on the shelves, and quality and formulation really do matter. Look for formulations that include evidence based ingredients at researched doses, with a focus on bioavailability (how well an ingredient is absorbed and used in the body). Key supplements for energy and fatigue work with the body’s own metabolic processes, supporting energy metabolism at the source.
CONCLUSION
Sustained energy starts in the cell. A nutrient-dense, wholefood diet provides the foundation for energy, and well-selected supplements can provide further support when intake or natural production is inadequate.
Which supplements can help with fatigue? Natural Factors® MitoFuel and Nicotinamide Riboside are formulated for energy support, with ingredients chosen for both bioavailability and efficacy.
Exploring energy supplements worth trying can be overwhelming. Are you wondering where to buy supplements for energy and fatigue? You can shop for MitoFuel and Nicotinamide Riboside
*References available on request.
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