haidut
Member
This is yet another confirmation of my suspicion that sedative substances lower cortisol levels. Niacinamide is officially recognized as a GABA-A agonist, but apparently this is not the major reason behind its effect on cortisol. The enzyme that de-activates cortisol - 11b-HSD2 - is apparently an NAD-dependent enzyme. On the other hand, the enzyme that converts cortisone into the active cortisol - 11b-HSD1 - is apperently sensitive to inhibtion by agents that are structurally similar to niacinamide.
So, I has the thought that niacinamide would make the perfect anti-cortisol compound since it may be capable of BOTH inhibiting 11b-HSD1 and enhancing 11b-HSD2, thus BOTH inhibiting cortisol synthesis and enhancing its de-activation. Separately, inhibitors of 11b-HSD1 and enhancers of 11b-HSD2 are in clinical trials for a number of conditions associated with hypercortisolemia.
After doing some more research, I found out that I am not the only one having these thoughts. In fact, the pharma company AstraZeneca has synthesized and patented (with very little publicity and fanfare) several derivatives of niacinamide that can directly inhibit 11b-HSD1 and has enrolled them in clinical trials for a number of conditions related to high cortisol including Cushing syndrome, diabetes, obesity, etc.
I exchanged some emails with the lead author of these studies and he admitted that niacinamide may indeed inhibit 11b-HSD1 (by binding to it) and definitely will enhance 11b-HSD2 (by raising NAD levels).
There is not much data on in vivo effective doses by the in vitro EC50 for the niacinamide derivatives is in the micromolar range, which means as little as 100mg niacinamide should do the trick.
http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jm4014746
Discovery of a potent, selective, and orally bioavailable acidic 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β-HSD1) inhibitor: discovery of 2-[(3S)... - PubMed - NCBI
"...11β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β-HSD1) is an NADPH dependent enzyme that is widely expressed, notably in liver, adipose tissue, and brain.10 It catalyzes the interconversion of the inactive glucocorticoid hormone cortisone (1) to the active glucocorticoid hormone cortisol (2) (Figure 1) and therefore plays a key role in the regulation of intracellular cortisol concentrations.11 11β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 (11β-HSD2) is an NAD dependent oxidase expressed mainly in kidney and colon tissue that catalyzes the reverse reaction and prevents activation of mineralocorticoid receptors by 2.12 Inhibition of this enzyme has been associated with hypertension and other complications, and therefore, selectivity over this isoform is a key requirement for any potential therapeutic agent.13"
"...Nicotinamide 4 had modest potency (IC50 = 350 nM) and was suprisingly unbound (rat plasma protein binding (PPB), 13.2% free) given the measured log D7.4 (3.2). Ligand efficiency was high as measured per heavy atom count (0.46) and moderate as measured by ligand lipophilicity efficiency30 (LLE = pIC50 − logD = 3.3). Sulfonamide 5 was more potent (IC50 = 200 nM) although less impressive in terms of ligand efficiency per heavy atom count (0.33) or ligand lipophilicity efficiency (2.8). The permeability of both was high as measured in a CACO-2 assay with no evidence of efflux."
Nicotinamide uncouples hormone-dependent chromatin remodeling from transcription complex assembly. - PubMed - NCBI
"...RT-PCR analysis of GR- and PR-regulated genes in the A1-2 cell line demonstrated that NAM also inhibits glucocorticoid dexamethasone (Dex)-induced GR-mediated transcription in addition to PR-mediated transcription (Fig. (Fig.1B1B)."
A good synergy with niacinamide may be theanine and glycine, which also powerfully lower cortisol.
Glycine Powerfully Lowers Cortisol | Ray Peat Forum
Theanine Completely Abolishes The Cortisol Response To Stress In Humans | Ray Peat Forum
So, I has the thought that niacinamide would make the perfect anti-cortisol compound since it may be capable of BOTH inhibiting 11b-HSD1 and enhancing 11b-HSD2, thus BOTH inhibiting cortisol synthesis and enhancing its de-activation. Separately, inhibitors of 11b-HSD1 and enhancers of 11b-HSD2 are in clinical trials for a number of conditions associated with hypercortisolemia.
After doing some more research, I found out that I am not the only one having these thoughts. In fact, the pharma company AstraZeneca has synthesized and patented (with very little publicity and fanfare) several derivatives of niacinamide that can directly inhibit 11b-HSD1 and has enrolled them in clinical trials for a number of conditions related to high cortisol including Cushing syndrome, diabetes, obesity, etc.
I exchanged some emails with the lead author of these studies and he admitted that niacinamide may indeed inhibit 11b-HSD1 (by binding to it) and definitely will enhance 11b-HSD2 (by raising NAD levels).
There is not much data on in vivo effective doses by the in vitro EC50 for the niacinamide derivatives is in the micromolar range, which means as little as 100mg niacinamide should do the trick.
http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jm4014746
Discovery of a potent, selective, and orally bioavailable acidic 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β-HSD1) inhibitor: discovery of 2-[(3S)... - PubMed - NCBI
"...11β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β-HSD1) is an NADPH dependent enzyme that is widely expressed, notably in liver, adipose tissue, and brain.10 It catalyzes the interconversion of the inactive glucocorticoid hormone cortisone (1) to the active glucocorticoid hormone cortisol (2) (Figure 1) and therefore plays a key role in the regulation of intracellular cortisol concentrations.11 11β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 (11β-HSD2) is an NAD dependent oxidase expressed mainly in kidney and colon tissue that catalyzes the reverse reaction and prevents activation of mineralocorticoid receptors by 2.12 Inhibition of this enzyme has been associated with hypertension and other complications, and therefore, selectivity over this isoform is a key requirement for any potential therapeutic agent.13"
"...Nicotinamide 4 had modest potency (IC50 = 350 nM) and was suprisingly unbound (rat plasma protein binding (PPB), 13.2% free) given the measured log D7.4 (3.2). Ligand efficiency was high as measured per heavy atom count (0.46) and moderate as measured by ligand lipophilicity efficiency30 (LLE = pIC50 − logD = 3.3). Sulfonamide 5 was more potent (IC50 = 200 nM) although less impressive in terms of ligand efficiency per heavy atom count (0.33) or ligand lipophilicity efficiency (2.8). The permeability of both was high as measured in a CACO-2 assay with no evidence of efflux."
Nicotinamide uncouples hormone-dependent chromatin remodeling from transcription complex assembly. - PubMed - NCBI
"...RT-PCR analysis of GR- and PR-regulated genes in the A1-2 cell line demonstrated that NAM also inhibits glucocorticoid dexamethasone (Dex)-induced GR-mediated transcription in addition to PR-mediated transcription (Fig. (Fig.1B1B)."
A good synergy with niacinamide may be theanine and glycine, which also powerfully lower cortisol.
Glycine Powerfully Lowers Cortisol | Ray Peat Forum
Theanine Completely Abolishes The Cortisol Response To Stress In Humans | Ray Peat Forum
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