A topic much emphasized by DR. BENJAMIN S. FRANK, RNA PIONEER is the importance of vitamins and minerals for achieving optimal results in subjects following protocols for nucleic acid nutrition and therapy. Dr. Frank found that whereas vitamins by themselves might produce health effects, and nucleic acids by themselves achieved very definite results, the greatest results involved both vitamins and nucleic acids. Dr. Frank found that vitamins and nucleic acids acted synergistically and tended to create results far surpassing those obtained by using either vitamins or nucleic acids.
Dr. Frank explained the biochemical relation of vitamins and nucleic acids, and specifically used the example of the B-complex vitamins. In metabolizing Vitamin B3 (niacin or niacinamide), for example, the body requires energy for conversions that properly break down the vitamin into its usable components. Thus, cells convert niacin to coenzyme nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD), which may then be converted to NADP via a phosphate transfer from ATP. The initial reaction involves nicotinic acid with 5-phosphoribosyl 1-pyrophosphate to produce nicotinic mononucleotide (NMN).
He notes that phosphoribosyl pyrophosphate also is the basic compound for purine synthesis (and is formed from ribose-5-phosphate plus ATP). This indicates that the energy of level of a cell plays an essential role in the synthesis of NMN (the precursor of NAD), and therefore that the greater the rate of ATP synthesis, the greater the rate of synthesis of NMN. The next step in the metabolism of niacin involves NMN reacting with ATP to create desamido-NAD, where ATP acts both as a source of energy and a component of the NAD coenzyme.
Ultimately ATP is crucial to the formation of the NAD coenzyme (an important coenzyme in cellular energy metabolism). Thus, Dr. Frank states that higher Krebs cycle activity and oxygen-energy metabolism favors synthesis of NAD, given the availability of niacin (or niacinamide). Moreover, a higher level of niacin (or niacinamide) likewise would favor its own conversion into the active NAD coenzyme. Dr. Frank points to the evident relation of energy metabolism and NAD synthesis, wherein increased nucleic acid and nucleotide intake produces increased energy metabolism and ATP production, which in turn enables both more effective metabolism of niacin and further increases in cellular NAD. He therefore finds a very evident relationship between dietary nucleic acids and NAD with respect to energy production and related metabolism (151).
Dr. Frank relates similar processes for other vitamins (e.g., riboflavin and pantothenic acid) that he finds representative of the B-complex. From his own clinical experience, he relates his observation of definite increases in energy among subjects receiving high-dosage B-complex vitamins (e.g., 50–200 mg of thiamin daily plus other balanced B factors) given with high nucleic acid intake. His clinical observations correspond with his technical analysis of the synergistic biochemical relations between dietary nucleic acids and B vitamins in energy production.
Dr. Frank also discusses other vitamins in his books (e.g., Vitamin A). He concludes: “It is apparent that nucleic acid and nucleotide intake are most importantly related to vitamin usage and function and that the greater the nucleic acid intake, within limits not yet determined, the greater the synthesis and usage of many and perhaps most coenzymes” (153).
He notes that phosphoribosyl pyrophosphate also is the basic compound for purine synthesis (and is formed from ribose-5-phosphate plus ATP). This indicates that the energy of level of a cell plays an essential role in the synthesis of NMN (the precursor of NAD), and therefore that the greater the rate of ATP synthesis, the greater the rate of synthesis of NMN. The next step in the metabolism of niacin involves NMN reacting with ATP to create desamido-NAD, where ATP acts both as a source of energy and a component of the NAD coenzyme.
Ultimately ATP is crucial to the formation of the NAD coenzyme (an important coenzyme in cellular energy metabolism). Thus, Dr. Frank states that higher Krebs cycle activity and oxygen-energy metabolism favors synthesis of NAD, given the availability of niacin (or niacinamide). Moreover, a higher level of niacin (or niacinamide) likewise would favor its own conversion into the active NAD coenzyme. Dr. Frank points to the evident relation of energy metabolism and NAD synthesis, wherein increased nucleic acid and nucleotide intake produces increased energy metabolism and ATP production, which in turn enables both more effective metabolism of niacin and further increases in cellular NAD. He therefore finds a very evident relationship between dietary nucleic acids and NAD with respect to energy production and related metabolism (151).
Dr. Frank relates similar processes for other vitamins (e.g., riboflavin and pantothenic acid) that he finds representative of the B-complex. From his own clinical experience, he relates his observation of definite increases in energy among subjects receiving high-dosage B-complex vitamins (e.g., 50–200 mg of thiamin daily plus other balanced B factors) given with high nucleic acid intake. His clinical observations correspond with his technical analysis of the synergistic biochemical relations between dietary nucleic acids and B vitamins in energy production.
Dr. Frank also discusses other vitamins in his books (e.g., Vitamin A). He concludes: “It is apparent that nucleic acid and nucleotide intake are most importantly related to vitamin usage and function and that the greater the nucleic acid intake, within limits not yet determined, the greater the synthesis and usage of many and perhaps most coenzymes” (153).