Is NAD+ really the 'fountain of youth' the internet says it is?

Let's dive into the science.

Hello friends!

I’m a bit of a supplement skeptic. I do think there are clear benefits to some supplementation, but I also think there are way too many on the market, all promising miracles. So when you all started asking me what I thought of NAD+, I looked a lot like the raised eyebrow emoji. 🤨

But I also can’t ignore its popularity, particularly with its lofty youth-related claims. So many celebs swear by it—Gwyneth Paltrow, Jennifer Aniston, Kendall Jenner, Hailey Bieber—for anti-aging and biohacking/longevity.

From the studies we have so far, it does seem like NAD+ is safe for most people. My concern is more related to not wanting you to waste your money on yet another supplement that won’t do anything for you.

So, let’s take a closer look: Is NAD+ really the fountain of youth we’ve all been waiting for?

NAD+ and longevity

NAD stands for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, and it already occurs naturally in our bodies. It's a coenzyme found in all living cells, and it's critical for energy production and cellular health. NAD+ is responsible for helping us convert food into energy, supports DNA repair, regulates aging-related functions, and plays a role in controlling processes like inflammation, stress, and circadian rhythms.

Our natural NAD+ levels do decline as we age, and some experts believe that this drop could be a key factor in why our bodies become more vulnerable to disease and dysfunction over time.

While I need to caveat with the disclaimer that a lot more studies (and particularly human studies) are needed on this topic, emerging research on NAD+ supplementation, also called peptide therapy, is promising.