- Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) is a molecule derived, among others, from vitamin B3.
- Recent studies have highlighted the role it plays in maintaining body systems ‘youthful’, which has led to the suggestion that NAD supplementation could help slow down aging and boost longevity.
- But how much truth is there behind these claims? Longevity expert Şebnem Ünlüişler weighs in.
Recent studies on aging have latched onto a “player” in longevity that had hitherto received little attention: nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, or NAD for short.
NAD is a molecule sometimes derived from vitamin B3, also known as “niacin,” and it occurs in every living cell of the human body.
It plays complex roles for health but the latest research — including a study published in the journal
This has raised questions about whether NAD+ dietary supplements could be an effective tool for boosting longevity.
To find out what roles NAD actually plays in the body, and whether or not supplements could really help in the quest for rejuvenation, Medical News Today quizzed Şebnem Ünlüişler, Chief Longevity Officer and genetic engineer at the London Regenerative Institute.
“Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) is a central cellular coenzyme required for mitochondrial energy production, DNA repair, and regulation of stress response pathways including sirtuins and PARPs,” Ünlüişler told us.
mitochondria
sirtuins
PARPs
poly(ADP-ribose) polymerases, are similarly involved in the regulation of immune responses and maintaining cellular health.
In the body, “NAD+ levels decline with age, and this reduction is associated with impaired mitochondrial function, reduced genomic stability, and increased cellular stress, all of which are linked to biological aging processes,” explained Ünlüişler.
“NAD+ itself is not significantly absorbed from food, but the body synthesizes it from dietary precursors such as tryptophan and vitamin B3 forms including niacin, nicotinamide, and nicotinamide riboside,” she explained.
“Although NAD+ is continuously recycled in the body, aging, inflammation, and metabolic stress can lower its availability,” detailed Ünlüişler.
Ünlüişler:
“Supplementation with precursors such as NR [nicotinamide riboside] or NMN [nicotinamide mononucleotide] has been shown to increase NAD+ levels in humans, while intravenous NAD+ is used in some clinical contexts, though long term outcome data remain limited.”
Current evidence indicates that restoring NAD+ levels may support mitochondrial Health and metabolic resilience,” said Ünlüişler.
“However, there is no definitive clinical evidence that NAD+ supplementation slows aging or extends lifespan in humans,” she emphasized.
For those who are curious to try it, “it should be considered a metabolic support strategy within a broader longevity framework rather than a standalone anti-aging intervention,” she advised.
