What is NAD+ and how does it work?

NAD+ has become one of the most talked-about molecules in the longevity world. It's mentioned in the routines of researchers like David Sinclair and appears in countless supplements. But what exactly is NAD+, and why is it receiving so much attention?

In this article, you'll learn what NAD+ is, what it does in your body, why it declines as you age, and how you can support it through your lifestyle and so-called precursors. No hype and no marketing jargon, just an honest story so you can make an informed choice yourself.

What is NAD+?

NAD+ stands for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide. It is a coenzyme found in every cell of your body and is essential for life. You can think of it as an auxiliary substance that countless enzymes need to do their work.

NAD+ has roughly two roles. Firstly, it plays a central role in energy production: it helps convert nutrients into usable energy in your mitochondria, the powerhouses of your cells. Secondly, it serves as fuel for maintenance enzymes, including sirtuins, which we will discuss shortly.

What does NAD+ do in your body?

Because NAD+ is involved in so many processes, it touches upon much of what your body does daily. It plays a role in energy metabolism, DNA repair, mitochondrial function, and processes related to cellular aging. Research therefore describes NAD+ as a molecule that links energy metabolism to healthy aging.

Important to remember: NAD+ is not a cure or a promise. It is a natural, endogenous molecule that plays a role in fundamental cellular processes. It is precisely this fundamental role that makes it interesting to understand.

Why NAD+ declines with age

Here lies the core of the attention for NAD+. Its levels in your body are not constant: they gradually decrease as you age. Research shows that NAD+ levels around middle age are still about half of what they were at a young age.

This decline is due to a combination of factors: the body produces less NAD+ and consumes it faster. The idea behind much longevity research can be summarized simply: if NAD+ is so important and it declines with age, can you do something to support its levels?

NAD+ and sirtuins: the longevity link

To understand why NAD+ is so central to the longevity story, you need to know about sirtuins. This is a family of maintenance enzymes involved in processes related to DNA repair, mitochondrial function, and cellular aging. And crucially: sirtuins need NAD+ to do their work.

This is where the reasoning comes together: if NAD+ declines, there is less fuel for sirtuins, and they cannot do their maintenance work as effectively. This is also where the name David Sinclair appears: he links sirtuins to substances like resveratrol, which are said to support sirtuin activity. A similar longevity logic can be seen with ingredients like berberine; you can read about how that works in our article on the effects of berberine.

Important nuance: while research well supports that NAD+ and sirtuins play a role in aging, this does not mean that a supplement stops aging. How this link precisely works, and what research does and does not show, you can read in our article on NAD+ and aging.

How to increase NAD+?

There are roughly three ways people try to support their NAD+ levels.

Lifestyle. Exercise, a healthy diet, and sufficient sleep are associated with healthier NAD+ metabolism. This remains the basis, before considering a supplement.

Vitamin B3. NAD+ is built in the body from forms of vitamin B3 (niacin), among other things. Niacin contributes to normal energy-yielding metabolism, a recognized role of this vitamin.

Precursors. These are precursors that the body can convert into NAD+. The best-researched and EU-approved form is nicotinamide riboside (NR). You also hear a lot about NMN, but be aware: it is not approved as a food supplement in the EU, so do not order it. A newer precursor is trigonelline, a natural substance from coffee and fenugreek: promising and possibly the most potent of the three, although research into it is still truly in development. Which precursor is best for you, you can read in our comparison NR versus NMN.

Everything we carry has passed our Expert Standard. We look at things like production, ingredient quality, bioavailability, and independent product tests. We only carry what passes these checks, with transparent origin and purity. You can read how we select on our selection process.

Beware of NAD+ in the ingredient list

A common pitfall is supplements with NAD+ itself as the active ingredient, preferably in a fancy liposomal packaging. This is mainly an expensive detour: your body first breaks down NAD+ in digestion into smaller building blocks and then rebuilds it, so you don't absorb it as a whole molecule. And the liposomal or sublingual promises about this have not been independently proven. So, turn the package over and read the ingredient list: if NAD+ (or nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) is listed as the active ingredient, you're paying for the detour. What you want to see is a precursor: nicotinamide riboside (NR) or trigonelline.

Marketing vs. evidence: beware of big promises

Around NAD+, promises tumble over each other: more energy, more beautiful skin, becoming younger. You even see dermatologists and influencers making such claims. What is certain in humans is that precursors like NR increase your NAD+; the leap from "more NAD+" to energy, skin, and becoming younger is tempting, but not proven in humans and not allowed as a health claim. Which claims are true and how to recognize a good supplement, you can read in NAD+ supplements: what really works, and what is marketing?

Why do we still carry NR and trigonelline?

Good question, and the answer shows precisely how we select. We choose them not for the marketing, but because they pass the test. The mechanism is logical: your NAD+ declines with age, and these precursors measurably replenish that supply. They are natural, endogenous pathways. NR demonstrably increases NAD+ levels in humans, and it is one of the most promising directions in longevity research. In short: a strong, honest basis, without the hollow promises surrounding it. That is our Expert Standard in practice.

For whom is NAD+ interesting, and the nuance

NAD+ and its associated precursors are primarily used by people who are proactively engaged with their health and longevity routine. Most forms are well-tolerated.

At the same time, sobriety is in order. NAD+ supplementation is a young field of research: precursors measurably increase NAD+ levels, but hard evidence for long-term effects on aging in humans is not yet available. If you are taking medication, or are pregnant or breastfeeding, consult your doctor first. A supplement is a complement, not a substitute for a healthy lifestyle or medical care.

Supporting NAD+: the smart route

NAD+ is an endogenous coenzyme that plays a central role in your energy production and in the maintenance of your cells, including via sirtuins. Because its levels decline with age, it has become a logical focal point in longevity research. However, keep expectations realistic: the evidence for long-term effects of supplementation is still developing.

If you want to support NAD+, it starts with lifestyle, with a precursor as a supplement, not with NAD+ itself as an active ingredient on the label. The approved, selected forms can be found in our NAD+ collection.

Which precursor and dosage are right for you depends on what's happening in your body. You don't have to guess: with the right blood values, you can see where you stand, and you can measure those with the annual BeatsWell blood test.