You may have heard about NAD+ and how it’s supposed to help with aging. But what does it actually do, and is taking an NAD+ supplement really going to help?
First, let’s look at what NAD+ does in your body.
NAD+ is a molecule found in every cell of your body, and it’s essential for producing energy.
Think of it like a delivery truck. As your body breaks down food, NAD+ picks up electrons and becomes NADH. It then helps deliver those electrons to the mitochondria, where they’re used in the process of making ATP. That’s the energy your cells use to function.
Once NADH delivers its load, it can be converted back into NAD+ and start the process all over again.
But producing energy isn’t the only thing NAD+ helps with.
It also plays a role in how your cells respond to stress and repair damage.
For example, there are proteins called sirtuins that depend on NAD+ to function. They’re involved in regulating how cells respond to stress and changes in energy availability. Other enzymes use NAD+ in processes involved in repairing damaged DNA.
So you can see why researchers are interested in NAD+ when it comes to aging, energy production, and overall cellular health.
Should You Be Taking an NAD+ Supplement?
That’s a good question.
Some supplements, including NMN and NR, have been shown to increase NAD-related levels in the body.
But does that mean you’ll have more energy or slow down the aging process?
Not necessarily.
Researchers are still studying how these supplements affect our health. While some results are encouraging, we don’t have enough evidence yet to know how much benefit they provide or who is most likely to benefit.
And that’s something worth considering before you spend money on another supplement.
What Does Your Body Really Need?
If you’re tired all the time, I want you to think about something.
What’s causing that fatigue?
Are you getting enough sleep? Are you eating the foods your body needs? Are you dealing with ongoing stress? Could you have nutritional deficiencies or something else going on that’s affecting your energy?
These are things we need to look at.
Your body needs a variety of nutrients to function properly, including vitamin B3, which it uses to make NAD+.
You can get vitamin B3 from foods such as poultry, fish, meat, peanuts, and legumes.
Regular movement, adequate sleep, good nutrition, and managing stress also help support your body’s energy production and cellular health.
But sometimes, even when you’re doing these things, something is still missing.
That’s when it may be helpful to take a closer look at your individual nutritional needs and what else might be contributing to your symptoms.
What About Supplements?
I’ve worked in natural health for more than 30 years, and one thing I’ve learned is that everybody is different.
What helps one person may not be what another person needs.
Nutritional supplements can be a valuable part of supporting your health. But taking something simply because you’ve heard it’s good for energy or aging doesn’t mean it’s what your body needs right now.
And if you’re dealing with ongoing fatigue or other health concerns, you need to find out what’s causing them.
Otherwise, you may just be addressing the symptoms and missing the root cause.
If you’re considering an NAD-related supplement, particularly if you have an existing health condition or take medications, talk with a qualified healthcare professional.
So, Is NAD+ Worth Paying Attention To?
Absolutely.
It’s an important part of how your body produces energy and maintains healthy cells.
And as researchers continue studying NAD+, we may learn more about how supporting these processes can benefit our health as we age.
In the meantime, don’t overlook the basics. Make sure you’re giving your body the nutrients, rest, and other support it needs.
We’ve recently added two supplements designed to support NAD+ to our nutritional testing at Pacific Health Center. This gives us additional options to consider when evaluating your individual nutritional needs.
Does that mean everyone needs one of these supplements? Of course not. That’s why we test.
If you’re struggling with fatigue, low energy, or other ongoing health concerns, reach out to me. Let’s take a closer look at what’s going on and what nutritional support might be helpful for you.
Reference list
National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements. Niacin: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Niacin-HealthProfessional/
Cleveland Clinic. What Is NAD & Why Does It Matter for Your Health? https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/nad-nicotinamide-adenine-dinucleotide
Katsyuba E, Romani M, Hofer D, Auwerx J. NAD+ homeostasis in health and disease. Nature Metabolism (2020). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32848286/
Covarrubias AJ, Perrone R, Grozio A, Verdin E. NAD+ metabolism and its roles in cellular processes during ageing. Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology (2021). https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7963035/
Efficacy of oral nicotinamide mononucleotide supplementation on glucose and lipid metabolism for adults: a systematic review with meta-analysis on randomized controlled trials. PubMed (2024). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39116016/
Effects of Nicotinamide Mononucleotide on Glucose and Lipid Metabolism in Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomised Controlled Trials. PubMed (2024). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39531138/
Mercola newsletter: What Are Sirtuins and How Do They Affect Aging and Longevity? https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2026/09/13/sirtuins-aging-longevity.aspx
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