Why are all my friends taking NAD+ and How Do I Get It?

1 Big Thing

NAD⁺ is becoming a buzzword in the health world, with many people keen to boost their levels. It plays a crucial role in your body's energy production and cellular health.

Why It Matters

Boosting NAD⁺ may help protect against aging and support recovery from health challenges. This matters because as you age or face health issues, NAD⁺ levels naturally drop, impacting your overall well-being.

Between the Lines

Research shows that maintaining NAD⁺ levels is important for metabolic and brain health (Griffiths et al., 2020). Scientists are exploring its potential in tackling age-related and degenerative conditions, offering hope for future therapies (Braidy et al., 2019).

Go Deeper

What Is NAD⁺?

NAD⁺ stands for Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide, a vital coenzyme found in all living cells. It helps your body turn nutrients into energy, acting like a helper for essential cellular processes (Griffiths et al., 2020).

Without enough NAD⁺, your cells struggle to perform tasks like DNA repair and defending against stress. This makes boosting NAD⁺ levels potentially helpful for addressing cellular damage and supporting longevity (Braidy et al., 2019).

As you age, NAD⁺ levels naturally decline, which can affect your health. Preserving your NAD⁺ levels may help support overall vitality and reduce age-related health risks (Belenky et al., 2007).

What Conditions Might NAD⁺ Help With?

NAD⁺ is being studied for its benefits in age-related and degenerative conditions, including metabolic and heart health. Research suggests it may aid in improving metabolism and heart function (Bhasin et al., 2023).

Raising NAD⁺ levels has shown potential benefits in preclinical studies for neurodegenerative diseases, like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's (Reiten et al., 2021). It might also help manage inflammation and protect the nervous system (Verdin, 2015).

Some early studies highlight NAD⁺'s possible role in supporting skin health and preventing certain cancers. Keep in mind, more human studies are needed to confirm these effects (Manickam et al., 2025).

Is NAD⁺ FDA Approved?

NAD⁺ itself and its boosting supplements aren't FDA-approved as treatments for any disease. Instead, they are available as dietary supplements, meaning they haven't undergone rigorous testing for medical claims (Freeberg et al., 2023).

Nicotinamide riboside, one popular NAD⁺ booster, is recognized as safe for use in foods and supplements. However, this status differs from FDA drug approval since clinical trial results remain inconclusive (Yaku & Nakagawa, 2023).

While some supplements have shown safety and raised NAD⁺ levels, consistent health benefits are still uncertain. Experts emphasize the need for more research before drawing firm conclusions (Braidy & Liu, 2020).

How Can You Boost NAD⁺ Levels?

You can naturally enhance NAD⁺ levels through precursors like nicotinamide riboside or nicotinamide mononucleotide. These are forms of vitamin B3 found in certain foods and supplements (Griffiths et al., 2020).

Adding foods rich in tryptophan, such as turkey and chicken, may also help maintain NAD⁺. Combining a healthy diet with stress reduction and regular exercise supports overall NAD⁺ production (Kulikova et al., 2018).

Consulting a healthcare provider before starting any supplements is wise. They can guide you based on your specific health needs and conditions (Zhang & Ying, 2019).

Are There Risks Involved?

There are no known severe side effects for NAD⁺ supplements at typical doses, but long-term safety is less clear. It's important to follow recommended dosages and seek medical advice if you have concerns (Freeberg et al., 2023).

Many patients wonder if boosting NAD⁺ will lead to immediate health changes; however, evidence is still emerging. As promising as the research appears, be cautious and informed about potential benefits and risks (Belenky et al., 2007).

Closing

Health concerns, no matter how minor they may seem, can severely impact your overall well-being and quality of life. If you're experiencing symptoms or have concerns about a specific health condition, remember that timely and expert advice is key. Navigating healthcare can be challenging, but finding the right primary care physician shouldn't be. Whether you're seeking medical advice, a prescription or care, immediate access to expert primary care is just a button away. Don't leave your health to chance - consult a Well Revolution primary care provider today for peace of mind and professional care.

References

1. Griffiths HBS, Williams C, King SJ, Allison SJ. Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide (NAD⁺): Essential Redox Metabolite, Co-Substrate and an Anti-Cancer and Anti-Ageing Therapeutic Target. Biochemical Society Transactions. 2020;48(3):733-744. doi:10.1042/BST20190033.

2. Braidy N, Berg J, Clement J, et al. Role of Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide and Related Precursors as Therapeutic Targets for Age-Related Degenerative Diseases: Rationale, Biochemistry, Pharmacokinetics, and Outcomes. Antioxidants & Redox Signaling. 2019;30(2):251-294. doi:10.1089/ars.2017.7269.

3. Belenky P, Bogan KL, Brenner C. NAD+ Metabolism in Health and Disease. Trends in Biochemical Sciences. 2007;32(1):12-9. doi:10.1016/j.tibs.2006.11.006.

4. Bhasin S, Seals D, Migaud M, Musi N, Baur JA. Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide in Aging Biology: Potential Applications and Many Unknowns. Endocrine Reviews. 2023;44(6):1047-1073. doi:10.1210/endrev/bnad019.

5. Reiten OK, Wilvang MA, Mitchell SJ, Hu Z, Fang EF. Preclinical and Clinical Evidence of NAD Precursors in Health, Disease, and Ageing. Mechanisms of Ageing and Development. 2021;199:111567. doi:10.1016/j.mad.2021.111567.

6. Manickam R, Santhana S, Xuan W, Bisht K, Tipparaju S. Nampt: A New Therapeutic Target for Modulating NAD+ Levels in Metabolic, Cardiovascular, and Neurodegenerative Diseases. Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology. 2025;103(7):208-224. doi:10.1139/cjpp-2024-0400.

7. Freeberg KA, Udovich CC, Martens CR, Seals DR, Craighead DH. Dietary Supplementation With NAD+-Boosting Compounds in Humans: Current Knowledge and Future Directions. The Journals of Gerontology. Series A, Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences. 2023;78(12):2435-2448. doi:10.1093/gerona/glad106.

8. Yaku K, Nakagawa T. NAD+ Precursors in Human Health and Disease: Current Status and Future Prospects. Antioxidants & Redox Signaling. 2023;39(16-18):1133-1149. doi:10.1089/ars.2023.0354.

9. Zhang M, Ying W. NAD Deficiency Is a Common Central Pathological Factor of a Number of Diseases and Aging: Mechanisms and Therapeutic Implications. Antioxidants & Redox Signaling. 2019;30(6):890-905. doi:10.1089/ars.2017.7445.

10. Kulikova VA, Gromyko DV, Nikiforov AA. The Regulatory Role of NAD in Human and Animal Cells. Biochemistry. Biokhimiia. 2018;83(7):800-812. doi:10.1134/S0006297918070040.