NAD+ is having a longevity moment. Are patients getting results?
Industry Buzz
The rise in popularity of NAD+ supplements is likely based upon the fact that many influencers have touted that they take them.
—Deborah Kado, MD
NAD+ supplements are rising in popularity. So what advice should you give your patients? MDLinx spoke with two experts about the supplements and how to counsel patients.
“The rise in popularity of NAD+ supplements is likely based upon the fact that many influencers have touted that they take them, including the scientists who have worked on NAD+," says Deborah Kado, MD, professor of medicine and Chief of Research for the Geriatrics Section in the Department of Medicine, Division of Primary Care and Population Health, at Stanford University.
For example, David Sinclair, PhD (scientist at Harvard), Andrew Huberman, PhD (famous podcaster from Stanford), Kendall Jenner (media personality), and Justin Bieber (singer) are a few famous people who have gone on record with their usage, according to Dr. Kado.
“If one takes NAD, the scientists have shown that the blood levels of NAD+ go up (NAD+ blood levels have been shown to go down with age). However, none of the 27+ human trials that have been done have been able to show improvements in any clinical outcomes that people might really care about (eg, blood glucose, cholesterol, blood pressure, muscle strength, to name a few)," Dr. Kado says.
What is NAD?
NAD (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) is essential for DNA repair and cellular energy and is believed to be related to aging. []
“NAD itself is not absorbed well by cells, so the actual supplement options are nicotinamide riboside (NR) and nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN). Oral ingestion of either typically leads to an increase in the blood/tissue concentrations of NAD. Hence, it is assumed that this increase in NAD will lead to physiological improvements. Some studies document a benefit, while others do not. It likely depends on the subject population and whether they need additional NAD, as well as the outcomes tested,” says Richard Bloomer, PhD, director of the Center for Nutraceutical and Dietary Supplement Research at the University of Memphis.
An effective dosage appears to be 300 mg per day or more, according to Dr. Bloomer.
"Both NR and NMN appear to be well-tolerated," he says. "Studies using a daily dose of approximately 1,000 mg have noted few side effects, most of which are mild: digestive discomfort, nausea, or headache in some individuals.”
Patient talking points
Dr. Bloomer recommends that if patients come to their physician with questions about NAD+ supplements, it would be beneficial to first counsel them to focus on appropriate lifestyle modifications.
“Patients should work hard to get their lifestyle in order: Consume a nutrient-dense diet, engage in physical activity every day, perform structured exercise most days of the week, obtain 7+ hours of sleep each night, learn how to effectively handle stress, and adopt a faith-based lifestyle. These things will account for about 95% of their physical health success,” he says.
But if patients do choose to proceed with supplements, he says it should be done properly and consistently.
“The supplements may help but will never replace the lifestyle factors,” he says. Patients can consider using “NR or NMN at a dosage of at least 300 mg per day,” from a reputable source. He advises his patients to “take the product consistently for 8-12 weeks to determine effectiveness, while keeping all other lifestyle factors the same, so they will know if the supplement is really helping.”
Related: The best supplements for longevity