Healthy adults do not need to take NAD supplements to maintain cellular energy levels because blood concentrations of the compound do not decrease with age, according to a study published on November 4 in Nature Metabolism.
The research challenges widespread marketing claims surrounding anti-aging supplements. Manufacturers have flooded the market with health functional foods containing nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, along with precursors like nicotinamide mononucleotide and nicotinamide riboside, arguing that natural declines require supplementation.
Researchers at Vilnius University in Lithuania analyzed blood samples from 1,068 adults to determine how concentrations shift over time. The findings showed that men’s blood NAD levels remain relatively consistent across different age groups, while women actually display a slight increase in levels as they age.
“In healthy adults, NAD levels did not decrease with age,” researchers noted. The substance remains vital for cellular energy production and DNA damage repair, but the human body maintains its baseline without external replenishment in the absence of underlying health conditions.
Investigators discovered that notably low blood NAD levels correlate strongly with specific health statuses rather than chronological aging. Individuals diagnosed with cardiovascular disease consistently registered lower concentrations of the co-substance.
The divergence proved particularly pronounced among patients with hypertension. However, the study could not determine whether depleted NAD levels directly cause cardiovascular complications or if underlying heart disease depletes the compound.
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Researchers clarified that the study focused strictly on blood NAD levels. Whether identical patterns occur in other tissues, such as skeletal muscle or brain tissue, remains undetermined and requires further investigation.
Current research indicates that healthy adults do not experience age-related declines in blood NAD, meaning supplements are unnecessary for maintaining baseline levels.
The Vilnius University study found that lower NAD concentrations correlate with underlying health conditions, particularly cardiovascular disease and hypertension.
Manufacturers commonly use nicotinamide mononucleotide and nicotinamide riboside, marketed as compounds that aid the body in producing NAD.