Can a form of vitamin B3 really slow down how fast you age?

NAD levels drop steadily as you get older, weakening everything from energy production to DNA repair. But does taking a supplement actually help?

 

The truth about NAD supplements and aging Your body contains a molecule called nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) that helps power your cells, repair your DNA, and regulate your immune system. And you make less of it every year you're alive. That fact has turned NAD supplements, typically sold as forms of vitamin B3, into one of the fastest-growing categories in the longevity market. But Şebnem Ünlüişler, Chief Longevity Officer and genetic engineer at the London Regenerative Institute, says the picture is more complicated than supplement labels suggest. "NAD+ levels decline with age, and this reduction is associated with impaired mitochondrial function, reduced genomic stability, and increased cellular stress," Ünlüişler told Medical News Today. Your body can rebuild its NAD stores from dietary precursors like tryptophan and vitamin B3 — but you can't simply eat your way to higher levels. Aging, inflammation, and metabolic stress all work against you. So can a supplement bridge the gap? Ünlüişler says restoring NAD levels "may support mitochondrial health and metabolic resilience," but adds a firm caveat: "There is no definitive clinical evidence that NAD+ supplementation slows aging or extends lifespan in humans." Her advice? Think of NAD supplements as one piece of a larger strategy, not a standalone fix. To learn more about what the latest research says about this supplement, jump to "Longevity: Can NAD supplements really slow down aging?" Also making headlines this week: 🧠 Hearing loss and cognitive decline may share a deep connection 🍳 A bigger breakfast may aid weight loss, but should you load up on protein or fiber? 💪 Grip strength in older women could predict longevity, new research suggests We love to hear from you, so please email us if you have any feedback, comments, or questions about this weekend's Sunday Supplement. Stay informed and stay healthy! Tim Snaith Newsletter Editor, Medical News Today

MNT RESOURCE What is hyperphosphatemia? Learn all about hyperphosphatemia, when levels of phosphate in the blood are too high. We examine the symptoms, causes, and treatment options. Learn all about hyperphosphatemia, when levels of phosphate in the blood are too high. We examine the symptoms, causes, and treatment options. READ ON

In case you missed it Cognitive decline is often linked to hearing loss: This may be why   Hearing loss can be a sign of cognitive decline, and researchers are getting much closer to understanding what links these two processes so closely. Read on   A large breakfast may aid weight loss but should it favor protein or fiber?   Eating almost half of your daily calories at breakfast time may aid weight loss, a large study has found. Read on   Stronger muscles, longer lives? Study highlights benefit for older females   A new study suggests that muscle strength, particularly grip strength, is associated with longevity and could offer a practical screening tool for aging-related risk. Read on   Intermittent fasting may not aid weight loss, large review finds   Intermittent fasting does not appear to be an effective approach for weight loss, according to a new Cochrane review. Read on   Lifelong lead exposure may harm brain health in later years   As cases of dementia continue to climb worldwide, uncovering modifiable risk factors remains a major public health priority. Recent research highlights the potential role of lead exposure on both dementia risk and links to lower cognitive performances. Read on   MORE HEALTH NEWS

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