When it comes to longevity, there isn\u2019t a silver bullet. But NAD supplements might be the next closest thing to a capsule you can swallow to increase your healthspan. <\/p>\n
Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, otherwise known as NAD (and sometimes referred to by its other formats, NAD+ or NADH), stands for a naturally occurring molecule in our bodies that decreases as we age. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt’s a reasonable hypothesis that the declines in NAD might contribute to disease and dysfunction as we age, and that supplementing NAD would be a way to restore it and improve our health holistically,\u201d says Daniel Craighead, PhD<\/a>, who has published research<\/a> on NAD-boosting compounds. <\/p>\n Studies show that giving animals the NAD precursors nicotinamide riboside (NR) or nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) \u2014 the building blocks that create NAD \u2014 can improve several biomarkers for cardiovascular health<\/a>, brain function<\/a>, metabolism<\/a>, muscle health<\/a>, skin anti-aging<\/a>, and more. <\/p>\n The caveat? So far, only a small number of short-term studies on humans have been done, and the results of those are more mixed. But there have been some benefits seen in people with type 2 diabetes or peripheral artery disease, and other positive results, such as an overall reduction in inflammation. <\/p>\n \u201cIt’s important to have a big picture of health \u2014 we stress whole foods, exercise, sleep hygiene, stress reduction, those things first,\u201d says Barry Sandler, DO<\/a>, an osteopathic physician specializing in anti-aging medicine at Vail Health. \u201cBut I think NAD is safe and looks promising for most people.\u201d He and other experts recommend that anyone interested in taking NAD supplements check with their physician first. <\/p>\n Read more: Best fitness trackers for 2026, according to a running coach<\/a><\/p>\n NAD is a large molecule, so it can’t actually enter cells. Experts are skeptical of NAD IV drips and anything that says it contains actual NAD due to the size of the molecule and the fact that NAD can\u2019t survive outside of certain conditions. The best way to maximise natural NAD production in the body is by boosting precursors.<\/p>\n The tricky part, however, is that supplements containing these precursors aren\u2019t regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), so it can feel a bit like the Wild West trying to figure out your best options. \u201cA study<\/a> came out where they randomly sampled NMN supplements on the market, and most had much less of the ingredient than advertised,\u201d Dr. Craighead says. And since these capsules aren\u2019t cheap, you want to be sure you get what you\u2019re paying for. So we asked experts for their top recommendations. Here, they share what to look for in a good NAD supplement, including options they use themselves or have seen their patients find success with.<\/p>\n