NAD+

What is NAD+?

NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) is a coenzyme found in every living cell. It is central to energy metabolism: cells use it to help convert the food we eat into usable energy, and it takes part in hundreds of other reactions that keep cells working.

What NAD+ does in the body

NAD+ is best understood as a helper molecule that many cellular processes depend on. Four roles are discussed most often in the research literature:

• Energy production: NAD+ and its reduced form, NADH, carry electrons in the mitochondria, the structures that generate most of a cell's energy.
• Sirtuins: this family of proteins, involved in cellular stress responses and gene regulation, needs NAD+ to function.
• DNA maintenance: PARP enzymes, which respond to DNA damage, use NAD+ as fuel.
• CD38: an enzyme that breaks down NAD+; its activity is reported to rise with age.

NAD+ and ageing

Studies in animals and in people report that NAD+ levels tend to fall with age. Proposed reasons include greater consumption by enzymes such as CD38 and PARPs, and reduced production inside cells. Whether raising NAD+ levels leads to measurable health benefits in humans is still being investigated, and most of the evidence so far comes from laboratory and animal studies and early-stage human trials.

How NAD+ levels are studied and supported

NAD+ is a large molecule, so research into raising levels has mostly focused on its building blocks, known as precursors. These include nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), nicotinamide riboside (NR), niacin (vitamin B3) and the amino acid tryptophan. Diet, regular physical activity and good sleep are also being studied for their effects on NAD+ metabolism.

Good to know

Food supplements should not replace a varied diet or a healthy lifestyle. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, taking medication, or have a medical condition, speak to a healthcare professional before using any supplement. This page is for general information and is not medical advice.