Marketers say NAD+ pills and infusions can boost longevity. What's the evidence?

"The evidence NAD+ is a crucial molecule that has many functions in the body. It's deeply involved in how our mitochondria produce energy and helps our cells survive and stay healthy, including by repairing our DNA. The field of longevity research has homed in on NAD+ as a potential therapy because of evidence that our levels decline as we get older, which may also contribute to the risks of age-related diseases, says Dr. Shalender Bhasin, who directs the Boston Pepper Aging Research Center at Brigham and Women's Hospita"

"The claim NAD+ is often billed as a kind of cure-all a potent substance that can reverse aging, deliver flawless skin and produce "clean energy." Others tout its benefits for sleep, mental clarity and recovery. Wellness clinics that market NAD+ therapies are apt to describe it as a "fountain of youth" that works on a cellular level to enliven mitochondria the energy-producing factories of the cell and repair our damaged DNA."

"Initially it was exciting," says Christopher Martens, director of the Delaware Center for Cognitive Aging Research who is leading research in this field. "I think now the cart may be well ahead of the horse." In fact, the market for NAD+ products is booming. This optimism has roots in legitimate science. But does the evidence really support dishing out hundreds or thousands of dollars to pump your body full of this molecule?"

NAD+ is a molecule involved in multiple body functions, including supporting how mitochondria produce energy and helping cells survive and stay healthy. It also plays a role in repairing DNA. Longevity research has focused on NAD+ because levels tend to decline as people age, which may contribute to age-related disease risk. Despite this legitimate scientific basis, NAD+ has become heavily marketed in wellness and longevity circles. Supplements, injectables, and IV infusions are promoted with broad claims such as reversing aging, improving skin, providing clean energy, enhancing sleep and mental clarity, and speeding recovery. Some clinics describe NAD+ as a cellular “fountain of youth,” but the evidence for paying hundreds or thousands of dollars for these effects is questioned.

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