NAD+ Decoded: What You Need to Know Before You Supplement

A closer look at how NAD+ influences energy, skin, and the aging process.

The discovery of NAD+ may have happened over a century ago, but our understanding of its role in cellular health is rapidly evolving. In just the past 5 to 10 years, research has accelerated, bringing NAD+ into the spotlight. Along with it, there is a growing number of supplements, clinical infusions, and longevity enthusiasts touting its potential benefits.

So, what’s the big deal?
NAD+ is found in every cell of the body and plays a central role in how we produce energy, maintain cellular function, and age over time. Levels naturally decline with age, and researchers have begun exploring how this shift may relate to changes in energy, metabolism, skin health, and overall vitality.

With all the attention surrounding NAD+, it’s natural to wonder: Can supporting these levels actually make a difference? Can we really restore what declines over time and support signs of aging, both inside and out? While research is still unfolding, one thing is clear. NAD+ plays a foundational role in how our bodies function as we age, and understanding it is the first step.

So, What Is NAD+?

NAD+ stands for Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide. It’s a coenzyme found in every cell of the body and plays a vital role in how we produce and use energy.

NAD+ helps convert the food we eat into ATP, the energy our cells rely on to function. But its role goes beyond energy production. NAD+ is also involved in supporting cellular repair and maintaining normal metabolic processes.

The “+” in NAD+ represents the positively charged form your body uses to help carry and transfer energy within cells. It’s part of a continuous cycle that keeps your cellular processes running smoothly.
Because it is constantly being used and recycled within the body, maintaining healthy levels of NAD+ is essential for overall cellular function and vitality. [1]

Why NAD+ Matters for Cellular Energy & Skin Health

A growing body of research indicates that NAD+ levels decline over time, and this change is being studied as part of the biology of aging. Because NAD+ plays such a central role in cellular metabolism and repair, lower levels may influence how efficiently our cells function over time. [2]

This has led to growing interest in whether supporting NAD+ levels can help maintain energy, metabolic function, and visible signs of aging such as skin health.

NAD+ & Cellular Energy

One of the most important roles of NAD+ is its involvement in how the body produces energy. As mentioned, every cell in the body relies on the molecule ATP as its primary energy source. NAD+ plays a key role in helping generate it.

Inside the mitochondria, often referred to as the “powerhouses” of the cell, NAD+ helps carry and transfer energy through a continuous cycle. In this process, it shifts between different forms to help convert nutrients from food into usable cellular energy.

When NAD+ is present and abundant, this system runs efficiently, supporting steady energy production throughout the body. However, when NAD+ levels decline, this process becomes less efficient. This has led researchers to be increasingly interested in its role in sustained energy, stamina, and recovery. [3]

NAD+ & Skin Health

NAD+ plays a key role in how the skin repairs damage and maintains healthy function over time. Because the skin is constantly exposed to environmental stressors like UV radiation, it relies on these internal repair systems to stay resilient. A decrease in NAD+ levels has shown to correlate with the skin’s ability to maintain structure, elasticity, and renewal.

Aged skin also shows signs of mitochondrial dysfunction, a hallmark of aging linked to oxidative stress and reduced cellular energy. Since NAD+ supports healthy mitochondrial function, it’s also being studies for its role in supporting skin health as we age. [4]

Understanding the NAD+ Cycle

NAD+ is not a fixed molecule in the body. Instead, it is continuously built, used, and recycled as part of an ongoing cycle that supports energy production and cellular function.

The body primarily produces NAD+ using nutrients from the diet. These include:

• Tryptophan

• Vitamin B3 forms: Niacin, Nicotinamide Riboside (NR), and Nicotinamide Mononucleotide (NMN)

These compounds act as precursors, providing the raw materials needed to help maintain NAD+ levels.

At the same time, NAD+ is constantly being used in essential cellular processes, meaning it must also be continuously replenished. Because of this balance between use and production, researchers are interested in how the body maintains NAD+ over time.

Another important part of this system is recycling. NAD+ can be regenerated within the body, and certain nutrients and plant compounds are being studied for their role in supporting this process and helping maintain NAD+ availability. [5][6]

Altogether, NAD+ is best understood not as a single molecule, but as part of a dynamic system that depends on both adequate production and efficient use throughout the body.

NAD+ Supplementation: Our Approach

To review, supporting NAD+ levels can involve supporting how it is produced, used, and recycled within the body. Because of this, different supplements are designed to target different parts of this process.

That’s why we offer a range of NAD+ formulations, each designed to support a specific aspect of this cycle depending on individual needs and preferences.

Foundational Support

Rho Liposomal NAD+: Straight-forward, 100mg of NAD+ (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide) in a liposomal formula for improved absorption rate, in a liquid, easy to incorporate into your routine formula.

Life Extension NAD+ Cell Regenerator: Available in both a 100 mg and 300 mg formula. Formulated with NIAGEN®, a highly-bioavailable form of nicotinamide riboside (NR). Niagen (NR) is considered a precursor in the production of NAD+.

Targeted Support

Thorne NiaCel® 400: Formulated with Thorne’s exclusive Nicotinamide Riboside (NR) ingredient, in a powerful 415 mg-  ideal for athletes, as well as those individuals with conditions that require more robust support for NAD+ levels. The betaine (Trimethylglycine (TMG)) in NiaCel 400 promotes optimal methylation. NSF Certified for Sport.

Life Extension NAD+ Cell Regenerator and Resveratrol Elite: Featuring 300 mg of Niagen, or Nicotinamde Riboside (NR), plus bioavailable forms of trans-resveratrol, quercetin and fisetin to support healthy aging.

Advanced Support

Qualia NAD+: This clinically proven formula combines three NAD+ precursors plus 11 other longevity-boosting ingredients. Precursors include NIAGEN® (NR), Niacin, and Niacinamide. Formula also features trans-resveratrol and coffeeberry to assist in energy production.

Cymbiotika NAD+: Cymbiotika’s liposomal formula has a bit of everything. Featuring 300 mg of Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide (NAD+) and precursor Niacin. As well as Trimethylglycine (TMG) which aids in the process and recycling of NAD+ as well as Apigenin, which reduces NAD+ waste. This formula also features skin-boosting ingredients Lutein and Zeaxanthin, and a touch of green coffee bean extract.

What NAD+ Means for You

As research continues to evolve, there is growing evidence that NAD+ levels can be supported through targeted approaches, particularly through the use of precursor nutrients and thoughtfully designed formulations. How effectively these are utilized can vary depending on the form, delivery method, and individual factors.

Rather than a one-size-fits-all solution, supporting NAD+ is best understood as working with the body’s natural systems, and providing the building blocks it needs to produce, use, and maintain NAD+ over time.

Whether through thoughtful supplementation or a broader approach to wellness, a personalized approach is key. If you’re curious about which options may be the best fit for you, our team is always here to help guide you.