Are supplements effective for NAD?

Rhonda Patrick discusses the effectiveness of supplements for boosting NAD levels, particularly focusing on nicotinamide riboside (NR) and nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN).

Here are some key points she addresses:

1. NAD Levels Increase:

   • Both NR and NMN are effective in increasing NAD levels. NR and NMN have been shown to increase NAD levels in various tissues, including white blood cells, in a dose-dependent manner 1 2.

2. Animal Studies:

   • In animal models, high doses of NR have been shown to counteract an obesogenic diet, improve insulin sensitivity, increase endurance and strength, and reverse mitochondrial damage and muscle atrophy. NMN also shows health benefits, like improved heart function and cognition in animals with neurodegenerative disease 1.

3. Human Studies:

   • In humans, a couple of randomized, placebo-controlled trials have shown NR supplementation to significantly raise NAD levels. For instance, a study indicated that 250-500 mg of NR per day increased whole blood NAD levels by 40%-90% 3.
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4. Use in Disease Models:

   • Supplementation with NR and NMN has shown promising results in specific disease models, improving mitochondrial function, exercise capacity, and metabolic health 4.

5. Potential Concerns:

   • There is caution around the role of NAD boosters in cancer. One study showed that high-dose NMN accelerated cancer growth in mice with a specific type of pancreatic cancer driven by pro-inflammatory senescent cells 5.

While these supplements are promising, further long-term studies in humans are needed to fully understand their effects and safety.

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Overall, both NR and NMN are seen as effective NAD boosters with various potential health benefits but warrant further research for long-term safety and broader application contexts.