Struggling with tiredness or fatigue and tried most of the usual suspects already? It might be worth trying out NAD+ supplements.
NAD+, or nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, is a molecule that plays a vital role in many cellular processes, like energy production, DNA repair, gene expression, and circadian rhythm. What that means is, that if you're lacking in NAD+, you may find yourself frequently tired, sleeping badly and generally not feeling your best.
And that might be something you notice more so as the years go by: NAD+ levels decline with age, as well as due to factors like stress, inflammation, poor diet, and alcohol consumption. Low NAD+ levels aren't just bad for their energy-lacking faults, but they've also been linked to various signs of ageing and chronic diseases.
One way to increase NAD+ levels is to take NAD+ supplements. These are products that contain either NAD+ itself or its precursors, nicotinamide riboside (NR) or nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN). These precursors are converted into NAD+ inside the cells.
What are the potential benefits of NAD+ supplementation?
Dr Hana Patel, general practitioner and GP Expert Witness, says: "Preventing low NAD+ levels appears to help protect nerve cells and prevent DNA damage and they may help slow the progression of neurodegenerative conditions."
Are there any risks or potential side effects associated with NAD+ supplementation?
"While NAD supplements are available to buy over the counter, they could still carry risks. These supplements are similar to niacin and when used in pharmaceutical doses, niacin can cause serious muscle or liver problems in some people."
Are there any dietary or lifestyle modifications that someone should consider alongside NAD+ supplementation to maximise its potential benefits?
"Reduced NAD+ levels are associated with a wide range of the hallmarks of ageing, from wrinkles to metabolic disorders and neurodegenerative diseases."
We’ve rounded up all of the best NAD+ supplements
Charava NAD+ 500mg
Sometimes you just want to cut to the chase when it comes to getting the good stuff. Charava’s NAD+ 500mg offers exactly that: a quick-fire boost to the body that offers maximum absorption and bioavailability in a single pill. Stronger than most NAD+ pills around, these quick and simple supplements offer all of the good stuff with none of the filler.
Buy now £57.59, Amazon
NAD+ At Home
Every cell has NAD – that’s how important it is. NAD+ At Home allows you to maximise the many benefits that include a boost in energy levels, your immune system, mental clarity and brain function, while also protecting your organs and taking your workouts up a few notches. The brand already has the seal of approval from Lisa Snowdon, makeup artist Isamaya French and Mary Greenwell who praise how it assists them in their fast-paced lifestyles.
The process of administering these supplements is very different to the other oral options in this list. The injectable kit comes with a vial of the key ingredient alongside micro needles in which you are encouraged to inject it into a fatty tissue area over three consecutive days as you begin and then every other day. The bumper pack also includes a pouch to store the used needles and sterile wipes. It comes as a five-week supply that you must store in the fridge.
Buy now £349.99, NAD+ At Home
TRU NIAGEN NAD+ Supplement
TRU NIAGEN’s NAD+ Supplement contains the patented flagship supernutrient Niagen, a unique form of vitamin B3 that your cells can readily convert into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+). Promoting cellular health by enhancing the production of NAD+ in the body, these supplements help in maintaining energy levels, promoting DNA repair and combating oxidative stress.
One of the most popular brands around when it comes to NAD+ supplements, these tried-and-tested capsules should be taken once or twice per day, and so will give you a three-month supply.
Buy now £112.45, Amazon
Coutihot NADH 50 mg Plus CoQ10 200
Looking to boost your NAD+ levels but would like a few extra perks at the same time? Try Coutihot’s NADH 50 mg Plus CoQ10 200mg supplements. These super-charged pills contain 50mg nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide + hydrogen (NADH) as well as 200mg CoQ10, 150mg D-Ribose and 100mg grape seed extract for advanced nutritional support.
NADH is known as the “Biological Rocket Fuel”, which helps to improve your daily energy levels by supplying energy to the brain, nerves, muscles, heart and all other organs in order for them to function optimally.
Buy now £18.99, Amazon
Eudeamon NAD Plus for Mental Performance
Eudeamon’s NAD Plus for Mental Performance supplements are vegetarian-friendly and focus on boosting not just your physical health but also alleviating your mental fatigue. These potent NAD tablets contain 37.5mg of high-strength BNicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide, which can be used to improve cognitive performance and mental improvement. Some studies suggest they can also support your metabolism and increase your energy.
Buy now £29.95, Amazon
Recalibrate Me NMN Supplements 1000mg
Recalibrate Me’s NMN Supplements work a little differently when it comes to boosting your body’s NAD+ benefits. Featuring Nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), one of the main precursors of NAD+, these supplements help to kickstart your body’s hard work stimulating NAD+ metabolism: critical for regulating cell growth, energy metabolism, stress resistance, inflammation, circadian rhythm and neuronal function. These vegan supplements are also enriched with Resveratrol, which optimises antioxidant properties for added cardiovascular support.
Buy now £29.99, eBay
Proactive Healthcare Life Extension NAD+ Cell Regenerator
You’ll feel like you’re being super proactive with your health when you try Proactive Healthcare’s Life Extension NAD+ Cell Regenerator. While ‘life-extending’ might be quite the claim, these supplements feature a patented compound which plays a role in reversing age-related decline of NAD+ levels. As you age and energy levels begin to deplete, increasing your NAD+ levels can play a role in bringing back some of that lost energy and motivation. This budget-friendly bottle features 100 mg NIAGEN® Nicotinamide Riboside and only needs to be taken once per day.
Buy now £27.78, iHerb
Feelsupreme NR with Astaxanthin | NAD+ Booster
Between NR and NMN, NR has been shown to be the most effective at raising NAD+ levels and that’s exactly what you’ll find in Feelsupreme’s NR with Astaxanthin supplements. As well as NR, these supplements excel when it comes to other benefits. Astaxanthin - known as ‘the king of carotenoids’ because of its reputation as one of the most powerful antioxidants ever discovered - also plays a role in these supplements when it comes to boosting the body’s anti-ageing abilities. Astaxanthin is 550 times more effective as an antioxidant than vitamin E and is nearly 6,000 times stronger than vitamin C, making it an impressive tool for boosting the immune system.
Buy now £39.99, Amazon
Youth & Earth NMN Sublingual Powder
Not a fan of swallowing pills but still want to reap the benefits of NAD+? Try this NMN Sublingual Powder. Made up of 99 per cent pure NMN powder created in a GMP facility adhering to USA benchmarks, these supplements are entirely organic, and vegan and feature no additives, cutting to the chase when it comes to the benefits of the ingredients.
Buy now £34.99, Youth & Earth
NAD Direct Enhanced Optima Max
NAD Direct’s Enhanced Optima Max are the supplements to invest in if you’re looking to supercharge your health the fast way. While more expensive than most, these potent pills contain a concentrated dose of NAD+ of 250mg of NAD, delivering a valuable, concentrated measure that’s only required once daily. If you’re someone who struggles with taking pills and would rather get all of the benefits in one quick gulp, these are the tablets to choose.
Buy now £153.02, NAD Direct
AVEA NMN Supplements
NMN becomes NAD+ in our bodies and a number of studies have shown the beneficial effects of NMN on energy levels, memory, blood vessel health, metabolism, stem cell health, epigenome maintenance and DNA damage repair.
NMN is well absorbed when taken orally and these AVEA NMN Supplements allow you to soak up the benefits without swallowing any pills. By converting nutrients from the foods you eat into energy, these supplements help to maintain your DNA health and regulate the function of your cells.
Buy now £42.01, AVEA
Artah Enhanced NAD+ Complex
NAD+ – or nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide – is another big player in the area of longevity that you may have heard of. As such, it pairs perfectly with resveratrol. NAD+ is a crucial molecule found naturally in our bodies and plays a crucial role in maintaining the integrity of DNA and ensuring the healthy cell function that helps protect us from ageing and disease – in other words, helps promote longevity.
For this Artah complex, it’s teamed with protective antioxidant and polyphenol resveratrol to boost its function, as well as mood-lifting saffron and the flavonoid luteolin, which helps our own NAD+ supplies get recycled. Regular users report better sleep, mental clarity and energy too.
Buy now £65.00, Artah
Verdict
Not all NAD+ supplements are created equally - Charava's NAD+ 500mg deliver a potent boost of all of the good stuff.
