Blood NAD+ Stays Steady With Age but Rises With NR
Graded Preliminary — NAD+ measurements in seven independent groups of people; preliminary because the abstract gives neither participant numbers nor study length.
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- Authors declare no competing interests.
Whole-blood NAD+ stayed stable across ages and lifestyle programs but rose after people took nicotinamide riboside.
NAD+ is a molecule found in every cell that helps run its metabolism. It is widely believed to decline with age in blood and tissues. But the evidence from human blood has been inconsistent. Researchers have now checked it in seven independent groups of people. In whole blood, NAD+ levels stayed remarkably stable across ages.
To measure it, the team used a highly precise lab method that separates compounds in blood and identifies them by their weight. The method also accounts for the ups and downs that happen in everyday lab work. Lifestyle programs did not shift the levels either. Nicotinamide riboside was different. It is a building block of NAD+ taken as a supplement, and after people took it, blood NAD+ went up, as expected.
The authors therefore question whether blood NAD+ is useful as a marker of aging or of lifestyle. One limit matters: only whole blood was measured. The study says nothing about NAD+ in muscle, the brain or other organs.
Conflict of Interest Disclosure: Authors declare no competing interests.
Disclaimer: Research summaries are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making changes to your health routine.