Why do NAD⁺ levels decline with age – and what does that mean for the body?
NAD⁺ is a vital molecule that plays a central role in the body's energy production, cell function and repair. Levels begin to decline as early as age 30, and this decline increases with age. Lower NAD⁺ levels can contribute to reduced energy, slower recovery and impaired cellular maintenance. By supporting the body's NAD⁺ levels through the right precursors and support substances, you can contribute to better energy balance, healthy cell function and a more robust aging process.
NAD⁺ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) is a crucial molecule in the body. It is found in all living cells and plays a crucial role in energy production, cell function and repair processes. Without adequate levels of NAD⁺, the cells' energy factories do not function, and the body's ability to maintain and renew itself is impaired.
Yet today we know that NAD⁺ levels begin to decline as early as age 30 – and that this decline accelerates with increasing age.
NAD⁺ – the body’s energy engine at the cellular level
NAD⁺ is necessary for mitochondria to produce ATP, the body's main energy molecule. In addition, NAD⁺ is a key component in several biological processes such as:
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Cell repair and DNA maintenance
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Activation of sirtuins (proteins linked to healthy aging)
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Normal metabolic function
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The cell's ability to adapt to stress and strain
When NAD⁺ levels are optimal, cells are better able to function efficiently and remain robust over time.
Why do NAD⁺ levels decline with age?
There are several reasons why the body's NAD⁺ levels decrease as we age:
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Increased consumption of NAD⁺
As we age, the burden on cells increases. DNA damage, oxidative stress, and low-grade inflammation cause the body to use more NAD⁺ for repair than before. -
Reduced own production
The body's ability to produce NAD⁺ from diet and endogenous precursors gradually weakens. -
Enzyme activity that breaks down NAD⁺
Certain enzymes, such as CD38, become more active with age and contribute to faster degradation of NAD⁺.
The result is that the balance tips: the body uses more NAD⁺ than it can produce.
What does lower NAD⁺ levels mean in practice?
When NAD⁺ levels drop, it can affect the body in several ways over time:
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Lower energy levels and faster fatigue
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Reduced cellular repair
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Impaired mitochondrial function
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Slower recovery
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Less resilience to physical and mental stress
These are not necessarily acute symptoms, but changes that are often experienced gradually and "creeping" with age.
Can NAD⁺ levels be supported?
Recent research has focused a lot of attention on how to support the body's NAD⁺ levels through lifestyle and targeted supplementation of precursors and supporting substances.
Among the most studied strategies we find:
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NAD⁺ precursors, such as NMN, which the body can convert directly into NAD⁺
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Methylation support, to ensure that increased NAD⁺ production does not strain the body's biochemical balance
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Antioxidants, which helps protect cells from oxidative stress
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Support for cell maintenance processes, including autophagy
The point is not to "stop aging", but to support the body's natural processes so that the cells can function as best as possible - even with increasing age.
A modern perspective on healthy aging
Aging is not just about the number of years we live, but about the quality of those years. Today we know that many of the changes we associate with aging start earlier than previously thought – often as early as our 30s and 40s, at the cellular level.
Understanding the role of NAD⁺ provides a new perspective on energy, vitality and long-term health.By supporting the body's basic biochemistry, one can better prepare for maintaining function, energy, and resilience throughout adulthood.
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