NAD supplements have shifted from niche biohacking circles to mainstream wellness markets, with Google searches predicted to rise 10 percent in the coming year, according to a Vogue Business report. Celebrity wellness brands, including Kourtney Kardashian Barker's Lemme, have recently launched NAD+ products, signaling mainstream appeal.
NAD, short for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, is involved in hundreds of cellular reactions critical to human function, researchers said. Harvard-trained physician-scientist Dr. Andrew Salzman told Rolling Stone that NAD serves three primary roles: enabling energy production through ATP creation, regulating antioxidant status, and supporting DNA repair. Functional medicine doctor Dr. Mark Hyman added that NAD also helps regulate inflammation, mitochondrial production, insulin sensitivity, and blood sugar regulation.
NAD levels decline starting in a person's twenties and may drop to roughly half by age 50, experts said. Factors accelerating this decline include stress, toxins, inflammation, poor diet, and alcohol consumption. The result is slower post-exertion recovery and persistent fatigue.
Most NAD supplements use precursors such as NMN (nicotinamide mononucleotide) and NR (nicotinamide riboside), which the body converts to NAD inside cells. Dr. Salzman noted that NMN appears to have its own cellular "shuttle," making it a particularly efficient pathway for NAD replenishment.
