Aging is a natural and beautiful phenomenon. Its effects, however, not so much. One of the first effects of aging is health deterioration. Fortunately, tireless years of medical research have revealed solutions to temporarily halt or reverse aging and its related effects.
The market is now full of longevity supplements that promise to stop aging and restore the body to its youthful vigor and optimal health. Still, a few come close to NAD supplements, whose efficacy has been proven by many happy individuals enjoying their life-changing results.
Find out below the different types of NAD supplements and how to choose the right NAD supplement for optimal health.
Understanding NAD Supplements
Before getting to the best NAD supplement, here’s a quick overview of what NAD supplements are. Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) is a coenzyme that occurs naturally in the human body. NAD is responsible for many crucial functions at the cellular level. Some of these functions include:
- Promoting the healthy function of the brain.
- Facilitating cellular respiration by transporting electrons in mitochondria, the body’s powerhouses.
- Signaling and regulating processes in cells.
- Repairing and protecting genetic material (DNA) in the body.
While NAD occurs naturally in the body, with age and nutritional deficits, the body’s ability to produce it falls below optimum levels over time. Studies now show NAD levels begin to drop when an individual is in their mid-twenties at a rate of 5-10 percent every decade.
At 50-60 and beyond, NAD levels in the body are far below the optimum level, leading to what is mostly termed age-related health issues. Although most of these issues are not apparent at first, low NAD levels can impair brain function and unregulated cell processes, which can advance to malignant growth or the eruption of genetic diseases.
NAD supplements help raise the NAD levels in the body, and ultimately, this leads to optimal health.
Types of NAD Supplements (and The Importance of Choosing the Right NAD Supplement)
Generally, NAD supplements fall into two broad groups. There are NAD precursor supplements and direct NAD+ supplements. Direct NAD+ supplements exist in the active form of NAD, which makes it easy for cells to absorb and put them to use.
In contrast, precursor NAD supplements are molecules a step or two away from conversion to the naturally occurring NAD. Some NAD precursor supplements include Niacin, Nicotinamide Mononucleotide (NMN), and Nicotinamide Riboside (NR).
As mentioned earlier, cells take up direct NAD+ supplements at a relatively faster rate than NAD precursor supplements. This makes it ideal for situations where there’s a need to raise NAD levels quickly. In instances where you only need to boost your NAD levels regularly, NAD precursor supplements would be appropriate.
How to Choose The Right NAD Supplement for Optimal Health
Unlike medical drugs, there’s little industry or government regulation with supplements. Additionally, there are numerous supplement brands, each claiming to be the best. So how do you choose the right one? Here’s a quick look at some of the key considerations.
1. Assess Your Needs
Before you purchase any NAD supplement, consult your doctor to get an informed opinion. What might seem like signs of NAD deficiency in the body might be something else entirely, and a doctor can help clear this up.
It would also be better to determine whether you’re facing an acute NAD deficiency or whether you only need to boost NAD regularly. Each of these options would require a different approach to guarantee the best outcome.
2. Get The Right NAD Type
While all NAD supplements serve the same purpose, they differ slightly in a few things. One of these is the speed at which they deliver the NAD+ boost in the body. Generally, the body readily absorbs NAD+ supplements when you take them. Nicotinamide Mononucleotide (NMN) supplements come second in terms of uptake at the cellular level.
Acute NAD deficiency would call for NAD+ or NMN supplements, whereas a less severe case can be managed using Niacin or Nicotinamide Riboside (NR). NAD supplements also come with different delivery options. You can get the supplements intravenously (IV), orally in the form of capsules and tablets, or in the form of a spray
3. Prioritize Safety and Quality
The reason for getting NAD supplements is to achieve optimal health and longevity, but sometimes, you may get more than you bargained for. To guarantee your safety, ensure the NAD supplement you choose has been tested by third-party testers or that the product’s manufacturer is a reputable company.
Alternatively, you can ask for recommendations from friends and family on safe and high-quality NAD supplements. If you’re working with your doctor or medical professional, the better since they’re best placed to advise you on this.
4. Cost and Sustainability
Considering NAD supplements, or any accessories for that matter, aren’t a one-off thing, it’s always great to look at their cost objectively. Consider whether you can afford the specific NAD supplement you chose comfortably without breaking the bank. Do you feel like you’re getting value for money?
There’s always a more affordable NAD-type supplement, so choose what you can afford long-term or depending on your prescribed dosage.
Conclusion
Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) is a naturally occurring coenzyme responsible for numerous cellular functions, and it’s, by extension, necessary for optimal health. NAD levels in the body begin to reduce when an individual is in the mid to late twenties, and this drop accelerates with age.
Supplementing NAD helps the body regain its youthful vigor and optimal health. NAD supplements can either be direct NAD+ supplements or NAD precursor supplements. As you choose the right NAD supplements, understand your body’s needs, consider the safety and quality of the NAD supplements, and look at the cost.
