NAD+: THE TRENDY SUPPLEMENT THAT CLAIMS TO REJUVENATE EVERYTHING — AN ANTI-AGING MIRACLE OR JUST ANOTHER HOLLYWOOD OBSESSION?
In a landscape saturated with wellness trends, new practices continue to gain visibility. As experts and consumers watch their rise, the debate over their true impact remains open.
In the new constellation of luxury wellness, one name shines with the intensity of a supernova: NAD+. A microscopic molecule essential to life has become Hollywood’s latest cult treatment. Hailey Bieber, Kendall Jenner, Jennifer Aniston and Gwyneth Paltrow have already declared it part of their longevity rituals. But behind the aesthetic of clear serums and reclining chairs in premium clinics lies a scientific story that is complex, fascinating and still incomplete.
NAD+, or nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, is not a futuristic invention: it’s a coenzyme present in every living cell, a kind of internal engine that allows the body to produce energy, repair DNA, regulate gene expression and sustain its vital rhythms. In a deeper sense, it is the spark that keeps life’s most essential functions running. As we age, its levels decline naturally some experts point to a drop of up to 50% by middle age fueling today’s obsession with “restoring” it.
A JOURNEY FROM THE MITOCHONDRIA TO LUXURY CLINICS
NAD+ plays an almost cinematic role: it participates in the electron transport chain, generating ATP, the energy currency of all cells. It also aids DNA repair a crucial detail in an era obsessed with delaying signs of aging regulates apoptosis (programmed cell death), and activates sirtuins, the proteins linked to cellular longevity, reduced oxidative stress and metabolic preservation.
In other words: wherever there is energy, regeneration, mental clarity or cellular resilience, NAD+ is usually present.
It’s no surprise, then, that its status has climbed from metabolic labs to Instagram feeds. The promise is irresistible: more vitality, improved cognitive function, glowing skin, deeper sleep and slower aging.
THE RISE OF NAD+ AS A LONGEVITY RITUAL
Current treatments fall into two main groups: oral supplements (such as NMN and NR, precursors that the body converts to NAD+) and the now-famous intravenous infusions, which have become Hollywood’s wellness trophy.
Unlike capsules, IV therapy delivers NAD+ directly into the bloodstream, bypassing the digestive system and reaching serum concentrations impossible to achieve with supplements. Infusions typically contain between 250 and 750 mg, administered slowly over 2 to 4 hours to reduce side effects such as nausea or headaches.
Aesthetic physicians who administer them claim benefits like an immediate sense of energy, mental clarity, improved mood and reduced “brain fog.” For those who live between flights, film sets and packed schedules the natural ecosystem of Hollywood it can feel like a real-time cellular reset.
THE SCIENCE NARRATIVE BEHIND THE TREND
Enthusiasm, however, coexists with caution. Researchers agree that NAD+ is essential for cellular health, but definitive evidence in humans remains limited.
In mice, boosting NAD+ with precursors like NMN has delivered encouraging results: longer lifespans, improved metabolic function and reduced decline. But human studies are small, short-term and report modest benefits. Some show slight improvements in sleep quality in older adults or increased insulin sensitivity in prediabetic women. Others find moderate reductions in inflammation or minor functional improvements.
The big question persists: can NAD+ truly slow human aging? Science has yet to provide a conclusive answer. What is known is that low NAD+ levels are associated with cognitive decline, metabolic disease, frailty, cancer and cardiovascular issues. For this reason, several researchers believe its greatest potential may lie in supporting age-related conditions rather than serving as a universal longevity treatment for young people.
THE FRENZY, THE RISKS AND THE FINE PRINT
The industry has moved faster than the evidence. In the United States, the FDA has not approved any NAD+ product for medical use and has issued warnings to companies promoting unproven claims. Some supplements have also been found to contain lower-than-declared doses, adding uncertainty for consumers.
Infusions are generally safe, but not risk-free. Some users report nausea, fatigue or headaches. Those with liver disease, pregnant individuals or people taking specific medications should avoid these therapies.
Experts stress a key point: avoid the myth of the “miracle elixir.” NAD+ therapy must be supervised by professionals, adapted to medical history and complemented by lifestyle choices that naturally raise NAD+ levels like adequate sleep, exercise (which also increases NAD+), and a diet rich in precursors such as niacin and tryptophan.
The fascination with NAD+ aligns perfectly with the aesthetic of luxury wellness: advanced technology, emerging science, devoted celebrities and a subtle promise of prolonged youth. But at its core, it is also a symbol of an era eager to extend vitality at any cost.
NAD+ is not magic. It doesn’t promise immortality, nor does it erase decades with a single drip. But it does represent a scientific frontier that could reshape how we understand aging and cellular energy.
Today, the trend vibrates between glamour and biology; between clinical promise and cultural myth. And as science continues to decode it, Hollywood has already embraced it as part of its new wellness ritual a silent, translucent and elegant gesture toward the eternal desire to keep shining.