NAD+ and Longevity Pills Hype or Hope? An Honest Review
Have you seen the commercials? Pills and drops that are supposed to reverse aging, give you back your energy, sharpen your brain and make your cells young again. It's called NAD+, NMN or NR, often costs 6-800 SEK a month, and is marketed as science's latest weapon against time.
Influencers and even some researchers praise them. But do they work? Here's an honest review – without dismissing or praising.
What exactly is NAD+?
Let's start with what's actually true, because that's where the real science lies. NAD+ is a substance found in every cell in your body. It's essential for cells to convert food into energy and repair themselves. And here's the catch: NAD+ levels drop as we age. So the scientists' thinking makes sense - if we can replenish NAD+, maybe we can slow down some of the aging process?
Because NAD+ in pill form breaks down in the stomach and is poorly absorbed, so-called precursors are often sold instead: NMN and NR. The body then converts them into NAD+.
What speaks for: the mechanism and animal experiments
So far it sounds promising, and on two counts it is.
First: the mechanism is real. NAD+ does exactly what the researchers say it is central to cellular energy and repair. Second: in animal studies, the results have been impressive. Mice given NMN or NR have shown better metabolism, more energy and in some cases longer lives.
And the supplements actually do what they promise on a concrete level: if you take NMN or NR for a few weeks, your NAD+ levels in the blood will increase , measurably and safely. So far so good.
The argument against: humans are not mice
And here comes the problem, the big gap that the advertising prefers not to mention. Just because the levels rise in the blood doesn't mean you feel better. When the researchers measure what really counts – muscle strength, fitness, metabolism, how you actually function the effect usually fails to show in people.
A review of ten well-conducted studies in 2025 found no benefit at all for muscle mass, strength, or physical function in older adults. Levels went up. But then not much happened.
The promising results from the mice have thus largely not been replicated in humans. There are individual studies on specific groups that have seen certain effects, but for a healthy person who wants to "age more slowly", the evidence is currently thin.
Add to that three things worth knowing:
NAD+ drops and syringes sold in clinics have almost no proper studies at all - you are paying for pure speculation.
The culture of influence is disrupting research. The hype has become so strong that serious researchers lament that it has become difficult to do sober science in the field.
The price. We are often talking about at least several hundred kronor a month, year after year, for something that science has not yet been able to show is beneficial for healthy people.
Is it dangerous then?
No, let's be honest: in studies, NMN and NR have been safe in the short term, without serious side effects. So the risk is not primarily to your health but to your wallet. You're paying a lot of money for a promise that hasn't yet been fulfilled.
Food and habits what is actually proven
And here's the point. If you want to increase your body's NAD+ and keep your cells young, there are methods that science already agrees work and they're free.
Strength training and cardio naturally boost your body’s own NAD+ production. Not overeating does the same thing. Good sleep gives your cells time to repair themselves. And a diet rich in real food gives your body the building blocks it needs. These aren’t promises they’re solid science.
In other words: the boring, free basics beat the expensive pills. Again.
Summary: save the money – for now
NAD+ supplements are based on real science and may well prove beneficial in the future the research is ongoing, and the field is exciting. But right now, the evidence that they help healthy people is thin, the drops are unproven, and the price tag is high.
My advice: save your money until science knows more. Put it towards real food and a good pair of running shoes – that’s the investment that actually has a proven return.
All the best, Kennet Båth
