Is Chasing NAD Levels Pointless? New Science Dismantles Anti-Aging Supplement Claims   

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A new study reveals that skeletal muscles can function just fine even with drastically reduced NAD+ levels, challenging anti-aging supplement trends. 

In the Netflix feature Don’t Die: The Man Who Wants to Live Forever, tech magnate Bryan Johnson pulls back the curtain on his extreme biohacking rituals—including swallowing over 50 supplements daily, with NAD precursors taking center stage in his longevity arsenal. 

The logic behind this? NAD is pivotal. It powers cellular engines and underpins countless vital operations. With age, NAD stores in muscle tissue can plummet by nearly a third, leading many to believe topping up through supplements might slow aging’s march. 

But a fresh revelation out of the Treebak Group at the NNF Center for Basic Metabolic Research, University of Copenhagen, throws a wrench into that theory. In a Cell Metabolism study, researchers reported that draining NAD+ from mouse muscles—by a staggering 85%—didn’t hasten aging or degrade overall metabolic health. 

“Skeletal muscle appears remarkably resilient, even when NAD is stripped to low levels,” noted Associate Professor Jonas Treebak, the study’s senior author. “This throws serious doubt on the widely held notion that NAD+ decline drives age-related muscle degeneration,” according to medicalxpress.com. 

NAD’s critical function is to assist mitochondria—the cell’s powerhouses—in crafting ATP, the energy currency of life. But precisely how much NAD is enough for optimal performance? That’s still foggy terrain. How far can levels fall before systems start misfiring? 

Resilient Muscle Defies NAD Drop-Off 

To decode this, researchers engineered mice capable of targeted NAD depletion—but only in skeletal muscle and only after reaching adulthood. This design bypassed complications tied to muscle development and zeroed in on mature tissue reactions. 

Despite carrying a dramatic NAD shortfall, the mice held their ground. Their muscular volume, stamina, and physical aptitude mirrored those of standard mice. Deep cellular evaluations—spanning gene activity, mitochondrial vigor, protein structure, and DNA methylation patterns—revealed no catastrophic shifts. 

Yes, these mice exhibited mild energetic strain during exertion and subtle tweaks in energy metabolism. Still, their systemic wellness and muscle competence remained undisturbed over their natural lifespans, as per medicalxpress.com. 

“Surprisingly, high NAD levels are not a prerequisite for robust muscle health,” explained Sabina Chubanava, lead investigator of the project during her doctoral and postdoctoral stints. “Even pushing NAD levels far below the typical age-related dip doesn’t seem to trigger frailty or muscle degradation.” 

Bottom Line 

This groundbreaking insight reshapes the narrative: chasing NAD through pricey supplements may not yield the fountain-of-youth effects many biohackers envision. While NAD plays crucial cellular roles, skeletal muscle—at least—can seemingly thrive with far less than previously believed.