How NAD+ and Resveratrol Team Up for Healthy Aging

Aging well is a lifelong pursuit. Who doesn't want to stay at their healthiest, especially as we rack up the birthdays? (We see you, rolling out that yoga mat, climbing on the bike for a century ride, gleaming silver hair and all.) But even the most wellness-focused lifestyles can use a little help from the right supplements.

If you're looking for a dynamic duo that packs a one-two punch to healthy aging, look no further than NAD+ and resveratrol! Like peanut butter and jelly, these cellular health superstars are a winning combination when it comes to supporting a long life in good health.

NAD+ and aging: How are they related?

NAD+ is the abbreviation for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide. While it may be a mouthful to say, its importance to healthy aging is simple. This coenzyme is found in all living cells, and it helps enzymes do their jobs faster and more efficiently by using less energy.

We can't overstate it enough: Your body cannot function at its best without NAD+. It's required for more than 500 enzyme reactions involved in keeping you healthy! Like engine oil in a car, NAD+ keeps your cells running smoothly. And because NAD+ is crucial for meeting your body's energy needs, maintaining healthy levels plays a vital role in aging well.

NAD+ is involved in:

• Energy production

  —The NAD+ coenzyme is necessary for creating adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the compound your body uses to create cellular energy.

• DNA health

  —With time, cells are no longer able to maintain the cellular integrity of your DNA as well as they used to. NAD+ helps the body maintain healthy DNA.

• Healthy metabolism

  —NAD+ helps fuel ATP production for energy, but ATP is also an essential ingredient for healthy metabolism.

Resveratrol for healthy aging

Ever had a glass of wine with your dinner? If so, you've had resveratrol! Also found in grapes, blueberries, apples, plums and Japanese knotweed, this plant compound is another standout supplement in a healthy aging repertoire.

Its reputation is largely thanks to its antioxidant properties and its ability to promote a healthy inflammatory response, but resveratrol has also been well-studied for its other benefits:

• Promoting cardiovascular health

  —Resveratrol helps maintain already-healthy blood pressure and endothelial health, the lining of your blood vessels.

• Maintaining brain health

  —Resveratrol has been shown to support overall cognition, with studies finding that this compound encourages healthy neurological function as well as healthy brain blood flow.

• Promoting healthy aging at the cellular level

  —As you age, your cells stop working as well as they should—a process called cellular senescence. These old cells can be compared to rusty cars littering a junkyard that are no longer usable. In the case of the human body, these old, worn-out cells can impact the healthy aging process. Resveratrol is considered a well-known healthy aging nutrient.

Why combine NAD+-boosting supplements with resveratrol?

Choosing a formula that combines an NAD+-boosting supplement with resveratrol may make it easier to get the most out of their healthy aging benefits.

We know NAD+ levels play a vital role in healthy aging, and studies have shown that NAD+ levels decline with age. Supplementing with NAD+-boosting nutrients—like nicotinamide riboside (NR)—may play a role in supporting your body's NAD+ levels and the many complex cellular processes it is involved in.

Resveratrol also promotes healthy aging. It helps to shield your cells from oxidative stress and encourages overall health through a variety of mechanisms.

While NAD+-boosting supplements and resveratrol haven't been tested together in clinical studies, they play complementary roles in supporting healthy cellular function.

Both of these nutrients can also potentially benefit heart and brain health by:

• Helping maintain healthy insulin sensitivity
• Promoting endothelial health
• Supporting healthy cognitive function

If you're looking for the secret to aging gracefully, turning to supplements that combine powerful nutrients to support your healthy lifestyle seems like a no-brainer.

How to choose an NAD+ and resveratrol supplement

When you're seeking out a healthy aging supplement with some form of NAD+ and resveratrol, there are a few specific considerations to keep in mind.

1. Consider the ingredients

Formulas that contain precursors like nicotinamide riboside instead of NAD+ alone are considered the better option. NAD+ is a larger molecule. This means your body doesn't absorb as much in supplement form, and most of it is broken down in digestion. (Remember, your cells are the only place where NAD+ can be made.) Taking more stable supplements with ingredients like nicotinamide riboside is a good workaround. As a precursor to NAD+, the body converts nicotinamide riboside into NAD+ inside cells, which can help promote healthy energy metabolism and effectively raise NAD+ levels in the body, thus making it a better overall option.

2. Choose a bioavailable form

Resveratrol on its own has low bioavailability. This means your body won't be able to access all its benefits. When selecting the best form of resveratrol, look for trans-resveratrol, the form associated with health benefits. Bonus points if it's augmented with other ingredients like galactomannan fibers from fenugreek. When combined, these ingredients produce an extra-bioavailable form of resveratrol that is up to 10 times more readily available for the body to use compared to traditional forms.

3. Get extra support

NAD+ and resveratrol may be a power couple, but three is even better when it comes to healthy aging supplements! Quercetin, a plant compound similar to resveratrol and known for its antioxidant, heart and immune health benefits, is one nutrient that is sometimes included in combination with resveratrol and NAD+.

4. Do your research

When choosing any supplement, doing your due diligence is key, especially when it comes to quality and form. Quality supplements are made from ingredients that have been tested for purity (no added contaminants) and potency (strength). Reliable brands will be able to provide scientific studies that support the use of the ingredients in the form and amount present in the supplement formula you are purchasing.

Other ways to support healthy aging

When it comes to healthy aging, a resveratrol and NAD+-boosting supplement is only one part of the equation. It's just as important to maintain a healthy lifestyle that includes regular exercise, maintaining a healthy and balanced diet, and getting enough sleep. Research shows fostering social connections and keeping your mind engaged are also good habits to help you stay healthy for the long run.

References

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• Covarrubias AJ, et al. "NAD+ metabolism and its roles in cellular processes during ageing." Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol. February 2021. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7963035/
• Huang H, et al. "The effects of resveratrol intervention on risk markers of cardiovascular health in overweight and obese subjects: a pooled analysis of randomized controlled trials." Obes Rev. December 2016. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27456934/
• Joseph A, et al. "Micelle/Hydrogel Composite as a "Natural Self-Emulsifying Reversible Hybrid Hydrogel (N'SERH)" Enhances the Oral Bioavailability of Free (Unconjugated) Resveratrol." ACS Omega. April 2022. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9026114/
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• Peluso A, et al. "Age-Dependent Decline of NAD+-Universal Truth or Confounded Consensus?" Nutrients. December 2021. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8747183/
• Rajman L, et al. "Therapeutic Potential of NAD-Boosting Molecules: The In Vivo Evidence." Cell Metabolism. March 2018. https://www.cell.com/cell-metabolism/fulltext/S1550-4131(18)30122-0
• Sharma A, et al. "Potential Synergistic Supplementation of NAD+ Promoting Compounds as a Strategy for Increasing Healthspan." Nutrients. January 2023. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9861325/
• Thaung Zaw JJ, et al. "Long-term effects of resveratrol on cognition, cerebrovascular function and cardio-metabolic markers in postmenopausal women: A 24-month randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study." Clin Nutr. March 2021. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32900519/