NAD+ is a crucial molecule that declines with age and helps cells produce energy and manage stress. Scientists have been exploring ways to restore NAD+ levels because low NAD+ is linked to aging and disease. Most existing NAD+ precursor supplements aim to raise NAD+ throughout the body, but they face challenges: the liver breaks them down quickly (first-pass metabolism), and the body has natural limits on how much NAD+ it can synthesize. This study tested whether a novel formulation called LNAD+ (using a proprietary 'LathMized' delivery system) could overcome these bottlenecks by selectively raising NAD+ inside cells rather than in the bloodstream.
The trial was a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled Phase 0/1b study—a very early-stage design meant to gather safety and basic efficacy data, not to prove clinical benefit. Fifty healthy adults aged 45–75 took either LNAD+ or placebo for 5 days. The researchers measured NAD+ in two compartments: intracellular NAD+ (in blood cells) and circulating NAD+ (in plasma). They also tracked NAD+ breakdown products (metabolites) as a sign that the body was actually using the supplement.
The results were striking for intracellular NAD+: a 53% increase versus placebo with a very large effect size (Hedges g=3.66) and an extremely low p-value (5.48e-14). Notably, circulating NAD+ did not increase (p=0.60), meaning the supplement preferentially boosted NAD+ inside cells. Moreover, two NAD+ metabolites (1-methyl-nicotinamide and 2-pyridone-5-carboxamide) increased substantially in plasma, suggesting downstream engagement of NAD metabolism—evidence that cells were actually using the NAD+. The supplement was very well tolerated: only one mild adverse event (nausea) in the LNAD+ group, with no meaningful differences in symptoms, vital signs, or wellbeing between groups.
However, significant limitations merit careful consideration. This is a preprint, not yet peer-reviewed, and it was retrospectively registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (registered after the trial ended, which is a red flag for bias). The sample size is modest (n=50 primary analysis), and the trial lasted only 5 days—far too short to assess any real clinical benefit or long-term safety. The primary endpoints were biomarkers (NAD+ levels and metabolites), not health outcomes like improved energy, cognition, or longevity. The exploratory 'multi-omic analyses' mentioned at the end were not yet published, leaving important mechanistic questions unanswered. The formulation is proprietary and branded (LathMized), which raises questions about independence of the research and commercial interests. Finally, results in 50 healthy middle-aged volunteers tell us nothing about whether this would help older, frailer, or diseased populations—the groups most likely to benefit from NAD+ restoration.
What this means for longevity research: This paper represents an interesting early-stage technical innovation—a delivery method that preferentially raises intracellular NAD+ without flooding the bloodstream. If replicated and extended, it could be a useful tool for studying NAD+ biology or a foundation for future therapeutics. However, we are nowhere near knowing whether LNAD+ (or any oral NAD+ supplement) actually extends healthspan or lifespan, improves age-related diseases, or offers any benefit beyond raising a biomarker. The jump from 'intracellular NAD+ increased' to 'this will slow aging' is vast and premature.
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