NAD+ Supplements for Anti-Aging: My 90-Day Experiment That Surprised Even My Doctor

I never thought I'd become "that guy" obsessing over cellular health—until I turned 35 and noticed my hangovers lasted three days, my gym recovery felt glacial, and my skin started looking like crumpled parchment. That's when I discovered NAD+ supplements and decided to run an unscientific but brutally honest self-experiment. Here's what happened.

Why I Gambled on NAD+ Boosters

The Wake-Up Call

During my annual physical, my doctor casually mentioned my fasting glucose was creeping up (102 mg/dL) and my inflammatory markers were elevated. "Normal for your age," he said. I hated that phrase.

A PubMed deep dive led me to a 2020 study showing NAD+ precursors reversed age-related metabolic decline in mice. Human data was scant, but I was desperate enough to try.

Choosing My Potion

After comparing:

Nicotinamide Riboside (NR) – Most researched (Tru Niagen)

NMN – Trendy but recently blocked by FDA

Mitolyn – NR + mitochondrial cofactors

I went with Mitolyn for the added PQQ (supports new mitochondria growth).The Protocol

Dosage:

300 mg NR equivalent daily (2 Mitolyn capsules)

Taken fasted with green tea (EGCG boosts absorption)

Tracking:

Bloodwork (pre-, 30-day, 90-day)

Cognitive tests (BrainLabs memory games)

Subjective metrics (energy, skin, sleep)

30-Day Results: The Good, The Weird, and The Unexpected

1. Energy Levels (★★★☆☆)

Week 1: Felt nothing. Almost quit.

Week 3: Noticed I wasn't crashing after lunch. Could skip coffee without headaches.

Surprise: Dreams became vivid and bizarre (a known NR side effect).

Lab Change:

Fasting glucose dropped to 92 (-10 points)

2. Skin Improvements (★★★★☆)

Day 40: My esthetician asked if I'd started retinoids (I hadn't). Less dryness, fewer "crepey" patches.

Mechanism: NAD+ boosts collagen production and skin cell turnover (Journal of Investigative Dermatology).

3. Brain Fog (★★☆☆☆)

Minimal change initially. Added lion's mane mushroom at Day 45—game changer for focus.

90-Day Verdict: Worth the Hype?

Objective Wins

✔ HbA1c dropped from 5.6 to 5.3 (reduced diabetes risk)
✔ HDL cholesterol up 15%
✔ VO2 max improved 8% (via Fitbit data)

Subjective Wins

✔ Recovery from workouts cut in half
✔ No more "3 PM zombie mode"
✔ Unexpected bonus: Gray hair growth slowed noticeably

The Catch

Cost: ~$60/month (cheaper than daily Starbucks, but still)

Patience required: Benefits compound over months

Expert Takeaways

Interview Clip: Dr. Elena Seranova, Aging Biologist
"NAD+ boosters show promise, but human data lags behind mice studies. The smartest approach? Combine them with time-restricted eating and resistance training—synergistic effects are profound."

Would I Do It Again?

Absolutely—but with adjustments:

Added electrolytes (NAD+ synthesis requires magnesium)

Cycled 5 days on/2 off (prevents receptor desensitization)

Paired with red light therapy (boosts mitochondrial function)

Final Tip: Get baseline bloodwork—NAD+ affects everyone differently. My friend saw zero benefits until she fixed her vitamin D deficiency first.