Everyone in the longevity space is talking about NAD and its importance in the body. But what is it? And how do NMN supplements play into its formation?
Vogue’s top NMN supplements at a glance:
“NAD is often described as the body’s ‘miracle molecule of anti‑ageing’ because it sits at the centre of how our cells make energy, repair damage and decide whether to stay youthful or slide into decline,” explains Dr Mayoni, Longevity Functional Medicine Director at PHC Clinics. “NMN is one of the key raw materials your cells can use to rebuild NAD when those internal supplies start to dip with age.”
By supplementing NMN, you are giving the body what it needs to make this molecule, and thus it has been embraced by Silicon Valley biohackers for its anti-ageing benefits. The cell energiser has been associated with repairing damaged DNA, boosting cellular vitality, fighting fatigue, boosting energy, promoting metabolism, enhancing brain function and improving sleep.
“NAD is involved in more than 500 cellular reactions, including mitochondrial ATP production and DNA repair, and it is essential for the function of sirtuins – often called ‘longevity proteins,’” continues Dr Mayoni. “When NAD is plentiful, sirtuins can switch on genes that dampen inflammation, support autophagy, maintain metabolic flexibility and promote cellular housekeeping. When NAD is low, those protective programmes wind down, and damage accumulates.”
From the age of 20, NAD+ levels naturally decline by half every 20 years. “By feeding in NMN, in theory, you provide a ready‑made precursor that cells can convert into NAD, replenishing the pool used by our mitochondria, repair enzymes like PARP enzymes and sirtuins, which orchestrate cell health.” This has been proven in animal trials. The expert details, “Animal studies suggest that restoring NAD via NMN can improve healthspan and, in some models, extend lifespan by reactivating these repair circuits.” As for human trials, studies have shown some similar improvements, but it is still early days, he stresses. In a journal entitled The Science Behind NMN–A Stable, Reliable NAD+Activator and Anti-Aging Molecule, it references many of these studies, which reveal that when NMN is taken orally, it is quickly absorbed and converted to NAD+, “Supplementation with NMN has increased NAD+ biosynthesis, suppressed age-related adipose tissue inflammation, enhanced insulin secretion and insulin action, improved mitochondrial function, improved neuronal function in the brain, and more.”
Below, find the top NMN supplements according to Vogue editors and everything you need to know about the molecule and its uses, dosage, benefits and research.
- Jump to the product reviews
- What is NMN and how does it work in the body?
- How does NMN increase NAD+ levels and why is NAD+ important for ageing?
- What health areas show the most promise with NMN?
- Who should use and who should avoid NMN?
- What should you look for in an NMN supplement? What should you avoid?
- Meet the experts
Kiki Health
NMN
- Why it’s Vogue-approved: This is a high-purity source of NMN from Kiki Health, a brand the Vogue editors are already fans of for its magnesium, iron and moringa supplements, respectively. The daily capsule is made almost entirely from vitamin B3 to trigger NAD+ production in a form that optimises absorption. The formula is free from any preservatives or synthetics. Its benefits include improving mental clarity and boosting energy, particularly noticeable during the typical afternoon slump.
- Worth knowing: This is a clean formula made up of 99 per cent niacin (vitamin B3)
- Capsules: 60
Youth & Earth NMN Capsules
- Why it’s Vogue-approved: Made up of 99 per cent nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), this supplement forgos any nasties or GMOs for an easily tolerated, plant-based and clean formulation that has a huge impact on energy, brain fog and metabolism. The idea is to directly boost NAD levels, resulting in healthy ageing and cellular function as well as more efficient energy utilisation.
- Worth knowing: This is a pharmaceutical-grade supplement that has been third-party tested and proven stable
- Capsules: 60
Charava
Charava NMN+1200
- Why it’s Vogue-approved: Widely viewed as one of the most effective precursors to NAD+, this supplement contains NMN (nicotinamide mononucleotide) a naturally occurring derivative of vitamin B3. As well as helping to slow down ageing, it also increases NAD+ in the body and because B3 is excellent at maintaining the health of your heart, blood vessels, and metabolism, regular use of this supplement improves vascular health and blood flow too.
- Worth knowing: Although supplementing NMN through diet is possible, the equivalent of one 250mg tablet would be 69 kg of avocado, 100kg of broccoli or 416kg of beef.
- Capsules: 60
FAQs
What is NMN and how does it work in the body?
“Nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) is a naturally occurring molecule in the body and is also found in small amounts in foods like avocado, broccoli, cabbage, and cucumber,” explains nutritional therapist Zoe Hill.
Dr Mayoni adds, “It is a vitamin B3‑derived molecule that your cells naturally make and use as a building block for NAD. Inside the cell, enzymes convert NMN directly into NAD via the ‘salvage pathway’ (the main recycling route) that continually breaks down and remakes NAD as it is used for DNA repair, energy production and signalling.”
While the body requires more NAD as we get older, our levels decline with age. The doctor details, “As we age, activity of a key salvage enzyme called NAMPT drops, just as demand for NAD goes up, so the system becomes overloaded and levels fall. Supplemented NMN appears to bypass some of that bottleneck, raising blood NAD+ in human studies and re‑energising these pathways, at least transiently.”
How does NMN increase NAD+ levels and why is NAD+ important for ageing?
Hill breaks it down, “Once inside the cell, NMN is converted into NAD+ by the enzyme Nicotinamide mononucleotide adenylyltransferase (NMNAT). NMN also acts as an intermediate in the pathway that recycles vitamin B3 (nicotinamide) to help maintain cellular NAD+ levels. Taking extra NMN provides the body with more building blocks to make NAD+, helping to boost cellular levels of this important molecule.”
Dr Mayoni stresses that this is not a cure-all. “Boosting precursors alone doesn’t automatically fix the upstream problems that caused NAD to fall in the first place.” Taking NMN supplements should be supported by lifestyle changes too. He spotlights “exercise, not overeating, time‑restricted eating, and good sleep, which remain the non‑negotiable foundation.”
What health areas show the most promise with NMN?
“For women 35-60, the most realistic benefits of NMN sit around energy, metabolism and day‑to‑day resilience rather than dramatic age reversal,” says Dr Mayoni. He shares research information. “Human trials show NMN can raise NAD+, with modest improvements in walking distance, fatigue and quality‑of‑life scores, particularly in older adults who are already looking after sleep, nutrition and movement. Early data in metabolic health are promising but mixed, so NMN should be seen as a supportive tool alongside diet and exercise, not a standalone fix for insulin resistance or weight.”
For brain health and general ageing, the expert shares that “most of the exciting evidence is still from animal studies, where NMN‑driven NAD restoration protects neurons and supports longevity pathways; we don’t yet have equivalent proof in humans, so expectations here should stay cautious and long‑term.”
He concludes, “NMN is best framed as a subtle amplifier of the good work you’re already doing for your health, with the clearest near‑term upside in energy, recovery and metabolic support rather than guaranteed life‑extension.”
Who should use and who should avoid NMN?
Hill flags the following as those who may respond best to NMN supplementation.
- Middle-aged adults (over 35): early studies suggest it can raise NAD+ levels in the body.
- Individuals looking to support metabolic health: studies suggest it could improve insulin sensitivity.
- Fitness enthusiasts: early studies suggest NMN may help muscles use oxygen more efficiently during exercise, potentially supporting aerobic performance.
Whereas those who are pregnant, breastfeeding, have a current or previous cancer diagnosis or are taking certain medications should avoid, according to the experts. Always consult your doctor.
What should you look for in an NMN supplement? What should you avoid?
Both experts agree that quality is everything. “Look for a pure, high-quality product with minimal ingredients and no fillers, additives, sugar, artificial sweeteners, colouring, or flavour,” says Hill, who also stresses to “Be cautious of very low prices, as they may indicate lower-quality NMN, since it is relatively expensive to produce.” Finally, she says that dark packaging is essential – “NMN is sensitive to heat and light.”
Dr Mayoni adds to pay attention to the dose of nicotinamide mononucleotide (around 250-500mg), independent third‑party testing and “transparent, GMP‑certified manufacturing and brands willing to share batch‑specific lab reports.”