The £2 ‘fat blasting' supplement Jennifer Aniston and Hailey Bieber swear by that ‘boosts metabolism and delays ageing'

The Sun

3 days ago

WHAT do Jennifer Aniston and Hailey Bieber have in common? Other than the fact they're beautiful women, they're also taking the same supplement to slow ageing - or so sources say.
For only £2 a day, it's a sweet relief when Botox, anti-wrinkle treatments and face lifts cost a fortune and can be invasive.
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Dubbed the future of longevity, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, known as NAD+ is more than just a trendy anti-aging treatment.
There's evidence that suggests it can help support skin, brain and even heart health.
Tech entrepreneur Bryan Johnson, famous for doing anything in his power to stay forever young, swears by NAD+.
'I'm going to NAD for the rest of my life, and I'm never going to age,' declared Hailey Bieber to Kendall Jenner when the pair got NAD+ treatment via an IV drip in the 2022 series of The Kardashians.
Jennifer Aniston also reportedly described NAD+ therapy as 'the future' to the Wall Street Journal.
Dr Carrie Ruxton, a dietitian from the Health & Food Supplements Information Service (HSIS) says: 'Every living cell contains NAD+. It's a coenzyme, or 'helper' molecule.
'This molecule supports enzymes in kicking off chemical reactions in the body.
'We need NAD+ for a whole range of important body processes and functions, including converting food into fuel for our cells, repairing DNA damage, regulating our biological clock – known as the circadian rhythm – regulating inflammation and activating sirtuins, which are our longevity genes.'
Research in the journal Cell Metabolism reveals that levels of NAD+ naturally drop as we age.
'NAD+ levels can drop by 50 per cent or more between youth and old age,' says Dr Ruxton.
Research in the journal Mechanisms of Ageing and Development shows that your body's levels of NAD+ may increase by taking supplements known as NAD 'precursors'. These can be converted by your body into NAD+.
Two common precursors are NMN (nicotinamide mononucleotide) and NR (nicotinamide riboside); both forms of vitamin B3.
Anyone lacking in vitamin B3 may not make enough NAD+.
'That's why it's a good idea to take a B vitamin, or an A-to-Z multivitamin and multimineral supplement from your forties onwards, as B vitamins help support cognitive function as we age,' says Dr Ruxton.
Several foods may support NAD+ production in the body, too.
Emily Foster, a nutritionist at Holland & Barrett adds: 'You can't actually get NAD+ directly from food but some foods contain the precursors - these include chicken, salmon and brown rice. A great snacking option is peanuts.'
How do you know if you need NAD+? According to Dr Ruxton, there's insufficient evidence to link specific signs and symptoms of a NAD+ deficiency.
'Symptoms reported on the internet are so general that they could be due to a wide range of health problems, or just overwork, poor diet and lack of sleep,' she says.
Costing £2 a day from brands like ARTAH (£60 for 60 capsules, two capsules to be taken twice a day) NAD+ is more than your average supplement, but has multiple benefits worth considering….
TURN BACK TIME
Want to look and feel younger? It's all about reducing your biological age, which is how well (or poorly) your body is ageing compared to it's actual (chronological) age in years.
A healthy lifestyle can improve your biological age so that it is younger than your chronological age.
But supplementation with NAD+ may also improve the factors that drive ageing in the body.
Research in the journal Antioxidants & Redox Signaling found that low levels of NAD+ have been linked to several diseases including stroke, heart attack and diabetes.
'These findings have suggested great therapeutic and nutritional potential of NAD+ for diseases and senescence,' the researchers in China wrote.
Dr Ruxton says: 'Early research in laboratory studies, or supplementing a small number of people, show that boosting NAD+ could reverse cell ageing, dampen inflammation or help to ward off viruses.
'The jury is still out on whether NAD+ can help support muscle health.'
BURN BABY BURN
Weight loss seems to get harder and harder with every birthday that passes.
A slowing metabolism is a typical sign of ageing, but one that we can fight off.
A review of studies, comprising more than 5,000 people, showed that taking NAD+ precursor supplements could cause BMI to drop by 0.19 kg/m².
This is about half a kilo for someone who is 5 ft 7. While it's not a lot, the study says that the weight loss is unlikely due to chance.
Those people supplementing also had a slight increase in adiponectin, a hormone that plays a crucial role in regulating metabolism, according to the findings published in the journal Frontiers in Nutrition.
'Scientists propose that returning our levels of NAD+ to normal could help with healthy metabolism, including insulin sensitivity and fat burning,' says Dr Ruxton.
FIRED UP
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Feeling tired and fatigued? Who doesn't! It's one of the joys of ageing as our body slows down.
But NAD+ could help thanks to its role in turning the food we eat into the energy we need.
Emily says: 'NAD+ is essential for turning food into cellular energy, so without enough NAD+, your cells run low on fuel, leading to fatigue and sluggishness.'
One of NAD's precursors - vitamin B3 - also helps to release energy from the food we eat, supports normal nervous system function and fights fatigue.
BEAUTY SLEEP
Sleep is vital for the smooth-running of various processes, from appetite to emotion regulation, memory storing and physical activity.
It's called beauty sleep for a reason, too; the body repairs and regenerates cells, including skin cells, as we sleep.
Plus, consistently bad sleep can increase the risk of certain health problems related to ageing, including dementia, according to the Sleep Foundation.
A decline in NAD+ can make sleep even worse.
Emily says: 'Research highlights that age-related NAD+ decline likely impairs sirtuin activity, affecting metabolism, genomic stability and our circadian regulation.
'So to simplify, this natural decline of NAD+ can lead to our body clock being thrown off, and thus affecting sleep and energy cycles.'
Research done on mice experiencing chronic sleep restriction was published in the Journal of Neuroimmunology. It found that NAD+ supplementation protected their brain from the damaging effects of sleep deprivation by preserving their memory and cognitive function and protecting the mitochondria from stress and inflammation.
RADIANCE
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Let's face it, when we are talking about ageing, most of us are concerned with the visible signs - wrinkles, sagging and drooping.
Botox, fillers and retinol-based creams are all popular ways to look youthful and reverse the signs of ageing. But NAD+ might be your new anti-ageing wingman.
Research in the journal Cells has found that supplementing with NAD+ could offer protective effects against both extrinsic ageing, such as that induced by UV exposure from the sun, as well as natural, intrinsic ageing.
'NAD+ might support the skin's repair mechanisms in the face of UV radiation and DNA damage,' says Dr Ruxton.
But she warns: 'Before everyone gets too excited, good quality intervention studies are lacking so I would say this area of research is 'promising' rather than ready to act on.'
HEART OF IT
To stay alive, your heart has to keep on beating blood around your body.
But heart disease is one of the biggest killers in the UK, and it can be triggered by some of the most common habits, including drinking alcohol, smoking and a fatty diet.
Heart disease is often caused by a buildup of fatty deposits in the arteries, making them stiff and reducing blood flow.
Research in the journal Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine, however, has found that nicotinamide riboside, a form of the precursor vitamin B3, may help raise levels of NAD+ levels, which could reduce the chance of high blood pressure by reducing the stiffness of blood vessels.
Plus, research in the Journal of Clinical Investigation revealed that boosting levels of NAD+ could help to reduce inflammation in patients with heart failure.
MIND MATTERS
It's not uncommon to fear an ageing brain - after all, dementia is the top cause of death in the UK and diagnoses can occur younger than 65.
The natural decline of NAD+ with ageing has been linked to brain ageing and diseases such as Alzheimer's.
'We need NAD+ to power the mitochondria (cellular batteries) in our nerve cells,' says Dr Ruxton. The mitochondria are essentially like the energy powerhouse of cells.
'Research in the Journal of Neuroinflammation has found NAD+ helps reverse cognitive decline and block inflammation in the brain by protecting the mitochondria and reducing excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) which can harm body cells when levels get too high,' says Dr Ruxton.
Inflammation has been linked to brain ageing and neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia.
'NAD+ could also activate longevity genes known as sirtuins which have been found to delay brain ageing,' says Dr Ruxton.
'But this knowledge is only at a theoretical level and needs to be properly tested.'
Other ways to defy ageing...
TO slow down the ageing process, focus on a healthy lifestyle that includes regular exercise, a balanced diet, adequate sleep, and stress management.
Additionally, protecting your skin from the sun, practising good hygiene, and maintaining social connections can also contribute to a longer, healthier life
Exercise
Engage in regular physical activity, including both aerobic and strength training, to maintain muscle mass, improve circulation, and boost your metabolism.
Diet
Follow a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein, while limiting processed foods, added sugars, and excessive alcohol.
Sleep
Prioritise getting enough sleep, as it's crucial for cellular repair and overall health.
Stress management
Find healthy ways to manage stress, such as through exercise, meditation, or spending time in nature.
Sun protection
Protect your skin from sun damage by using sunscreen, wearing protective clothing, and avoiding prolonged sun exposure.
Social connections
Maintain strong social networks and engage in activities that foster a sense of purpose and connection.
Mental stimulation
Keep your mind active through hobbies, puzzles, or learning new skills.
Regular medical check ups
Schedule regular checkups with your doctor to monitor your health and address any potential issues early on.