Should Women Take NAD+ Supplements?

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) has become a buzzword in anti-aging and wellness circles.

The essential molecule plays a crucial role in hundreds of metabolic processes throughout your body. But what does it mean specifically for women’s health?

As we age, our NAD+ levels naturally decline. This decrease may contribute to various health challenges women face throughout their lives – from fertility issues to menopausal symptoms and beyond.

Let’s explore what science tells us about NAD+ for women, potential benefits, risks to consider, and who might benefit most from dietary supplements.

Why NAD+ Matters for Women’s Health

NAD+ is a coenzyme found in all living cells. Think of it as a tiny helper molecule that works behind the scenes to keep your body running smoothly – like the perfect foundation that balances your skin and creates a flawless canvas without anyone noticing it’s there.

This powerful molecule is involved in:

• Cellular energy production

• DNA repair

• Metabolic regulation

• Cellular resilience

• Activation of sirtuins (proteins linked to longevity)

For women specifically, NAD+ influences processes affecting hormonal balance, energy metabolism, and cellular health¹ – factors that all impact healthy aging.

Research shows NAD+ levels decline with age in various tissues, including female reproductive organs like the ovaries and uterus.

This decline may contribute to age-related health challenges that uniquely or disproportionately affect women.

Potential Benefits of NAD Supplements for Women

Remember how energetic you felt in your twenties? Or how quickly your skin bounced back from a late night? NAD+ plays a role in all of these processes.

Research has found that maintaining healthy NAD+ levels can potentially benefit women’s health in several areas.

1. Fertility and Reproductive Health

NAD+ shows clear benefits for women’s fertility and reproductive health.

Studies show that NAD+ levels in oocytes (eggs) decline with age. A study in Cell Reports found that restoring NAD+ using precursors like nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) can improve egg quality, increase ovulation rates, and boost fertility².

In older female mice, NAD+ precursor supplements improved:

• Time to first live birth
• Percentage of mice having live births
• Egg quality
• Ovulation rate

These benefits occur because NAD+ supports energy production and mitochondrial function in reproductive cells.

Women with PCOS may also benefit from NAD+. Research found that PCOS patients have lower NAD+ levels in ovarian cells, causing oxidative stress and mitochondrial problems³.

In animal studies, the NAD+ precursor nicotinamide riboside (NR) produced several improvements:

• More regular periods
• Better ovulation
• Less ovarian scarring
• Healthier mitochondria

2. Relief from Menopausal Symptoms

If you’re in the throes of perimenopause or menopause, you know it can feel like your body has staged a revolt.

Hot flashes strike during important meetings, sleep becomes elusive, and your once-sharp mind sometimes feels foggy.

Studies suggest that restoring levels of NAD may help with common menopausal symptoms including:

• Hot flashes
• Night sweats
• Mood changes
• Sleep disturbances
• Brain fog and cognitive issues

The benefits appear related to how NAD+ helps cells produce energy and regulate metabolism when hormonal shifts cause significant physical changes.

3. Better Bone Health

Bone health is crucial for women, especially after menopause when estrogen decreases. Remember leaping off swings as a kid? That bodily resilience doesn’t completely disappear with age.

NAD+ may protect bone density and fight osteoporosis in older adults. Research indicates that increasing NAD levels can slow bone breakdown while promoting new bone cell formation⁴.

Bones stay healthy through a process called remodeling. As we age, bone-building cells decline, leading to too much bone removal without enough new growth. NAD+ helps maintain this balance, potentially offering protection against age-related bone loss.

4. Improved Skin Health

Seeing new lines or sagging skin in the mirror? That’s your skin’s NAD+ levels declining right before your eyes. This natural process causes fine lines, wrinkles, and elasticity loss⁵.

Boosting NAD+ through supplements or specialized skincare products can:

• Support DNA repair
• Help cells regenerate
• Fight sun-related aging
• Reduce uneven skin tone
• Protect your skin barrier

Sirtuins, enzymes that depend on NAD+, play a central role in maintaining skin health and youthfulness. NAD+ helps these enzymes keep your skin’s structure strong and bouncy.

5. Mood Balance and Mental Wellbeing

Women’s mental health can benefit from optimal NAD+ levels. Ever had those days when your brain just won’t cooperate? Research suggests NAD+ plays a key role in:

• Neurotransmitter function (regulating mood)
• Cognitive function
• Cellular energy for brain cells⁶

NAD+ supplements may help reduce anxiety and depression by promoting balanced neurotransmitters. The energy boost can also improve focus and mental clarity, helping you handle life’s demands more effectively.

6. Energy and Metabolism Boost

Remember powering through your day without needing coffee refills? NAD+ is essential for your mitochondria – your cellular energy generators – making it key for your energy and metabolism.

Research in the journal Science tested nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) on 25 postmenopausal women with prediabetes over 10 weeks⁷. They found improvements in:

• Insulin sensitivity
• Insulin signaling
• Healthy muscle tissue changes

This suggests NAD+ precursors may help fight the metabolic decline that often accelerates after menopause.

NAD+ also helps regulate your circadian rhythm⁸ – your internal body clock. Healthy NAD+ levels can improve your sleep-wake patterns, leading to better sleep, balanced hormones, and improved vitality.

Imagine enjoying that deep, refreshing sleep you had when you were younger!

Common Side Effects

The most commonly reported side effects of NAD+ precursors include:

• Diarrhea
• Nausea
• Rashes
• Hot flashes
• Leg cramps

These side effects appear to be relatively rare and minor for most users. Still, it’s worth starting with lower doses to see how your body responds.

Dosage Recommendations

Current dosage recommendations based on available research include:

Important Notes:

• These are general recommendations, not gender-specific
• Individual factors (health status, age, medical conditions) should guide dosing
• Consult with a healthcare provider before starting any supplement regimen

Considerations for Different Life Stages

Your body’s relationship with NAD+ changes throughout your life, just like your cooking preferences evolve from instant ramen to more sophisticated flavors. Understanding these shifts helps you make better choices about supplementation timing.

Reproductive Years

If you’re in your childbearing years, the fertility benefits we discussed earlier become especially relevant. NAD+ supports egg quality and cellular energy in reproductive tissues.

Women planning to delay childbearing might find this particularly valuable. However, always consult your healthcare provider before starting any supplement regimen while trying to conceive.

Pregnancy and Postpartum

Research remains limited here, though emerging studies show promise. 

One study found NAM may protect developing eggs from acetaminophen effects⁹. In animal models, NR prevented pregnancy-related high blood pressure and fetal growth issues¹⁰.

Given the limited human data, pregnant women should only consider NAD+ supplements under medical supervision.

Perimenopause and Menopause

This life stage may offer the most compelling case for the benefits of NAD+ supplementation. As we covered earlier, research shows significant benefits for hot flashes, sleep, energy, and metabolism during hormonal transitions.

The metabolic improvements seen in postmenopausal women with prediabetes make this timing particularly strategic for many women.

Practical Ways to Support NAD+ Levels

Beyond supplementation, several lifestyle factors can influence your NAD+ levels. Many of these approaches are beneficial for your overall health too.

Diet

Your grandmother’s advice to “eat your vegetables” turns out to be NAD+-boosting wisdom! Consume foods rich in NAD+ precursors, including:

• Lean meats
• Fish
• Legumes
• Nuts and seeds
• Whole grains
• Leafy greens

These foods support your body’s natural NAD+ production.

Exercise

Regular physical activity may support NAD+ production. Even moderate exercise several times a week can deliver some benefit. Find movement you enjoy – whether it’s dancing in your kitchen, swimming laps, or taking a brisk walk with a friend – and you’ll be supporting your NAD+ production naturally.

Stress Management

Chronic stress depletes NAD+. Practices like meditation, yoga, and adequate sleep help preserve your NAD+ stores. Taking even five minutes a day for deep breathing can make a difference.

Limiting Alcohol

Excessive alcohol consumption places demands on NAD+ resources as your body metabolizes alcohol. Moderating intake helps protect your NAD+ levels. Think of it this way: every glass of wine requires your body to use some of its precious NAD+ stores for processing.

Should Women Take NAD+ Supplements?

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer about taking NAD+ supplements. Just like you wouldn’t purchase shoes without trying them on first, your supplement decisions should be tailored to your individual health goals.

Women who might benefit most include:

• Those experiencing menopause symptoms
• Women with metabolic concerns, particularly postmenopausal women with insulin resistance
• Those interested in supporting reproductive health and fertility
• Women concerned about age-related cognitive changes
• Those looking for support with energy production and overall vitality

Jinfiniti’s Vitality↑® NAD+ Booster contains a science-backed blend shown to optimize NAD+ levels through several metabolic pathways. Our well-researched formulation of NMN, creatine monohydrate, niacinamide and D-ribose work together to support cellular energy needs that many women face during hormonal changes.

However, important cautions exist:

• Women with cancer, cancer history, or strong family history of cancer should approach supplementation with caution
• Women with autoimmune or inflammatory conditions should discuss potential risks with healthcare providers
• Pregnant women should only consider NAD+ supplementation under medical supervision

Before taking any NAD+ supplement, measure your baseline NAD+ levels with our Intracellular NAD® Test. This helps personalize your dosing and track your progress—following our TAO approach (Test, Act, Optimize) to precision health.

Bottom Line

NAD+ supplements show promise for women’s health across several areas – fertility, mental clarity, bone health, and energy levels. Since NAD+ naturally decreases with age, supplements may help combat age-related health issues that women often face.

The evidence for reproductive and menopausal health benefits looks good, while research in other areas continues to grow. As scientists better understand how NAD+ affects women’s health, this coenzyme could become a key part of health optimization.

Referenced Sources

1. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41392-020-00311-7 ↩︎
2. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7063679/ ↩︎
3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11749135/ ↩︎
4. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41514-021-00058-7 ↩︎
5. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9512238/ ↩︎
6. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6787556/ ↩︎
7. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8376945/ ↩︎
8. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8130408/ ↩︎
9. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S095528632300044X ↩︎
10. https://www.life-science-alliance.org/content/7/12/e202302505 ↩︎