NAD+ Supplements: Everything You Need to Know & Why!

NAD+ supplements are taking over the longevity and wellness conversation—and for good reason. This essential coenzyme plays a crucial role in energy metabolism, cellular repair, and aging. But here’s the kicker: most “NAD+ supplements” don’t actually contain NAD+ at all. That’s because NAD+ isn’t orally bioavailable. Instead, the magic happens through its precursors—like nicotinamide, nicotinamide riboside (NR), and nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN)—which your body transforms into NAD+ inside your cells. Enter, Mimio Biomimetic Cell Care. . Designed by scientists who’ve studied fasting, autophagy, and cellular health for nearly a decade, Mimio uses a biomimetic formula rich in nicotinamide and other fasting-mimicking molecules to help your body naturally elevate NAD+ levels and tap into regenerative longevity programs. Let’s break it all down.

What Is NAD+ and Why Should You Care?

NAD+ (short for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) is a coenzyme found in every single cell in your body. It plays a starring role in:

• Energy production (ATP creation via mitochondria)
  
  

• DNA repair
  
  

• Gene expression
  
  

• Cellular stress resistance
  
  

• Longevity pathways, especially sirtuins and AMPK activation
  
  

In other words, NAD+ helps keep your cells youthful and your energy high. Unfortunately, NAD+ levels decline as we age, which contributes to fatigue, slower metabolism, brain fog, and increased vulnerability to disease. Cue the rise of NAD+ supplementation.

Why You’re Hearing So Much About NAD+ Supplements

From podcasts and health blogs to glossy wellness magazines, NAD+ is the molecule du jour. Biohackers swear by it. Anti-aging clinics offer pricey IV drips. Influencers post about it like it's the new matcha.

But here's what most of those posts don’t tell you: you can’t just take NAD+ in a pill and expect it to work.

Here's the truth:

• NAD+ molecules are too large and unstable to survive digestion or cross cell membranes effectively.
  
  

• Clinical studies and experts (like those quoted in GQ’s recent deep dive on NAD+) confirm this: NAD+ itself isn't bioavailable when taken orally and may not be absorbed by cells even with an IV direct to the bloodstream.
  
  

• This means NAD+ IV injections or high-dose capsules claiming to contain pure NAD+ might sound impressive—but science says they’re mostly hype.
  
  

So What Actually Works? NAD+ Precursors.

If NAD+ can’t get into your cells directly, what’s the workaround? NAD+ Precursors—the building blocks your body uses to make NAD+ on its own.

There are a few major players:

1. Nicotinamide (also known as niacinamide)
   
   

2. Nicotinamide riboside (NR)
   
   

3. Nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN)
   
   

4. Nicotinic acid (niacin)
   
   

These precursors get absorbed in the gut and then metabolized into NAD+ inside your cells. Among them, nicotinamide stands out for its versatility and widespread support in scientific literature.

Mimio and NAD+: A Smarter, Broader Approach

Mimio doesn’t use NAD+ directly—and that’s very much on purpose.

Instead, Mimio taps into a broad-spectrum NAD+ precursor approach using nicotinamide, which your body can convert into NR, NMN, and NAD+ as needed. This ensures:

• Better bioavailability
  
  

• More metabolic flexibility
  
  

• Support for all NAD+ biosynthesis pathways, not just one
  
  

According to Dr. Chris Rhodes, co-founder of Mimio and PhD in Nutrition, this design is based on nearly a decade of fasting and longevity research, in addition to hundreds if not thousands of years of naturally occurring processes in nature. “We didn’t just want to elevate NAD+ levels,” he says. “We wanted to mimic the entire beneficial cascade of a 36-hour fast—including increased NAD+, reduced inflammation, improved mitochondrial health, and boosted autophagy.”

How Mimio Works: A Peek Behind the Capsule

At its core, Mimio is biomimetic—a fancy way of saying it mimics nature, specifically what happens in the human body during a 36 hour fast.

Its formulation includes:

• Nicotinamide, a key NAD+ precursor
  
  

• Polyamines (spermidine) and fasting-mimicking molecules (PEA and OEA) that stimulate autophagy, AMPK, PPARs, mitochondrial health, and sirtuin activity.
  
  

• A formulation designed directly from human biology, not theoretical models
  
  

Together, these ingredients support the natural rise of NAD+ in your body without the need to fast or endure long IV sessions. Even better, since NAD+ is the major energy sensing molecules in your cells, increased NAD+ levels “trick” your cells into thinking they’re fasting and enable all the other Mimio ingredients to work even better.  

"Mimio doesn’t just give you NAD+—it gives you the cellular context to actually use it the right way and amplify the benefits." – Dr. Chris Rhodes

NAD+, Sirtuins, and the Fountain of Youth

Want the real anti-aging benefits of NAD+? Then you need to understand sirtuins.

Sirtuins are proteins that:

• Regulate metabolism
  
  

• Protect DNA
  
  

• Control inflammation
  
  

• Support mitochondrial function

And guess what? Sirtuins are NAD+-dependent. Without adequate NAD+, sirtuins can’t function optimally. Boosting NAD+ through precursors like those found in Mimio can help turn these longevity genes back on—especially when paired with polyamines, which naturally activate sirtuin pathways and mimic the effects of fasting¹⁻².

By promoting NAD+ synthesis via nicotinamide and mimicking the biological response to calorie restriction, Mimio helps unlock sirtuin-mediated benefits that support whole-body resilience and cellular repair³.

What About NAD+ Injections?

You might’ve heard about NAD+ IV therapy—celebs and biohackers love to rave about it. And while NAD+ injections can raise NAD+ levels in the short term, there are a few things to keep in mind:

• They’re expensive, sometimes costing $200–$1000 per session.
  
  

• They require clinical supervision and time.
  
  

• Their effects are short-lived and often inconsistent.
  
  

• Most importantly: they bypass your body’s natural regulation, which can lead to inefficiencies or imbalances.
  
  

In contrast, Mimio works with your biology, encouraging your cells to create the NAD+ they need, when they need it, in a sustainable and long-lasting capacity.

Key Benefits of NAD+ (When Supplemented Right)

When you elevate NAD+ levels through effective, science-backed precursors like nicotinamide, you can expect:

• More Energy: Boosts mitochondrial function and ATP production⁴
  
  

• Sharper Focus: Enhances brain health, memory, and neuroplasticity⁵
  
  

• Better Metabolism: Supports glucose tolerance and fat oxidation⁶
  
  

• Cellular Repair: Activates DNA repair and anti-aging pathways⁷
  
  

• Longevity: Extends cellular lifespan via sirtuin activation and enhances healthspan in animals¹
  
  

• Improved Sleep-Wake Cycles: Influences circadian rhythm and sleep quality⁸
  
  

These benefits aren’t speculative—they’re supported by decades of research into NAD+ biology and fasting-mimicking interventions. Mimio’s formulation was specifically designed to elevate NAD+ naturally and sustainably, without relying on expensive IV drips or unstable NAD+ molecules that can’t survive digestion³.

Not All “NAD+ Supplements” Are Created Equal

When choosing an NAD+ supplement, keep these tips in mind:

• Look for precursors, not NAD+ itself
  
  

• Choose products backed by clinical science, not hype
  
  

• Prioritize bioavailability—can your cells actually use it?
  
  

• Make sure you’re taking an effective dose of at least 250mg/day and up to 1000mg/day
  
  

Why Mimio Is a Game-Changer in the NAD+ Space

Mimio isn’t just another supplement—it’s a new class of longevity tool.

Unlike products that narrowly focus on NAD+ levels, Mimio was designed from the ground up to simulate the biological effects of fasting. That includes:

• Raising NAD+ levels naturally
  
  

• Activating autophagy
  
  

• Promoting mitochondrial resilience
  
  

• Enhancing metabolic flexibility
  
  

• Supporting whole-body regeneration
  
  

And it does all this using ingredients your body recognizes and can metabolize efficiently. No injections. No sugar pills. Just smart science.

Harnessing the Power of NAD+ the Right Way

If you’re exploring NAD+ supplements for energy, anti-aging, or metabolic health, don’t be fooled by buzzwords or marketing gimmicks. Your body needs the right inputs to create real change.

With Mimio, you’re not just topping off NAD+—you’re supporting the entire biological network behind cellular health, longevity, and resilience.

References

1. Imai, S., & Guarente, L. (2016). It takes two to tango: NAD+ and sirtuins in aging/longevity control. NPJ Aging and Mechanisms of Disease, 2, 16017.
   
   

2. Baur, J. A., & Sinclair, D. A. (2006). Therapeutic potential of resveratrol: the in vivo evidence. Nature Reviews Drug Discovery, 5(6), 493–506.
   
   

3. Rhodes, C., et al. Mimio Biomimetic Cell Care: Internal Documentation and Product Design Principles. MimioHealth.com.
   
   

4. Verdin, E. (2015). NAD+ in aging, metabolism, and neurodegeneration. Science, 350(6265), 1208–1213.
   
   

5. Johnson, S., et al. (2018). NAD+ supplementation normalizes key Alzheimer’s features and DNA damage responses in a new AD mouse model with introduced DNA repair deficiency. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 115(8), E1876–E1885.
   
   

6. Yoshino, J., et al. (2011). Nicotinamide mononucleotide, a key NAD+ intermediate, treats the pathophysiology of diet- and age-induced diabetes in mice. Cell Metabolism, 14(4), 528–536.
   
   

7. Fang, E. F., et al. (2019). NAD+ augmentation restores mitophagy and limits accelerated aging in Werner syndrome. Nature Communications, 10, 5284.
   
   

8. Ramsey, K. M., et al. (2009). Circadian clock feedback cycle through NAMPT-mediated NAD+ biosynthesis. Science, 324(5927), 651–654.