I Tested the $5 NAD+ Alternative - Here's What Happened

Detailed Summary

Introduction (0:00 - 0:41)

Many believe expensive supplements like NMN or NR are necessary to increase NAD levels and slow aging, costing $80-$100 per month. However, research points to Nicotinamide (Ninomide) as a cheap, long-standing alternative that fundamentally raises NAD levels, a co-enzyme vital for energy, metabolism, and DNA repair. The video aims to compare Ninomide with NMN and NR based on personal experience and scientific evidence.

Ninomide's Efficacy in Raising NAD Levels (0:41 - 1:39)

• Taking 200 mg of Ninomide can increase NAD levels by about 10% within 12 hours.
• Blood Ninomide levels can increase up to 30-fold within 30 minutes, gradually decreasing over 6 hours.
• NAD levels peak after 12 hours and return to baseline over 48 hours with a 200 mg dose.
• A 100 mg dose does not significantly raise NAD, while 500 mg continues to do so beyond 48 hours.
• At least 200 mg, and up to 500 mg, is necessary for effective NAD elevation, though the increase is around 10%.
• The presenter, being young with naturally high NAD, tested Ninomide to observe its effects, acknowledging that significant changes in energy or sleep might not be as noticeable for him.

Personal Experience and Dosing Protocol (1:39 - 2:30)

• The presenter, despite being young with high baseline NAD, has previously noticed benefits from NMN/NR, such as needing less sleep and faster recovery from jet lag or sleep deprivation.
• His protocol involved taking 200 mg of Ninomide every morning for two weeks.
• NAD boosters, including B vitamins, NMN, NR, or Ninomide, should be taken in the morning to avoid sleep disturbances due to increased energy.
• He experienced similar effects with Ninomide as with NMN/NR, including slightly shorter sleep duration and faster recovery from sleep deprivation.

Comparison of NAD Boosters (2:30 - 3:58)

• A recent January 2026 study compared NMN, NR, and Ninomide in raising NAD levels.
• NR (nicotinamide riboside) showed the biggest increase (2-3x from baseline), followed by NMN (nicotinamide mononucleotide) (1.5-2.5x).
• Ninomide showed a 1.2-1.5x increase in NAD levels.
• NR has the most studies and highest bioavailability among the three.
• However, Ninomide is argued to be better for the general population without specific health conditions, as NAD isn't a molecule to be increased indefinitely; there are diminishing returns and potential harms from excessively high levels.
• High NAD levels can be utilized by some cancers for survival, suggesting that super high levels without reason might not be ideal.
• Ninomide is approximately 20 times cheaper than NR, costing $5-$10 per bottle compared to up to $80 for NR.
• While NR is a good supplement with clinical evidence, its benefits are not 20 times greater than Ninomide, perhaps only 2-3 times better.

Additional Benefits and Usage (3:58 - 4:51)

• The presenter plans to use Ninomide a few times a week to support baseline NAD levels and aid in recovery from lost sleep.
• Research indicates Ninomide protects skin against UV radiation and has anti-aging effects, partly by increasing NAD to counteract DNA damage from sunlight.
• Ninomide has also been shown to reduce the risk of skin cancer.
• These benefits make Ninomide valuable even for generally healthy individuals, leading the presenter to continue taking it intermittently.

Youthspan Society Community (4:51 - 5:53)

• The presenter invites viewers to join the Youthspan Society, an evidence-based online community on Skool.
• The community offers courses on health optimization, longevity, and anti-aging, covering topics like exercise, fitness, body composition, skincare, sleep, and nutrition.
• Introductory courses include a 7-day free longevity Kickstarter challenge, a 14-day body composition challenge, and a 30-day longevity consistency challenge.
• Members get access to an online discussion board for questions and live weekly calls to discuss research and protocols.

The NAD Salvage Pathway (5:53 - 7:05)

• A key advantage of Ninomide is its mechanism of action: it increases NAD through the salvage pathway, which recycles existing NAD.
• The body produces NAD via different pathways (Preiss-Handler, de novo biosynthesis from tryptophan), but the recycling pathway accounts for most NAD production.
• Even NMN or NR ultimately lead to NAD being recycled in the salvage pathway.
• NMP is the rate-limiting step in this pathway, determining recycling efficiency.
• Ninomide supports the salvage pathway, aiding NAD recycling and promoting sustainable NAD levels.
• A properly functioning salvage pathway, supported by factors like exercise, circadian rhythm alignment, and good health, is crucial for continuous NAD recycling, rather than sole reliance on supplements.
• Ninomide supports this vital pathway at a fraction of the cost of NR or NMN.

Conclusion (7:05 - 7:52)

• The presenter is a strong advocate for Ninomide due to its cost-effectiveness, support for the NAD salvage pathway, and skin benefits.
• He plans to take 200 mg of Ninomide every few days or a few times a week, especially when changing time zones, experiencing sleep deprivation, or anticipating sun exposure.
• A word of caution: doses over 3,000 mg of Ninomide can cause liver damage.
• Daily doses of 500-1,500 mg for several months may lead to diarrhea or low platelet count.
• The optimal dose for increasing NAD and supporting skin health is 200-500 mg.
• Ninomide is presented as a very cheap and effective alternative to NMN and NR, aiding NAD recycling and offering anti-aging benefits for the skin.

Notable Quotes

"Most people think you need expensive supplements like NMN or NR to increase NAD levels and slow down aging. We're talking 80 or even $100 per month, but when I dug into the research, I kept seeing the same thing pop up. A cheap, boring, generic supplement that most people aren't aware of. Ninomide, also called nicotinomide." — Presenter

"NAD being a major co-enzyme that regulates energy production, metabolism, and DNA repair." — Presenter

"So yes, there is evidence that nyinomide raises NAD levels. The effect isn't that massive. It's around 10% increase, but it's still significant." — Presenter

"More isn't always better, and some cancers can actually utilize NAD for their own survival." — Presenter

"Plus, nasinomide is about 20 times cheaper than NR. One bottle of Ninomide will cost you around $5 to $10, whereas it's going to be up to $80 for NR." — Presenter

"It doesn't matter how much NAD booster you take. If your salvage pathway isn't working properly then you're just dependent on the supplement." — Presenter