But Do You Actually Know What NAD+ Is?

Athletes swear by it. Longevity researchers have been studying it for years. Hollywood discovered it long ago. But what exactly is this molecule, why does it disappear from your body — and what does that mean for your skin, your energy, and your collagen? Give it 5 minutes. You'll want to know this.

Have you ever had that feeling that your body just doesn't run the same way it did ten years ago? That recovery takes longer, energy feels lower, your skin looks different — even though you're "not really that old"?

That's not your imagination. That's biology. And biology has a lead character you've probably never heard of.

Its name: NAD+.

What Is NAD+, and Why Is Everyone Suddenly Obsessed With It?

NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) sounds like something from a chemistry exam — but in reality, it's simple: it's one of the most important coenzymes in your body. A tiny molecule present in every single cell you have, and without it, your cells simply can't function properly.

Think of it as your cells' fuel. Not a supplement. A fundamental requirement.

NAD+ is involved in energy production, cellular DNA repair, and activating the enzymes responsible for cellular maintenance. More than 500 enzymatic reactions depend on it. When there's enough, your cells thrive. When there isn't — everything slows down.

Scientists have known about this molecule since 1906. But something shifted in the last two decades: researchers discovered that NAD+ levels are one of the most studied factors in age-related cellular changes — and that diet and lifestyle can influence them.

🔬 Imai & Guarente (2014) – NAD+ and Sirtuins in Aging and Disease. NIH PubMed

The Uncomfortable Truth: You've Been Losing It Since Your 20s

Nobody told you — but your body starts gradually reducing NAD+ production from your mid-twenties. You haven't done anything wrong. You're not unwell. It just happens. Quietly. Without warning.

These are scientific average values — not a personal diagnosis.

By 40, your cells are working with roughly half the NAD+ they had at 20. That's not a small difference.

Why does it happen? Several reasons at once: an enzyme called CD38 breaks down more and more NAD+ as you age. Your cells' DNA repair machinery consumes increasing amounts. Chronic low-grade inflammation burns through it too. Oxidative stress contributes as well.

The result: your cells are trying to do the same job with less and less fuel.

🔬 Massudi et al. (2012) – NAD+ decline measured in human tissue. PLOS ONE

What NAD+ Actually Does?

⚡ Energy Production in Your Cells Mitochondria — your cells' tiny power plants — can't work efficiently without NAD+. It's the energy carrier that converts food into cellular energy (ATP). Research suggests that lower NAD+ levels are associated with a decline in mitochondrial function.

🔬 Fang et al., 2017 – NIH PMC

🔧 DNA Repair Every day, countless small damages occur to your DNA — from UV radiation, stress, pollution. Your cells' repair enzymes (PARPs) cannot function without NAD+. When there isn't enough, errors accumulate.

🔬 Auwerx et al., 2016 – NIH PMC

🧬 Activating Sirtuin Enzymes Sirtuins (SIRT1–SIRT7) regulate processes like inflammation, metabolism, and cellular maintenance. But they only switch on when there's enough NAD+ available. Without it? Silence.

🔬 Imai & Guarente, 2014 – NIH PMC

🧠 Brain and Cardiovascular Health — An Active Area of Research The relationship between NAD+ and cognitive function, energy levels, and cardiovascular health is a rapidly growing field of research — with an increasing number of studies producing promising observations.

🔬 ClinicalTrials.gov – NADage Study

How to Support Your NAD+ Levels Naturally

🥩 Eat Foods Rich in Vitamin B3 Your body produces NAD+ from niacin (vitamin B3). Chicken, turkey, salmon, eggs, mushrooms, whole grains — these all help lay the groundwork.

🏃 Move Regularly Exercise activates the NAMPT enzyme — the key enzyme in NAD+ synthesis. 150 minutes of moderate-intensity movement per week already makes a meaningful difference.

⏰ Try Intermittent Fasting The 16:8 method (16 hours fasting, 8-hour eating window) activates certain cellular processes that are associated with NAD+ metabolism.

🫐 Eat Polyphenol-Rich Foods Blueberries, red grapes, apples, green tea — these contain compounds that, in laboratory studies, showed a favourable influence on NAD+ metabolism.

😴 Sleep Well NAD+ production is connected to your circadian rhythm. Poor sleep accelerates its breakdown. It really is that simple.

Now Comes the Collagen — and the Connection That Will Surprise You

Everyone has an opinion on NAD+. But the fact that NAD+ and collagen are connected at a cellular level? Most people have no idea.

Collagen is the most abundant protein in your body. It's what holds your skin's elasticity together, cushions your joints, and gives strength to your nails and hair. And just like NAD+, collagen fades — from age 20, your body's own collagen production declines by approximately 1% every year.

🔬 Varani et al., 2006 – American Journal of Pathology

So NAD+ and collagen decline together — and the two are directly connected.

Collagen is produced by cells called fibroblasts — and fibroblasts need energy to do their job. Without NAD+, fibroblasts slow down. They become less active. They produce less collagen. On top of that, sirtuin enzymes activated by NAD+ were shown in laboratory studies to inhibit the enzyme (MMP-1) that breaks down collagen fibres.

In a 2025 laboratory study, human fibroblasts treated with an NAD+ precursor showed increased Type I Collagen production.

🔬 Kawashima et al., 2025 – PMC

What researchers conclude: NAD+ levels are associated with fibroblast activity — and with the cells' capacity to produce collagen.

Which Collagen Actually Gets Absorbed?

This matters more than most people realise — because not all collagen is the same.

Regular, unbroken collagen protein is a large molecule. Your body struggles to absorb it. Hydrolysed collagen, on the other hand, has been broken down into small peptides through a specialised process. These peptides are absorbed through the gut wall, enter the bloodstream, and can reach the skin, joints, and connective tissue.

In a peer-reviewed clinical study, participants who took hydrolysed collagen peptides showed significant improvements in skin hydration and elasticity within just 8 weeks, compared to a placebo group.

🔬 Proksch et al., 2014 – Skin Pharmacology and Physiology

And liquid form takes it one step further: the peptides are already dissolved and immediately available — absorption is faster and more efficient than capsules or powder.

EssenzaVital Liquid Collagen — Where It All Comes Together

EssenzaVital Liquid Collagen is built on exactly this connection. It's not a standard collagen product — it's a complex formula that combines collagen with the ingredients science associates with cellular health and connective tissue support.

In every 25 ml serving you get:

• 🐄 13,000 mg Hydrolysed Bovine Collagen — one of the highest doses on the market; packed with the amino acids your body uses for collagen synthesis: glycine (23.90 g/100g), proline (13.51 g/100g), hydroxyproline (11.17 g/100g) and arginine (8.23 g/100g)
• 💧 30,000 μg Hyaluronic Acid — to support the skin's water balance; shown in studies to have a favourable effect on skin hydration
• ⚡ 20,000 μg NAD+ — the coenzyme involved in cellular energy production processes; the connection between NAD+, fibroblasts, and collagen synthesis is an active area of scientific research
• 🌲 50,000 μg Pine Bark Extract — a plant extract with strong antioxidant properties; associated with skin and vascular health in laboratory and clinical studies

Plus: GMP Certified · ISO 9001 & ISO 22716 Certified · BPA Free · Raspberry-Lemon flavour · 500 ml (20 servings)

How to use: 25 ml daily (approx. 2 tablespoons), mixed with still water or warm/cold tea.

One Question Left

You now know what NAD+ is. You know it declines — and that collagen declines alongside it, at a cellular level, at the same time. You know that hydrolysed liquid collagen is the form that actually gets absorbed.

There's only one question left: what are you going to do about it?

👇 Try EssenzaVital Liquid Collagen — enriched with NAD+:

→ See the product and order

Have a question? We're happy to help you find the right solution.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. EssenzaVital products are food supplements — not medicines. Consult your healthcare provider before use. Individual results may vary.

📚 Scientific References

1. Imai & Guarente (2014) – NAD+ and Sirtuins in Aging and Disease – 🔗 NIH PMC
2. Massudi et al. (2012) – NAD+ decline in human tissue – 🔗 PLOS ONE
3. Fang et al. (2017) – NAD+ Biosynthesis, Aging, and Disease – 🔗 NIH PMC
4. Auwerx et al. (2016) – Emerging Therapeutic Roles for NAD+ – 🔗 NIH PMC
5. NADage Clinical Trial – ClinicalTrials.gov – 🔗 NCT06208527
6. Kawashima et al. (2025) – NAD+ Precursor and Collagen in Fibroblasts – 🔗 PMC
7. Proksch et al. (2014) – Oral Collagen Peptides and Skin – 🔗 PubMed
8. Varani et al. (2006) – Collagen Production and Aging – 🔗 PubMed

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