Data published in the Journal of Functional Foods indicated that the BluNADBooster-branded ingredient increased blood NAD+ levels by 26.5%, while a combination with nicotinamide riboside (NR) led to a 31.8% increase. NR alone boosted NAD+ level by 22.7%, wrote scientists from four medical institutions in India.
“One interesting finding in this proof-of-concept study is that supplementing the phytoceutical composition LN22199 [BluNADBooster] over 60 days significantly increased blood NAD+ levels in the participants,” they wrote.
“Also, LN22199 supplementation significantly reduced CD38 activity and increased intracellular NMN and NAM levels, key intermediates in NAD+ metabolism. These changes suggest a conservation of intermediate molecules/precursors to NAD+ via a possible enhancement of the salvage pathway.”
Healthspan
Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) is an important cellular co-factor for improvement of mitochondrial performance and energy metabolism. As organisms age, NAD+ levels drop, which leads to a decrease in mitochondrial health; this in turn leads to age-related health issues. By the age of 70, individuals may have lost as much as 80% of the NAD+ present in their 30s.
In 2004, NR, a form of vitamin B3, was discovered to be a potent precursor to NAD+ and may increase mitochondrial health and induce the creation of new mitochondria. In recent years, NMN and NMNH have emerged as alternative precursors.
Taking a different approach, Blue Helix and NXT USA explored plant-based products that stimulate the body’s endogenous ability to produce NAD+. After screening 900 herbs, two extracts were identified that upregulate target sites, promoting the body’s natural NAD+ production: Pomegranate (Punica granatum) and Aztec marigold (Tagetes erecta).
“The market has been waiting for an NAD⁺ solution that goes beyond precursors alone,” said Eric Anderson, managing director at NXT USA and CEO of Blue Helix Health. “BluNADBooster represents a next-generation approach—one that strengthens the body’s ability to generate and maintain healthy NAD⁺ levels while addressing the underlying mechanisms that cause NAD⁺ to decline with age. This study confirms what we’ve believed for years: Polyphenols matter, and they work in ways synthetic precursors cannot.”
Study details
The new study included 140 healthy aging adults who were randomly assigned to receive a placebo, 500 mg (NR), 1,000 mg BluNADBooster alone, or a combination of BluNADBooster (500 mg) plus NR (500 mg) combination for 60 days.
In addition to boosting NAD+ levels, BluNADBooster was found to reduce activity of the CD38 enzyme. Age-related elevation in CD38 is a major driver of NAD⁺ depletion, and BluNADBooster was found to reduce CD38 activity by 18%. NR alone showed minimal change, the researchers reported.
The pomegranate-marigold combination also improved levels of serum growth/differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15), a marker of “inflammaging”, with reductions of 15% recorded. NR reduced GDF-15 levels by 11.4%, and the combination of BluNADBooster and NR led to 17.8% reductions.
The combination group also achieved the greatest improvements in functional outcomes, including a 10% increase in six-minute walk distance, compared to a 6.85%, and 6.6% for BluNADBooster and NR separately.
The combination also led to a 16.5% improvement in cognition, as measured by the Mini-Mental State Examination 2(MMSE-2) cognitive scores. This improved by 11.7% and 6.4% increases in the BluNADBooster-only and NR-only groups, respectively.
“These findings support a dual-action strategy of boosting NAD+ biosynthesis and limiting its degradation as a promising approach to mitigate advancing age-associated decline,” the researcher wrote. “LN22199, when used alone or in combination with NR, provides a comprehensive intervention strategy that emerges as a safe and effective nutraceutical approach to promote healthy aging and mitochondrial function.”
Anderson added: “This is comprehensive, multidimensional evidence—science layered on science—to ensure the formulation truly delivers. For the first time, we’re seeing a clinically validated botanical strategy that supports multiple hallmarks of aging—including mitochondrial efficiency, inflammation and cognitive resilience—within just 60 days.”
Source: Journal of Functional Foods, 2025, Vol. 135, 107115. doi: 10.1016/j.jff.2025.107115. “Comparative efficacy of a standardized herbal composition LN22199, nicotinamide riboside, and their combination on NAD+ metabolism in healthy aging adults”. Authors: V.K. Bandi, et al.
