Longevity supplements are sold as helping prevent ageing. But do they have any long-term benefits or increase lifespan? | Antiviral

Much of the enthusiasm for these ‘anti-ageing’ products is based on animal studies, mostly involving rodents

There are many acronyms you might find on the packaging of so-called longevity supplements, promoted by influencers for their ability to “repair DNA” and assist in “anti-ageing”.

NRC (nicotinamide riboside chloride) and NMN (nicotinamide mononucleotide) are two of them – both precursors or “building blocks” for NAD (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide), a naturally occurring molecule in the body. Trimethylglycine (TMG) is another and is sometimes added to “support” other ingredients.

Packaged together, these ingredients are supposed to “boost daily vitality” and “improve cellular health”, according to their promoters.

But is there any evidence to support these claims?