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YOUTH NOW
Drowning in the Fountain of Youth
The fight over a promising longevity supplement keeps getting worse
Two companies are convinced they’ve hit the anti-aging jackpot—and you can already buy their products online. ChromaDex and Elysium Health both sell supplements, called Tru Niagen and Basis, respectively, which are readily available for around $40 a bottle. Though the product labels make vague claims about cellular optimization and better aging, what they really purport to do is restore levels of a compound called nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, or NAD.
As people and animals grow older, NAD levels naturally decline. Some researchers reason that restoring those levels could help stave off some of the effects of aging and potentially prolong our lives. ChromaDex and Elysium Health both sell the pill form of a molecule called nicotinamide riboside—or NR for short—which has been shown to boost NAD levels. The companies are founded by distinguished scientists and backed by billionaire investors and Nobel Laureates who say they take the pills daily. They’re testing their products through clinical trials to prove the supplements provide real health benefits for a variety of conditions, from improving cognition to preventing kidney injury and more.
“The whole industry is just a…
