Anti-aging is a marketing term, not a clinical endpoint. But several ingredients do have evidence for biomarkers associated with healthy aging — mitochondrial function, NAD+ levels, oxidative stress, and skin collagen.
- NMN or NR (250–500 mg/day): NAD+ precursors. Human trials show meaningful increases in blood NAD+ and some functional markers in older adults. Long-term clinical outcomes are still being studied.
- Resveratrol (150–500 mg/day): Small effects on endothelial function and some metabolic markers. Most impressive data comes from animal models; human translation is modest.
- Collagen peptides (10–15 g/day): Hydrolyzed collagen has good RCT support for skin elasticity and moisture after 8–12 weeks of daily use.
- CoQ10 (100–200 mg/day, as ubiquinol after age 40): Mitochondrial cofactor. Useful for people on statins (which deplete CoQ10).
- Curcumin (with piperine, 500–1500 mg/day): Anti-inflammatory effects translate to some anti-aging benefits. Requires bioavailability enhancement.
- "Epigenetic reset" or "age reversal" claims — not clinically validated in humans
- Proprietary "longevity complexes" at premium prices
- Stem cell oral supplements — stem cells do not survive digestion
- Resveratrol below 150 mg (sub-clinical dose)
Named forms (NMN vs. nicotinamide, ubiquinol vs. ubiquinone), bioavailability enhancers where needed (piperine for curcumin), third-party purity testing, and realistic claim language.