The Dylan Gemelli Podcast

Episode #83 Uncovering the TRUTH about NAD supplements! NAD VS. NMN VS. NR! You cannot afford to miss this episode!!

17 min
Jan 20, 20263 months ago
Listen to Episode
Summary

Dylan Gemelli explains why direct NAD supplementation doesn't work and why NMN and NR precursors are more effective. He breaks down the molecular differences between NAD, NMN, and NR, emphasizing that NMN is the superior choice due to its direct conversion pathway and includes guidance on proper dosing and individual variation.

Insights
  • NAD supplements alone are ineffective because NAD molecules cannot cross cellular membranes; precursors like NMN and NR act as 'special keys' to unlock cell access
  • NMN has a direct conversion advantage over NR by eliminating an extra metabolic step, making it the most efficient NAD-boosting option
  • CD38 enzyme activity is a critical factor often overlooked in NAD supplementation; addressing CD38 depletion is essential for meaningful NAD level increases
  • Individual biochemistry varies significantly; recommended doses may need adjustment, and conservative dosing approaches prevent adverse reactions
  • The supplement industry contains 'bad actors' marketing ineffective NAD products; consumers must verify claims through peer-reviewed research and real-world results
Trends
Growing consumer awareness of NAD supplementation as anti-aging and longevity strategyShift from single-ingredient supplements to multi-ingredient formulations addressing multiple biological pathways (e.g., CD38 inhibition alongside NMN)Increased scrutiny of supplement marketing claims with emphasis on peer-reviewed dosing protocols (900mg NMN standard emerging)Personalized supplementation approach gaining traction; one-size-fits-all dosing protocols being challenged by practitionersEducation-focused brand positioning in supplement industry as competitive differentiator and trust-building mechanismIntegration of antioxidants and polyphenols (resveratrol, ergothionine) with NAD precursors for synergistic cellular benefitsBiohacking and longevity market expansion driving demand for scientifically-validated cellular health interventions
Topics
NAD supplementation efficacy and mechanismsNMN vs NR bioavailability and conversion pathwaysCD38 enzyme activity and NAD depletionCellular membrane permeability and molecular transportMitochondrial function and energy metabolismDNA repair and cellular signalingAnti-aging and longevity supplementationSupplement dosing protocols and individual variationPeer-reviewed research validation in supplement industryOxidative stress and inflammation reductionCardiovascular and metabolic health supportVitamin D and stem cell generationSupplement marketing claims and consumer skepticismReal-world efficacy vs clinical study resultsConservative dosing and safety protocols
Companies
Wonderfield
Featured NAD supplement company combining NMN with CD38-inhibiting ingredients; founder Baron Delabor interviewed as ...
Toneum
Science-driven wellness company with metabolic and cognitive health products Modus and Neuro; featured in episode spo...
People
Dr. Andrew Saltsman
Described as foremost NAD authority globally; provided master classes on NAD, NMN, and NR mechanisms and benefits
Baron Delabor
Founder of Wonderfield; interviewed as expert on NAD supplementation and multi-ingredient formulation strategies
Quotes
"There's a lot of bad actors out there that know that NAD supplements themselves don't directly work if they sell these and market these."
Dylan GemelliEarly in episode
"NAD is an essential molecule in our bodies. As we know as we age so many things start to decline and unfortunately NAD production is one of those."
Dylan GemelliMid-episode
"NMN and NR have zero issue getting into our cells and that's clearly when the magic happens. These are NAD precursors so they're like VIP passes that convert it into NAD once they're inside our cells."
Dylan GemelliMid-episode
"If you do not address the CD38 factor, you're never going to get the proper NAD level growth that we are supposed to have. You must keep that in mind because that is of the utmost importance."
Dylan GemelliLate episode
"Every single person is different. So the way that these things affect you is going to be quite different from person to person."
Dylan GemelliClosing segment
Full Transcript
With over 20 years in the supplement industry, I have seen and heard it all. Empty promises, tricky marketing, wasted money, leaving so much left to be desired and creating feelings of resentment. Thankfully I'm positive by nature and stay on the lookout for the next breakthrough product and then I found Toneum, a science driven wellness company built on over a decade of research into natural solutions for metabolic and brain health. Toneum understands that it takes a mind and body connection to obtain full health alignment. With their featured products, Modus and Neuro, they address both aspects of this connection. The first Modus in all natural supplement designed to support fat loss, metabolic function and energy. Then Neuro, a cognitive performance supplement designed to support focus, memory and long-term brilliance. Toneum has brought back my trust in the supplement industry with natural evidence-based ingredients that support long-term outcomes. So because of this, I want to share them with the world. Here's my code, Dylan, for an extra 10% off and start to treat your mind and body today with Toneum. Welcome back to the Dylan Jamelli podcast, everyone. I am back doing solo episodes. I have been slacking a little bit on the solo episodes because I've had so many guests coming in to do interviews with me. I had the holidays. I've got new partnerships and new things that I am working on that I'm super excited about my website. As you can imagine, I have been on overload. I'm already going seven days a week and I rarely get to do any family time. I've been trying to balance all of that together. I'm a very spiritual guy and I'm not really adhering to some of God's laws when it comes to taking rest and it's taking a toll on me physically and mentally by not resting enough. I'm trying to balance all of this out, but it is a top priority to me to put out content for you that is also just coming for me. Now, I am blessed to talk to so many of these experts all around the world and I want to utilize that and share of the added knowledge base that I'm having to the knowledge base that I've already built over all of these years. I get to talk to experts. Okay, so I'm turning into an expert because I surround myself with experts. That's the way that you get smart and you grow and you learn and you always realize you can never know too much but you can always know too little. So I'm always working on my knowledge game. You know, I'm a big athlete now. I always say Michael Jordan didn't stop shooting jump shots. Tom Brady didn't stop throwing and taking practice throws every single day. You stay sharp by staying on your game and so when it comes to this, it's studying, learning, listening and always realizing there's a lot of people that know a lot more than you do. I have inundated myself with a lot of information or a lot of different topics. Today, I want to touch a little bit on NMN, NAD, NNR. So NAD has become one of the more polarizing topics of discussion. There's a lot of confusion. There's a lot of people that I don't like to say this but it's a fact that there's a lot of bad actors out there that know that NAD supplements themselves don't directly work if they sell these and market these. And I want to give an understanding of why NAD supplements don't work on their own and why you need to take a precursor and the precursors are NMN and NR. So I'm going to also discuss the differentiation between those as well. So let's kind of dive into all of this. Now I've had the blessing of interviewing some true experts on this Baron Delabor. He's the founder of Wonderfield and I also spoke so many times and got full blown master classes from Dr. Andrew Saltsman who is like the foremost well-known NAD authority on the planet. So I have been highly educated when it comes to everything NAD, NMN, NR, learning about the differences, the benefits, all of it. So I want to share with you what I have learned and we'll kind of expound upon that and then you can make the choices for yourself. NAD is an essential molecule in our bodies. As we know as we age so many things start to decline and unfortunately NAD production is one of those. And direct NAD supplementation does not work well at all even with IB treatments. Now NMN and NR are NAD precursors that can help us restore NAD to more youthful level. Both of these are converted to NAD within ourselves. Now the biggest difference here between NMN and NR is an extra phosphate group that makes NMN the more direct of the two. Now NMN also has its own transporter that takes it directly into the cell. So what do these all stand for? NMN stands for nicotinamide mononucleotide and our stands for nicotinamide riboside and NAD, the real fun one to say nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide. Okay, that was fun. We're going to stick to the short form from here on out through the rest of the video. Those can tie your tongue a little bit. So NAD is an extremely vital molecule in our body and it fuels all different kinds of cellular functions from energy production to DNA repair to cellular signaling. It is the molecule that absolutely keeps us young. All right, so keep in mind as we go through this the absolute importance of NAD in itself and keeping those levels high in our bodies. You know as we age we know what happens. We can start to have slower recovery. Our energy levels can go down. We can start to get graying hair, check my beard out, wrinkles, but keep in mind the aging process and the way that we have learned to take care of ourselves has certainly slowed and this is another way that we can effectively mitigate this process by keeping our NAD levels up. But like I said, you can't just pop NAD supplements because NAD itself does not get directly into our cells, but NMNNR have zero issue getting into our cells and that's clearly when the magic happens. These are NAD precursors so they're like VIP passes that convert it into NAD once they're inside our cells give our body to boost it needs from inside and out. They're both great options, but if you want the most straightforward and efficient path to boosting your NAD levels, NMN has the edge. All right. Now, as I brought up early, you can't just take NAD directly. Let's get into that a little bit more. Why bother with NMNNR if the point is to increase NAD itself? Let me give you a more comprehensive answer on this. NAD is a cornerstone molecule, like I said, for crucial cellular functions like fueling mitochondria, which is the battery of the cell and aiding in DNA repair. Cells value NAD so highly that they protect it ferociously. They have reinforced outer layers that act as a strong barrier to keep it safely contained. NAD itself is a very large molecule, but it doesn't readily cross the cellular membrane and that's assuming it can even get there in the first place. So that's why we use NMNNR. They're smaller molecules and they're not only impressively resilient in our digestive track. They're like special keys that unlock the steel doors to our cells and that access is what allows for NAD conversion once NMNNR are safely inside, which is where they can be the most useful. From a molecular standpoint, they're largely the same. NMN, like I said, it has the additional phosphate group, which makes it physically bigger, but not by much, and not nearly as big as NAD. All right, but the biggest difference here is what happens inside the cells and the conversion to NAD, which is obviously the goal. NMN is the immediate precursor to NAD. So it actually acts as like a goal between for NR and NAD. So check this out. In order for NR to actually convert to NAD in the cells, it actually has to first be converted to NMN. So it's a pretty elaborate process, but in simple terms, if you take NMNN directly, it actually eliminates this entire step. So that's something that a lot of people don't know or understand. I believe NMN is the most efficient option, and I think a lot of people that do the research and look at this feel and understand and see it the same exact way. Now, let's talk a little bit here more about NMN. It's highly bioavailable, so it's easily absorbed into the bloodstream. It's generally taken very, very easily as an oral tablet capsule powder. You can take it daily at home. It's shown to be quite safe, and it offers a more gradual and sustained approach to raising NAD levels. And it's something that I've seen so many people use, and it's shown to be so effective. Now there are a few other things that we have to keep in mind. There's something called CD38 that we need to remember and keep in mind. And CD38 can really drain our NAD levels. It's a major, major enzyme, and it acts as a significant sink, and it lowers the levels, especially during aging and inflammation. And when you consume NAD plus, guess what happens? CD38 reduces its availability for vital functions, and it inhibits NAD plus dependent enzymes, promoting mitochondrial dysfunction, and contributing to age-related metabolic decline, inflammation, and disease. Now if we inhibit CD38, we can get an increase in our NAD levels and protect against these negative effects. So that's why I want to talk to you a little bit about Wonderfield. Now, Wonderfield is literally one of my favorite companies on the planet. And it's for several reasons, but one, the big reason is the amount of time and care they've actually put into educating people on the right and most effective and efficient way to actually boost our NAD levels. Their product is not just a straight NMN product, and that's what I love about this. It goes beyond what it does is it combines several different ingredients that not only boost our NAD levels, but prevent NAD depletion by lowering CD38 activity, and that optimizes cellular function, and it enhances our resilience against aging and oxidative stress. So you know CD38 is an enzyme and receptor on immune cells, and it uses and breaks down NAD to regulate cell communication and activation. But like I said, excessive CD38 activity will deplete NAD and weaken cellular energy and immune function. So not only does Wonderfield use the right dose for NMN based on studies, which is a 900 milligram dose, and that was actually taken from pure reviewed studies that found that to be the most effective dose, but they add other ingredients. So Irrgo Theonine is a powerful antioxidant that protects cells and combats oxidative stress, rest of the vera-trol, which many are aware of, supports brain health, heart function, and longevity at a cellular level. Hydroxy tyrosol helps regulate inflammation and support metabolic and cardiovascular health, and then vitamin D, which is essential for the body. We know it's role in generating stem cells in the gut, which is a key foundation for overall health. So some of the other benefits here that we're looking at is that this combination supports a wide range of cellular processes, including energy metabolism, DNA repair, and gene expression, and also reduction in inflammation. It has a very positive effect on healthy aging, improvements in prevention of metabolic disorders. I can go on and on and on. But that's why I like the Wonderfield NMN product itself because of all of the ways that it addresses true NAD increase in production. Now I just want to make it clear that there are several companies out there that sell straight NMN, and that's a great product to take, but you have to address the CD38 factor here. If you do not address the CD38 factor, you're never going to get the proper NAD level growth that we are supposed to have. You must keep that in mind because that is of the utmost importance. NMN and NR are both great. NMN just has the edge as I pointed out because you're eliminating an extra step. It has the most direct path. It's the easiest absorb and it's going to provide the quickest enhancement for you. So listen, keep in mind, as I said, that NAD is very misunderstood. It's one of those things that you have to be very careful of by taking supplements with NMN in my view and in most experts view is the way to go. But NR is also a very good option. So I do not want to discount that. Being said, use your best judgment when it comes to any sort of supplement out there. Okay? You have to be careful with the information that gets put out and you also need to look at the studies that are involved if they're bought and paid for where they came from and the experts behind them. I always look for people that have done years and years and years and years of research, but I also look for real life world effects. I always look for people that take these. I don't just base everything that I do personally, I base it off what I see with real human interaction because ultimately that's going to show you the true value here and just remember another thing. Every single person is different. So the way that these things affect you is going to be quite different from person to person. Prime example, my wife could not do the 900 milligram dose of NMN, but when we cut it in half, she has responded extremely well. No problems, no side effects, no nothing. And you can see the vibrancy. So you have to adjust accordingly just because there's a recommended dose or protocol, it doesn't always work for everybody. Sometimes it's good to ease into things. Just remember, listen to your body, listen to yourself and there's, you can always start off slow and increase. But once you start too high, you've already caused problems and screwed things up. So always go on the conservative side when it comes to taking anything new that you're introducing to your body. These are foreign substances that your body is not used to and needs to acclimate to. And everybody's different. Some people can take a lot, they're thresholds high and some people have such a low threshold, you'd be shocked. And I just want to make that very clear to everybody. Do what's best for you and always do the proper research on all of this. No matter if it's from me and the other expert out there, the most brilliant people in the world still always ask questions and do what's best for you. I just want to make sure that everybody understands the actual differences here and what will potentially work far better than something else and what may be a rip off. So just be aware, be smart, ask questions and stay tuned for plenty more to come. Dylan Jamelli signing off.