Smarter Curcumin – Potency and Absorption in a SoftGel. 95% Tetra-Hydro Curcuminoids. The Most Active Form of Curcuminoid Found in The Turmeric Root (3 Month Supply)

★★★★★ I am a scientist and run a research laboratory at a major university. Part of my job is trying to stay on top of the scientific literature, which I do by monitoring the tables of contents for a number of scientific journals. A couple of years ago I came across a study published in Science (one of the top scientific journals on the planet) showing that giving aged mice a supplement called nicotinamide riboside improved mitochondrial and stem cell function and extended their life span (Zhang et al. Science 352,1436 [2016]). This caught my attention, because there are very few molecules that have been shown to extend the life span of mice in carefully controlled studies, particularly when first administered later in life. I googled the molecule, and lo and behold, found it for sale on Amazon under the brand name 'niagen'. I did a bit more research and found that niagen (a.k.a. nicotinamide riboside) is a molecule that your body produces naturally (and gets to a lesser extent from diet) but levels decline substantially with age. It is a precursor for another molecule called NAD+, which is an ancient molecule that has been conserved throughout evolution and is essential for energy production and DNA repair in all cells (two processes that are thought by many to be at the root of aging). More research revealed that niagen had been designated by the FDA as GRAS (generally regarded as safe), and a phase I clinical trial in humans had been completed revealing no adverse effects. Intrigued, I decided to try it.I have been taking niagen daily now for ~2 years. I have substantially more energy than I did before -- I no longer hit a 'wall' at 3pm and require much less caffeine. I wake up feeling rested, and feel subjectively 'sharper' than I did before. I say this with some confidence, because I am pretty in tune with my mental performance. In addition, the aches and pains which had begun accumulating in my late 30s / early 40s have substantially receded. In particular, I suffered from chronic lower back pain since college and felt like I was on a one-way, gradual downward slope in that regard. While I cannot say that my lower back pain is cured, it is much less of an issue than it has been in years. I am also a weekend runner and have run ~5 miles every weekend for ~20 years. Before I started taking Niagen, my legs and back would ache for 24-48h after my run. Now, I am able to play basketball in the driveway with my son for an hour, run 5 miles, come back and play some more basketball, and I am essentially pain-free the next day.Against the backdrop of my personal experience, I continue to monitor the scientific literature for new studies of nicotinamide riboside (i.e. niagen). From a basic science perspective, the evidence that this molecule acts in a systemic fashion to improve the health and function of multiple organ systems simultaneously is about as strong as it gets. You can see for yourself by searching for "nicotinamide riboside" in PubMed. As a result, there is a lot of excitement in the scientific community around NAD+ precursor supplementation. I decided to go with TRU Niagen since it comes directly from the company that manufactures the molecule and not from a supplement reseller.There are a slew of other clinical trials underway, so there will soon be much more hard data about the clinical efficacy of niagen for treating a range of conditions. But based on the basic science studies so far, the clinical studies that already exist, my personal experience, and the experiences of many others I know, I believe that niagen is the real deal. I would not be surprised if this becomes the most popular supplement on the planet in a few years.

★★☆☆☆ As a physician, I experimented with Niagen after reading about its effects on animals. During the first week of medication, I started to recall more of my dreams; I also felt more energetic in my three day a week 3 mile runs, which could be placebo since I had no objective measurement. After about a month, I experienced some pressure on my chest and checked my pulse, which became irregular. I'm healthy otherwise, on no medication except for multivitamins and Omega 3. I did an EKG and detected some PAC's (premature atrial contractions), which could be normal for a 62 y/o man. I also experienced cramping at times in my calf muscles during my routine 3 mile runs. The irregular heart beat got worse after less than three months of taking Niagen. I stopped Niagen, and the irregular heart beats resolved after two days. I searched literatures and found an article in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology Jan. 2008 issue, that linked nicotinamide adenosine dinucleotides (NAD) to atrial fibrillation. I don't have any further information about Niagen; so this is just my personal experience.

★★★★★ I am a 69 year old woman and have been taking Niagen for over a year. I have experienced many improvements similar to those described by others. However, it suddenly all came to a stop after about 8 months and I could not understand why. I was very disappointed to lose my new-found energy and other benefits. I easily found others who had also experienced this sudden Niagen shutdown, but also found in chatrooms a solution that worked for me. First I stopped taking Niagen for about a week. Then I started 500 mg of Niagen in the morning with SAMe (400mg) and TMG (500 mg). The latter promote healthy homocysteine levels which the Niagen apparently needs to work its miracles. I also have been careful to take all of these in the morning on an empty stomach. This is super important for maximal effect. A short time before eating seems to be fine.