CD38 and NAD+ are attracting attention in ageing research because NAD+ levels depend on both production and consumption. Providing the body with precursor compounds is one approach. Understanding how NAD+ is broken down is another.
The topic returned to industry headlines on 14 October 2026, when SupplySide Supplement Journal announced its Ingredient Idol finalists. The longevity category included BluNADBooster, a botanical ingredient combining marigold and pomegranate extracts.
Its inclusion offers a useful opportunity to examine the science behind NAD+ production, NAD+ breakdown and the evidence needed to connect a proposed mechanism with meaningful health outcomes. An industry award nomination recognises an ingredient’s commercial and innovation interest; it does not independently establish clinical effectiveness.
What Is NAD+?
Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, commonly abbreviated to NAD+, is a coenzyme involved in normal cellular metabolism. It participates in reactions that transfer electrons during the processing of nutrients.
NAD+ also serves as a substrate for enzymes involved in other cellular activities. This means researchers study not only how cells make NAD+, but also how they use and replenish it.
For background on precursor compounds, read our comparison of niacin, NMN and NR.
NAD+ Production vs NAD+ Breakdown
The amount of NAD+ available in a cell reflects a balance between synthesis and consumption.
- Production: Cells make NAD+ through biochemical pathways using precursor compounds.
- Consumption: Certain enzymes use NAD+ as part of their normal biological activity.
- Replenishment: Cellular pathways recycle some breakdown products to help maintain the NAD+ pool.
These processes operate together. Measuring an increase in NAD+ concentration does not, by itself, reveal whether production increased, consumption decreased, or several processes changed.
What Is CD38, and Why Does It Matter?
CD38 is a multifunctional enzyme with NAD-consuming activity. It also participates in normal physiological processes, including immune-related functions and cellular signalling.
A 2016 study published in Cell Metabolism linked increased CD38 activity with age-related NAD decline and mitochondrial changes, principally through experiments in mice. This helped establish CD38 as a research target.
However, CD38 is not simply a harmful enzyme that everyone should try to suppress. Its normal biological roles matter. Animal findings also need appropriate human investigation before they can support consumer recommendations.
What Is BluNADBooster?
BluNADBooster is a branded botanical ingredient marketed by NXT USA. Its formulation combines extracts of Tagetes erecta, commonly known as marigold, and Punica granatum, commonly known as pomegranate.
The supplier positions the ingredient around NAD+ production and preservation. These are proposed mechanisms to examine against the research, rather than reasons to assume that every marigold or pomegranate product works in the same way.
What Did the Human Study Find?
A 2025 Journal of Functional Foods paper reported a 60-day randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving 140 healthy ageing adults. It compared placebo, the botanical formulation LN22199, NR, and a combination.
The tested daily amounts were:
- LN22199 alone: 1,000 mg.
- NR alone: 500 mg.
- Combination: LN22199 500 mg plus NR 500 mg.
Reported blood NAD+ increases from baseline were 26.48% with LN22199 and 22.69% with NR. However, Table 2 reports no significant difference between these groups at Day 60 (p = 0.8784).
The paper also reported reduced CD38 activity with LN22199, significant versus placebo. The study was funded by Laila Nutra, which developed the formulation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the connection between CD38 and NAD+?
CD38 has NAD-consuming activity. Scientists study it to understand how NAD+ availability is regulated and how that regulation may change with ageing.
Are NAD+ precursors and CD38-targeting ingredients the same?
No. Precursors provide compounds used in NAD+ synthesis. A CD38-targeting approach investigates NAD+ consumption. Claims about either approach require evidence for the specific intervention.
Does eating pomegranate reproduce the effects of a studied botanical extract?
A food and a standardised research formulation are different exposures. Shared botanical origins do not establish equivalent composition, dose or effects.
Should people combine supplements to target both pathways?
A proposed mechanism is not a personalised supplement plan. Combining products requires consideration of their complete ingredients, directions and individual suitability.
What to Look for in Future NAD+ Research
Useful future evidence would include independent replication, clearly defined comparisons, meaningful functional outcomes and longer follow-up. Studies should also distinguish changes in blood measurements from effects in particular tissues.
As NAD+ research develops, both production and consumption deserve attention. For readers, the most useful habit is to assess the exact formulation and outcome studied before applying a finding to another product.
Explore more explanations of nutrition and cellular metabolism in the Biogency Blog.
This article provides general scientific education and does not establish the effects of any Biogency product. Always read the label and follow the directions for use.