Can NAD+ Help With Perimenopause?

For many women, the first signs of perimenopause arrive before their periods stop. You might have less energy or maybe your sleep has got worse. It’s easy to assume these changes are just part of getting older. However, it could actually be linked to menopause.

What’s more, as interest in healthy ageing grows, many women are looking into menopause supplements – namely NAD+. But what exactly is NAD+ and how can it support you in midlife? Here’s what we know so far.

Why Perimenopause Can Feel So Different

Perimenopause is the transitional stage before menopause. It occurs because the ovaries gradually begin producing lower and changing levels of hormones, namely oestrogen and progesterone. Typically, this begins in your 40s, but some women experience it earlier or later.

Unlike menopause, which is defined as 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period, perimenopause can last for several years. During this time, you may notice several changes such as less energy, slower recovery, changes in sleep, fluctuating mood, worse concentration and feeling less resilient.

It’s easy to put these symptoms down to stress, work, ageing or parenting, but in reality they are a sign that something is happening deeper in the body. It’s not just related to hormones either. Metabolism, inflammation and cellular ageing can all be impacted.

Understanding NAD+ and Cellular Energy

Before we answer ‘can NAD+ help with perimenopause’, it’s important to look at what NAD+ actually is. Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) is a coenzyme found in every cell of the body and is responsible for lots of biological processes that keep cells working as they should.

In short, NAD+ plays a role in energy production, DNA repair, cellular maintenance, metabolic function and cellular stress responses. Not to mention healthy ageing.

We know that NAD+ levels naturally decline as we age, and researchers believe this reduction may also contribute to some of the biological changes we associate with ageing. This can also occur in both men and women and isn’t unique to menopause.

Does Perimenopause Affect Your Cells?

Hormones influence lots of processes around the body, including metabolism, bone health, brain health and cardiovascular function. As our cells age, this can affect our hormone levels, in turn impacting overall health and wellbeing.

Ageing and hormonal transitions may influence each other, but rather than causing one another, they occur together during midlife. What’s more, there is currently no evidence to suggest that declining NAD+ levels cause perimenopausal symptoms or that increasing NAD+ levels reverses hormonal changes.

Why Women Are Interested in NAD+ During Perimenopause

Symptoms of perimenopause can range depending on the individual, their health, age and menstrual history. What’s more, they can vary from mild to severe and become debilitating for some people to deal with – affecting daily life, energy, relationships and even career. With this in mind, it’s no surprise that many women look for a solution to get their life back on track.

Interest in longevity has grown in recent years, and many women are now exploring ways to support healthy ageing before menopause. But rather than looking for a cure, many women are interested in NAD+ supplements because they’re looking to support:

Research into NAD+ is expanding and scientists are currently looking at how declining NAD+ levels can influence age-related changes in the body and whether increasing NAD+ availability could support healthy cellular function. That being said, direct research that looks into NAD+ supplementation during perimenopause is still limited.

Supporting Your Body During Perimenopause

There are several evidence-based ways you can support your health during perimenopause. The NHS recommends healthy lifestyle habits such as:

Where NAD+ Fits Into a Wellness Routine

Some women include NAD+ supplementation as part of a wider health routine. This includes regular exercise, nutritious eating habits, good sleep hygiene, stress management and occasionally hormone replacement therapy when recommended by a healthcare professional.

NAD+ supplements are also a popular choice, but it’s important to remember that it’s not hormone replacement therapy and should not replace evidence-based medical treatment for perimenopause. Where it can benefit women is when it is used as a complementary tool for healthy ageing.

When Should You Speak to Your GP?

Although many perimenopausal symptoms are normal, some may require medical support and attention. For example, you should speak to your GP if you experience:

If you’re aged 45 or above, perimenopause can be diagnosed based on symptoms and menstrual history without the need for blood tests. Your GP will also be able to rule out other possible causes of fatigue or hormonal conditions and therefore help you decide on the most appropriate treatment options.

So, Can NAD+ Help With Perimenopause?

NAD+ plays an important role in cellular energy production, DNA repair and healthy cellular function. It’s no surprise that it has become part of an exciting discussion around healthy ageing, but research is still needed when it comes to the relationship between NAD+ and perimenopause.

What we do know is that perimenopause involves more than just changing hormone levels, which is where NAD+ supplements alongside regular exercise, balanced nutrition, quality sleep and other evidence-based medical care can offer a solution.

If you’d like to learn more about the science behind NAD+, healthy ageing and cellular health, why not explore our resources? You can also discover our range of NAD+-Produkte, all of which are designed to support your broader wellness routine alongside a healthy lifestyle and advice from your healthcare professional.