Narrative review: NAD⁺ metabolism, aging and menopause
This narrative review links age-related NAD⁺ depletion to mitochondrial, metabolic and inflammatory changes and calls NAD⁺ modulation promising for menopausal health, while noting long-term clinical evidence is insufficient for a definitive therapeutic conclusion. [1]
Automatic summary · not editorially reviewed
The key findings
The review describes menopause as a complex biological condition with progressive estrogen depletion and increased susceptibility to several age-associated disorders. [1]
NAD⁺ precursors such as NMN and NR showed promising biological effects in experimental studies, but translation to humans still shows limitations. [1]
Long-term clinical evidence is still insufficient to support a definitive therapeutic conclusion on NAD⁺-targeted interventions in menopausal women. [1]
The source at a glance
- Study type / format
- Narrative review (abstract only)
- Population / context
- Menopausal women and aging biology, as discussed in the reviewed literature.
- Summary based on
- Study abstract
- Original publication
- August 18, 2026
NAD⁺, aging and menopause mechanisms reviewed
The review describes menopause as a complex biological condition with progressive estrogen depletion and greater susceptibility to several age-associated disorders. It names mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, genomic instability and immunosenescence as mechanisms contributing to biological aging and metabolic imbalance. NAD⁺ draws attention for its role in mitochondrial homeostasis, DNA repair, cellular energetics and inflammatory regulation. The authors discuss the mechanistic relationship between NAD⁺ metabolism, aging and menopause by integrating experimental and clinical evidence.
Supporting source [1]
NAD⁺ precursors: experimental promise, human limits
According to the available evidence, depletion of intracellular NAD⁺ during aging may contribute to mitochondrial dysfunction, impaired metabolic regulation, chronic inflammatory signaling and neurodegenerative alterations. NAD⁺ precursors such as nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) and nicotinamide riboside (NR) showed promising biological effects in experimental studies. Translating these findings to humans still shows limitations, including pharmacokinetic instability, tissue-specific bioavailability and variability in clinical responses. Chronic inflammation and CD38 overexpression appear strongly associated with progressive intracellular NAD⁺ depletion during aging and menopause.
Supporting source [1]
Long-term clinical evidence still insufficient
The authors state that modulating NAD⁺ metabolism may represent a promising strategy in longevity medicine and menopausal health. However, despite mechanistic advances in recent years, long-term clinical evidence is still insufficient to support a definitive therapeutic conclusion. More experimental and clinical studies are required to establish the real therapeutic relevance and safety of NAD⁺-targeted interventions in menopausal women. The review was developed using PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science, considering studies on menopause, aging, NAD⁺ metabolism, NMN, NR, mitochondrial dysfunction and inflammatory signaling pathways.
Supporting source [1]
How to interpret this
Abstract only; the full text was not reviewed. This is a narrative review integrating experimental and clinical literature, not a new study. It reports no sample sizes, follow-up or outcome data, and the authors themselves state that long-term clinical evidence is insufficient for a definitive therapeutic conclusion.
Based on the study abstract; the full paper, tables and supplementary data were not reviewed.
Source & supporting passages
Arici ECA, Küpeli E, Sobarzo-Sánchez E, Selamoglu Z. · europepmc.org · August 18, 2026