A recent healthy aging study suggests that a botanical blend made from pomegranate and marigold extracts may support NAD+ levels and broader wellness markers in older adults. The report described the ingredient as performing at least as well as, and in some measures better than, a commonly used NAD+ precursor in a 60-day clinical trial involving healthy older participants.
The study was described as randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled, and included 140 healthy adults with an average age of about 60. Participants were assigned to one of four groups: a botanical extract blend, nicotinamide riboside, the combination of both, or placebo. Reported outcomes included blood NAD+ levels, CD38 activity, inflammatory markers, six-minute walk distance, cognitive screening scores and quality-of-life assessments.
According to the article, all active-treatment groups showed significant increases in blood NAD+ after 60 days compared with baseline. The botanical blend produced a larger NAD+ increase than nicotinamide riboside alone, although that difference was not statistically significant. The combination arm showed the largest increase overall, but that advantage over the single-ingredient groups was also reported as not statistically significant.
One of the more notable findings involved CD38, an enzyme linked to age-related NAD+ decline. Participants taking the botanical blend alone reportedly showed significantly lower CD38 levels than baseline and placebo, while the nicotinamide riboside and combination groups did not show the same significant reduction. The article framed this as a potential differentiator, suggesting the botanical approach may not only support NAD+ production but may also help limit age-related depletion.
The trial also reported broader functional benefits. All active groups showed reductions in inflammatory markers including TNF-alpha and IL-6, along with improvements in six-minute walk performance and mini-mental state examination scores. The combination of the botanical blend and nicotinamide riboside was reported to produce the strongest cognitive results, outperforming either ingredient alone on that measure. Quality-of-life scores also improved across all active groups by the end of the study.
From a category perspective, these findings are notable because the healthy aging market has focused heavily on NAD+ precursors such as nicotinamide riboside and NMN. The article notes that NAD+ levels tend to decline with age and that the molecule is important for cellular energy metabolism and DNA repair, which is why NAD+ support remains a major theme in longevity-oriented product development.
What makes this report especially interesting is the emphasis on a botanical route rather than a purely synthetic precursor strategy. The ingredient discussed in the article combined pomegranate and marigold extracts standardized to specific active compounds, positioning the formula as a plant-based approach to supporting healthy aging pathways. The coverage also noted that relatively few herbal ingredients have been studied in this area compared with more established NAD+ boosters.
Taken together, the results suggest that botanical NAD+ support may become an increasingly relevant direction for healthy aging innovation. While larger and longer-term studies would still be helpful, the reported trial adds to growing interest in multi-mechanism solutions that address energy metabolism, inflammation, physical performance and cognitive resilience at the same time.