If you’ve looked into longevity or “cellular energy,” you’ve seen NAD⁺ everywhere. It fuels mitochondrial ATP production, powers DNA repair, and supports healthy cell signaling—key reasons it sits at the center of modern healthy-aging research. NAD⁺ levels decline with age, which is linked to lower energy, slower recovery, and visible signs of aging. Elevating NAD⁺ is therefore a prime target for feeling and performing better as the years go by. PMC

But here’s the catch: how you raise NAD⁺ matters.

Why not just take NAD⁺ directly?

On paper, swallowing NAD⁺ sounds straightforward. In practice, direct oral NAD⁺ is unstable and has low bioavailability, and extracellular NAD⁺ is rapidly broken down by enzymes like CD38 before cells can use it. Several reviews conclude this makes direct oral NAD⁺ largely inefficacious, especially compared with precursor strategies. NaturePMC+1

Additionally, the body relies on ectoenzymes (e.g., CD38, CD73) that can degrade extracellular NAD⁺/NMN into NR or NAM before uptake. In other words, the stuff you swallow may be enzymatically converted to smaller building blocks before your cells can rebuild NAD⁺ inside. PMC

Why NR is a smarter approach

Nicotinamide riboside (NR) is a vitamin B3-derived NAD⁺ precursor. Your cells can transport NR via equilibrative nucleoside transporters and convert it to NMN (via NRK) and then to NAD⁺ inside the cell—bypassing the extracellular hurdles that hamper direct NAD⁺. PMC

Crucially, human trials show NR raises NAD⁺:

• A randomized, placebo-controlled pilot in older adults found significant increases in blood NAD⁺ with NR and good tolerability. PMC
• Additional clinical/clinical-style work indicates safe, sustainable NAD⁺ elevation with NR-containing regimens. PMC

NR also carries a strong safety profile: NR chloride has an FDA GRAS notice on file. (As always, supplements should be used as directed and discussed with a clinician if you have a medical condition.) U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Where liposomal delivery fits (and where it doesn’t)

You’ll see “liposomal” versions of NAD⁺/precursors marketed for better absorption. The idea: encapsulate the ingredient in tiny phospholipid spheres to protect it during digestion and improve uptake. Evidence suggests liposomes can enhance oral bioavailability for some compounds, and preclinical data show liposomal NR can improve tissue distribution in animal models. But human evidence specific to liposomal NAD⁺/NR remains limited—promising mechanism, still early for hard clinical endpoints. MDPIScienceDirectcot.food.gov.uk

Bottom line: liposomes may help, but the biggest win is choosing a well-studied precursor path (like NR) that the body naturally uses to rebuild NAD⁺ inside cells.

How to put this into practice

• Prioritize precursors over direct NAD⁺: NR and NMN have the strongest human data for raising NAD⁺; NR has particularly robust safety and transport rationale. PMCU.S. Food and Drug Administration
• Stack smartly: Polyphenols like resveratrol (sirtuin co-factors) and mitochondrial-renewal support like urolithin A can complement NAD⁺ restoration strategies. (Evidence base varies by outcome; think “supportive,” not magic.) PMC
• Lifestyle still matters: Exercise, sleep, and metabolic hygiene remain foundational for mitochondrial health. PMC

A minimalist, science-informed option

If you want a simple entry point, Dayly NAD Complete centers on NR for intracellular NAD⁺ restoration and pairs it with resveratrol, urolithin A, and astaxanthin for complementary cellular support—without loading the label with unnecessary fillers.