NAD+ supplements have become popular for their claims of energy and anti-aging benefits. But like any supplement, it’s important to consider the potential downsides. In fact, new research suggests some NAD+-boosting supplements could potentially interfere with chemotherapy treatment for pancreatic cancer.
A study published in Cancer Letters examined three NAD+ precursors—nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), nicotinamide riboside (NR) and nicotinamide (NAM)—and found that they could make pancreatic cancer cells more resistant to chemotherapy. NMN had the strongest effect, increasing resistance to three commonly used chemotherapy drugs: oxaliplatin, 5-fluorouracil and gemcitabine. Find more details below.
Women Are Swapping Their Boring Water For This Ice Pop Electrolyte Mix!
NAD+ supplements may help cancer cells survive treatment
It's important to be discerning when it comes to your supplement regimen.
Researchers found that NAD+ precursors appeared to help pancreatic cancer cells cope with the stress caused by chemotherapy. In laboratory and mouse experiments, the compounds supported cellular energy production and reduced some of the damage that chemotherapy is designed to cause.
The researchers also found that NAM and NMN supplementation appeared to reduce the effectiveness of chemotherapy and promote tumor growth in mice.
However, it's important to note that the study did not involve human patients, and it does not show that NAD+ supplements cause cancer. Instead, it raises concerns about whether these supplements could impact the effectiveness of cancer treatment in people who already have pancreatic cancer.
The findings are also not definitive. Research into NAD+ and cancer is still developing, and some studies have found different effects depending on the compound and treatment involved.
What should people taking NAD+ supplements know?
For most people, this research isn't evidence that taking an NAD+ supplement will cause cancer. But anyone undergoing chemotherapy should talk to their oncologist before taking NAD+, NMN, NR or other supplements.
As the researchers noted, supplements can have real biological effects—and those effects may matter when they're combined with cancer treatments.
Ultimately, this study doesn't mean NAD+ supplements are dangerous for everyone. It does, however, suggest that people being treated for pancreatic cancer shouldn't assume that supplements marketed for energy or healthy aging are automatically safe to take alongside chemotherapy.
As study lead Jordan Winter, a professor at Case Western Reserve School of Medicine and co-leader of the developmental therapeutics program at the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center noted in the press release: "This research is a critical reminder that ‘natural’ doesn’t always mean safe, especially in the complex biology of cancer treatment."
