Sexual Wellness: Could NAD+ be the key?

Sexual wellness is an essential part of overall health, yet it is often overlooked or misunderstood. From hormone balance and energy levels to mental well-being and relationship satisfaction, sexual health reflects many aspects of physical and emotional function.

In this article, Vivere’s Head of Nutrition, Yusra Serdaroglu Aydin, a registered dietitian with a background in nutrition, food engineering and culinary arts, provides expert insight into how NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) could play a vital role in supporting sexual wellness. Her evidence-based approach highlights the link between cellular health, mitochondrial function and the body’s ability to maintain sexual vitality through every stage of life.

NAD+ supports sexual wellness by enhancing energy production, hormone balance, fertility and healthy ageing, helping the body perform optimally from the inside out.

Here are the five biggest takeaways from his article about NAD+ and sexual wellness:

• Sexual wellness is influenced by physical, emotional and hormonal health, all of which rely on balanced cellular function.

• NAD+ plays a key role in mitochondrial health, supporting energy production needed for sexual performance and vitality.

• Healthy NAD+ levels are linked to testosterone production, fertility and improved libido in both men and women.

• Restoring NAD+ levels can help slow the biological ageing process, supporting long-term sexual function.

• Lifestyle choices, nutrition and targeted NAD+ supplementation may optimise sexual wellness at any age.

Sexual wellness is a state of physical, emotional and social wellbeing related to sexuality. It involves body confidence, hormonal balance, mental health and healthy relationships. For both men and women, sexual wellness depends on how the body produces and uses energy, how hormones regulate desire and performance, and how the brain and body communicate during intimacy.

As we age, these systems can be disrupted by stress, poor nutrition, declining hormone levels and reduced cellular energy production. One factor that has gained increasing attention for its role in maintaining cellular energy and vitality is NAD+.

NAD+ is a vital coenzyme found in every cell of the body, playing a key role in energy metabolism. It helps convert nutrients into cellular energy through the mitochondria. As NAD+ levels decline with age, mitochondrial function weakens, leading to lower energy, fatigue and reduced stamina. 

Research shows that restoring NAD+ levels can enhance mitochondrial performance and improve overall energy metabolism, supporting the physical endurance needed for a healthy sex life [1].

NAD+ is also closely connected to hormonal balance, particularly in relation to testosterone. Testosterone, produced by Leydig cells in the testes, is essential for libido, sexual function and reproductive health in men.

Studies indicate that NAD+ supports the function of Leydig cells, influencing the production of testosterone and other sex hormones [2]. Low NAD+ levels may contribute to reduced sex drive, fatigue and hormonal imbalance, while replenished NAD+ levels may help restore vitality and desire.

Fertility in men and women relies on the health of reproductive cells, which are highly sensitive to oxidative stress and energy decline. In the ovaries, NAD+ is involved in supporting the enzyme CD38, which helps regulate egg quality and ovarian function. Research suggests that reduced NAD+ and disrupted CD38 activity can accelerate ovarian ageing and reduce fertility [3]. By maintaining NAD+ balance, it may be possible to preserve reproductive health and support natural fertility over time.

Biological ageing affects every aspect of sexual function. NAD+ is a key molecule in this process, as it fuels enzymes involved in DNA repair and cellular protection. Low NAD+ contributes to faster ageing, while increasing NAD+ levels may help slow age-related decline in energy, hormone balance and tissue health. 

Evidence shows that replenishing NAD+ can restore cellular function, reduce inflammation and even improve vision by reversing retinal degeneration [4]. Further research indicates that NAD+ acts on pathways linked to age-related diseases, helping to maintain cell resilience and delay systemic ageing [5]. 

Maintaining higher NAD+ levels could mean improved circulation, hormonal stability and tissue function throughout adulthood. In fact, a 2022 study in BMC Urology reported that NAD+ supplementation might improve sexual and urinary function in older adults by supporting mitochondrial health and nitric oxide availability [6].

Sexual wellness is a reflection of how well the body’s systems communicate and function together. From hormone production and fertility to energy and mood, NAD+ supports the foundation of cellular health that underpins sexual vitality. Restoring and maintaining healthy NAD+ levels may not only enhance physical and emotional wellbeing but also help the body age more gracefully.

Vivere helps you take control of your health with personalised insights from state-of-the-art gut microbiome testing, nutritional guidance from our team, science-backed supplements, NAD+ injections and expert support. Sign up today and start living better, for longer.

[1] Dietary Supplementation With NAD+-Boosting Compounds in Humans: Current Knowledge and Future Directions - PMC

[2] SIRT1: A Key Player in Male Reproduction

[3] Researchers uncover mechanism that links NAD+ to fertility problems | ScienceDaily

[4] The Role of NAD+ in Regenerative Medicine - PMC.

[5] Therapeutic potential of boosting NAD+ in aging and age-related diseases - ScienceDirect.

[6] Relationship between sperm NAD + concentration and reproductive aging in normozoospermia men:A Cohort study | BMC Urology