The Skincarma Pod | Ep. 73: NAD⁺ — The Molecule Everyone Wants to Boost, But No One Can Measure with Jari Närhi, NADMED CEO

Everyone is talking about boosting NAD⁺.Almost no one is measuring it.In the world of longevity, NAD⁺ has become one of the most talked-about — and most aggressively marketed — molecules.From supplements to IV drips, the focus is on increasing NAD levels in the body. But there’s a fundamental question that rarely gets asked:How do you know if your NAD actually needs to be boosted in the first place?In this episode, Carmine sits down with Jari Närhi, CEO of NADMED, a Finnish health technology company developing one of the first clinical blood tests designed to measure NAD levels accurately and at scale.Together, they explore the science behind NAD — what it is, what it does in the body, and why it has become central to the longevity conversation. But more importantly, they unpack the measurement gap that has shaped the entire category.For decades, NAD has been notoriously difficult to measure due to its instability outside of cells — meaning much of the conversation around boosting NAD has been built on assumptions, not data.That’s where NADMED comes in.By developing a laboratory assay capable of measuring multiple forms of NAD in whole blood, they’re opening the door to something that has long been missing in the space: objective insight.This episode reframes the NAD conversation — not as something to blindly optimize, but as something to first understand.You’ll learn:• What NAD⁺ is and why it’s essential for cellular energy and metabolic function;• Why NAD exists in multiple forms — and why that matters for measurement;• The role NAD plays in processes like DNA repair, cell signaling, and aging;• Why NAD has been historically difficult to measure in blood;• How instability and degradation have limited real-world testing;• What NADMED’s breakthrough assay does differently;• How and when NAD testing is being introduced into clinical settings and the U.S. market;• And, what it could mean to finally bring data and accountability to the longevity space.Key takeaway:The conversation around NAD has been driven by the desire to optimize — but without measurement, optimization is just guesswork.Before you try to boost your biology, it may be worth asking a simpler question:What are you actually working with to begin with?Connect with Jari Närhi, Co-founder and CEO of NADMED, on LinkedIn here. Learn more about NADMED and their breakthrough NAD+ testing protocols and where to get tested at nadmed.com.Follow Skincarma on Instagram and on TikTok. Catch product reviews of Carmine’s top picks of the best skincare on the Skincarma Blog. You can also connect with Carmine on Substack and LinkedIn – and explore his extensive work in beauty on the Carmine Montalto INK website here.If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate and/or leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Substack, or Spotify to help Carmine reach more curious listeners.Product reviews on the Skincarma Blog:Explore the Best Sunscreens for Face here.Explore the Best Retinol Face Creams and Serums here.Explore the Best Vitamin C Serums here.Explore the Best Niacinamide Serums here.Explore the Best Acne Treatmen