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Home / Features /

Do Anti-Aging Pills Work? Best Ones, Side Effects and More

November 27, 2019 • By Hannah Craven

  • Anti-aging pills claim to target the signs of aging by providing antioxidative benefits.
  • Coenzyme Q10, resveratrol, choline, NAC and collagen peptides are all popular anti-aging supplements.
  • Metformin and NAD+ are two anti-aging pills increasing in popularity, although their benefits and potential side effects are still relatively unknown.

On the surface, an anti-aging pill to turn back the clock seems like an efficient and simple solution. Before trying them out for yourself, it’s important to understand how they work in your body – and be aware of any potential side effects.

Contents

  • What Are Anti-Aging Pills?
  • How do Anti-Aging Pills Work?
  • Best Anti-Aging Pills for Skin
  • Breakthrough Anti-Aging Pills 2020
  • Side Effects of Anti-Aging Pills

What Are Anti-Aging Pills?

Anti-aging pills are tablets that are taken daily to help support and regulate your body’s natural functions. The benefits of these pills, while varied, include reducing inflammation, protecting the skin from oxidative stress and improved cell regeneration.

Anti-aging pills vs anti-aging supplements

While pills and supplements may look the same, the main difference is the regulatory practices behind them. Pills are required to undergo rigorous testing and evaluations by the FDA before being released to the public. Conversely, supplements do not require the same FDA evaluations before being distributed.

How do Anti-Aging Pills Work?

Most anti-aging pills work by giving you a boost of essential nutrients and vitamins. These provide your body with the basis to create the proteins and lipids required for healthy and supple skin, such as collagen.

Alternatively, some provide antioxidative benefits to combat oxidative stress. Oxidative stress damages your cells and is responsible for the premature aging of your skin. It is caused by factors such as exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays, pollution and cigarette smoke.

Can anti-aging pills reverse signs of aging?

While anti-aging pills do not provide a quick fix for fine lines and wrinkles, they do have the potential to assist your skin in repairing and protecting itself from environmental damage. For example, research has found that vitamin C, coenzyme Q10 and resveratrol supplements help to fight signs of external aging by protecting against oxidative stress.

Best Anti-Aging Pills for Skin

The following anti-aging pills are formulated with ingredients that are either naturally found in the body or in common food sources. They have typically received more scientific investigation than other anti-aging alternatives.

Coenzyme Q10

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is an antioxidant substance found naturally in your body. As we age, our body produces less CoQ10, thereby making it more susceptible to the damaging effects of free radicals.

A study into the benefits of CoQ10 supplements for age-related diseases found that a daily dosage of 300mg significantly enhanced antioxidant protection, and provided anti-inflammatory effects.

Resveratrol

Resveratrol belongs to a group of plant compounds known as polyphenols, commonly found in foods including fruits, vegetables, dark chocolate and wine.

Research into the use of resveratrol supplements is promising – one study found that after two months of participants taking a daily capsule, there were noticeable changes to the skin’s wrinkle depth, moisture and elasticity levels.

Choline

Choline is an essential nutrient that plays a large role in maintaining cell structure. It is commonly used as a supplement to support brain function, however, research regarding the dermatological benefits of choline is currently limited.

NAC and glutathione

N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) and glutathione are antioxidants that help to fight free radicals in the body, reducing oxidative stress. There are limited studies on the use of NAC supplements for anti-aging properties on the skin. However, research has shown that when applied topically, it is effective in improving skin hydration and barrier function.

Collagen peptides

Collagen is a protein essential for your skin’s structure and flexibility. As we age our collagen production declines, causing lines and wrinkles to gradually appear. Research into the use of collagen peptides as an anti-aging supplement found that after 8 weeks of daily intake, there was a significant reduction in eye wrinkle volume, as well as an overall increase in collagen levels.

Breakthrough Anti-Aging Pills 2020

Metformin and NAD+ are two anti-aging pills that are steadily increasing in popularity. There are claims that these pills help to protect the body; however, the scientific evidence in support of this is still limited, and FDA approval is yet to be achieved.

Metformin

Metformin is a drug prescribed to treat type two diabetics. Traditionally, it has been used to lower sugar levels in the blood by absorbing glucose. Research has shown that metformin also scavenges free radicals in the body, reducing oxidative stress – therefore helping the body to combat one of the leading causes of aging.

While the emerging research sounds promising, potential side effects of Metformin have been identified. Metformin may counteract beneficial physical changes on the body produced by aerobic exercise, hindering cardiorespiratory fitness levels.

NAD+

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, or NAD+, is a chemical found naturally in your body. It converts nutrients into energy, while also supporting other molecules to perform efficiently.

Research into the anti-aging benefits of NAD+ has only so far been limited to animal studies. While research has shown that tissue repair is enhanced in mice administered NDA+ supplements, we are still unaware of its long-term effects on the human body.

Side Effects of Anti-Aging Pills

Anti-aging pills should always be taken with caution, especially if you are taking existing medications. Side effects from the use of anti-aging pills, such as NAD+ and Metformin include:

  • Nausea
  • Fatigue
  • Headaches
  • Stomach discomfort
  • Diarrhea

Takeaway

Anti-aging pills and supplements may provide beneficial effects on the body, due to their antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties. However, many of the anti-aging pills available on the market currently have limited scientific support, as well as a lack of FDA approval.

Metformin and NAD+ are two popular pills that have purported anti-aging properties. However, the results are limited, and the long-term side effects of these pills are still unknown.

Sources

  • Blusztajn, J. K., Slack, B. E., & Mellott, T. J. (2017). Neuroprotective actions of dietary choline. Nutrients, 9(8), 815. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu9080815
  • Buonocore, D., Lazzeretti, A., Tocabens, P., Nobile, V., Cestone, E., Santin, G., … Marzatico, F. (2012). Resveratrol-procyanidin blend: nutraceutical and antiaging efficacy evaluated in a placebocontrolled, double-blind study. Clinical, cosmetic and investigational dermatology, 5, 159–165. doi:10.2147/CCID.S36102
  • Conti, V., Izzo, V., Corbi, G., Russomanno, G., Manzo, V., De Lise, F., … & Filippelli, A. (2016). Antioxidant supplementation in the treatment of aging-associated diseases. Frontiers in pharmacology, 7, 24. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2016.00024
  • Gomes, A. P., Price, N. L., Ling, A. J., Moslehi, J. J., Montgomery, M. K., Rajman, L., … & Mercken, E. M. (2013). Declining NAD+ induces a pseudohypoxic state disrupting nuclear-mitochondrial communication during aging. Cell, 155(7), 1624-1638. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24360282
  • Janson M. (2006). Orthomolecular medicine: the therapeutic use of dietary supplements for anti-aging. Clinical interventions in aging, 1(3), 261–265. doi:10.2147/ciia.2006.1.3.261
  • Kaeberlein, M. (2010). Resveratrol and rapamycin: are they anti‐aging drugs?. Bioessays, 32(2), 96-99. https://doi.org/10.1002/bies.200900171
  • Konopka, A. R., Laurin, J. L., Schoenberg, H. M., Reid, J. J., Castor, W. M., Wolff, C. A., … & Bailey, S. M. (2019). Metformin inhibits mitochondrial adaptations to aerobic exercise training in older adults. Aging cell, 18(1), e12880. https://doi.org/10.1111/acel.12880
  • Najafi, M., Cheki, M., Rezapoor, S., Geraily, G., Motevaseli, E., Carnovale, C., … & Shirazi, A. (2018). Metformin: Prevention of genomic instability and cancer: A review. Mutation Research/Genetic Toxicology and Environmental Mutagenesis, 827, 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mrgentox.2018.01.007
  • Proksch, E., Schunck, M., Zague, V., Segger, D., Degwert, J., & Oesser, S. (2014). Oral intake of specific bioactive collagen peptides reduces skin wrinkles and increases dermal matrix synthesis. Skin pharmacology and physiology, 27(3), 113-119. https://doi.org/10.1159/000355523
  • Nakai, K., Nishiura, A., Ishikawa, E., Moriue, J., Moriue, T., & Kubota, Y. (2017). Topical N-acetylcysteine can restore skin barrier function in healthy volunteers and atopic dermatitis patients. Journal of Dermatological Science, 86(2), e32. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdermsci.2017.02.094
  • Piskovatska V., Strilbytska O., Koliada A., Vaiserman A., Lushchak O. (2019) Health Benefits of Anti-aging Drugs. In: Harris J., Korolchuk V. (eds) Biochemistry and Cell Biology of Ageing: Part II Clinical Science. Subcellular Biochemistry, vol 91. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-3681-2_13
» Show all

Last modified: September 7, 2020

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