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David Sinclair Supplements

Dr. David Sinclair has collectively shifted the way we view aging. Far from something that’s inevitable, he claims, aging is a result of genetically-triggered errors that can — and eventually will — be overcome with science. Let’s take a look at David Sinclair Supplements recommendations.

In other words, David believes that aging will be obsolete in the future.

In the meantime he’s attempting to slow down his own aging process through the use of a slew of supplements.

He’s been an early advocate for cellular optimizers like NAD+, but this particular compound is just the start of his own supplement routine.

Is David’s perspective a credible one, though?

As a professor and research director at Harvard Medical School’s Center for the Biology of Aging, it most definitely is!

Dr. Sinclair’s contributions are so significant that they’ve allowed him to transcend the limits of the scientific community.

He’s a regular guest on top podcasts like The Joe Rogan Experience, and he’s also named among Time Magazin’s 100 Most Influential People.

Between his numerous podcast appearances and his 2019 book, “Lifespan: Why We Age – And Why We Don’t Have To,” Dr. Sinclair has made his supplement recommendations available to the masses.

Here are the highlights.

David Sinclair profile

David Sinclair’s Supplement List [2022 Update]

Before we get right into the list, it’s important to understand the mindset that went into it.

Dr. Sinclair believes that aging is a treatable disease.

He claims:

There is no biological law that says we must age.

By taking supplements that promote cellular regeneration, Sinclair hopes to prevent aging until more powerful age-defying treatments become available proactively.

  • NMN (1 gram/day)
  • Resveratrol (0.5 gram/day)
  • Vitamin D3+K2
  • Coenzyme Q10
  • Quercetin
  • Fisetin
  • Metformin (1 gram/day)
  • Spermidine
  • Statins
  • TMG
  • Alpha Lipoic Acid
  • Aspirin

1. Nicotinamide Mononucleotide (NMN)

GMP Vitas NMN Nicotinamide Mononucleotide

Nicotinamide Mononucleotide, better known simply as NMN, might just be Dr. David Sinclair’s favorite molecule.

He’s been taking 1 gram of NMN daily for several years now, all in hopes of raising his cells’ levels of NAD+.

NMN is thought to work by shifting the cell’s redox balance towards sufficient NAD+.

In layman’s terms, taking NMN may help cells stay in a youthful, energy-producing state.

While Dr. Sinclair and other experts have experimented with taking NAD+ directly, it seems that taking NAD+ precursors like NMN is a more holistic choice. The research points to the latter method, too. So far NMN is the most stable and best-absorbed precursor made its way to the market. (Source)

NMN’s utility is also evident when you stop considering how tough it is to get from food sources.

While fruits and veggies (notably green veggies like cucumbers, avocados, and broccoli) contain some NMN, the amount in these foods isn’t nearly enough to replenish NAD+ stores.

Taking supplemental NMN removes the rate-limiting factors behind NAD+ production, allowing one to retain youthful NAD+ levels as one ages.

Dr. Sinclair is normally hesitant to recommend specific products, but in this case, he’s admitted he takes NMN from a brand called GMP Vita if pharmaceutical-grade NMN isn’t available.

Another good option is Qualia Life, a 100% vegan, gluten-free, non-GMO NMN product designed to increase energy and reverse aging.

2. Resveratrol

Resveratrol Formula

If NMN is Dr. Sinclair’s favorite supplement, resveratrol might be his second.

Resveratrol is a potent polyphenol in berries, red grapes, and red wine.

He’s explained that he takes 1 gram of resveratrol each morning alongside his 1 gram of nicotinamide mononucleotide.

What’s his reasoning for this?

Resveratrol’s status as a polyphenol means it may:

  • Assist with good for weight loss
  • Promote cardiovascular health
  • Reduce risks of type-II diabetes and cancer
  • Ward off common signs and symptoms of aging
  • Work as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent
  • Normalize hormonal levels (resveratrol may be mildly estrogenic)
  • Mimic the anti-aging effects of calorie restriction
  • Help regulate healthy glucose levels
  • Reduce oxidative stress

Take it from Sinclair himself, who calls resveratrol “as close to a miraculous molecule as you can find. One hundred years from now,” he says, “people will maybe be taking these molecules on a daily basis to prevent heart disease, stroke, and cancer.” (Source)

Dr. Sinclair takes 1,000mg of resveratrol per day.

That’s equivalent to roughly 2 midsized capsules.

Sinclair empties his capsules and stirs them into yogurt, as fat is known to boost this polyphenol’s absorption.

Related: Check out my to 5 picks of best polyphenol supplements.

3. Vitamins D3 and K2

Vitamin D is unique because it’s both a vitamin and a hormone.

It’s also unique because it’s far easier to get from the sun than food!

Unfortunately, however, many people today are deficient in vitamin D.

You can thank sun-phobia and the popularity of high-SPF sunscreens for that.

Vitamin D deficiency is associated with increased risks for all sorts of chronic diseases, including:

  • Type-II diabetes
  • Alzheimer’s disease
  • Cardiovascular diseases
  • Calcium metabolism disorders
  • Skin diseases

Vitamin D works synergistically with calcium and vitamin K2, so Dr. Sinclair prefers taking D3 and K2 together.

Calcium may get plenty of attention for its ability to strengthen bones, but K2’s ability to shuttle calcium to the right places makes it just as important.

While you can get K2 from traditional fermented foods and a select few greens powders, supplementation isn’t a bad way to safeguard your intake.

4. Coenzyme Q10

Coenzyme Q10 soft gell pills

Coenzyme Q10 is another powerful antioxidant on Dr. David Sinclair’s favorite supplement list.

CoQ10, as it’s commonly called, is intimately involved with your cells’ energy production process.

Its ability to quench the free radicals generated from metabolic processes means it may be able to counteract aging.

This might sound far-fetched…until you consider that studies have shown CoQ10 really can prevent certain neurodegenerative and chronic diseases, including: (Source)

  • Alzheimer’s
  • Parkinson’s
  • Heart failure
  • Atherosclerosis
  • Huntington’s disease
  • Coronary artery disease
  • Progressive supranuclear palsy
  • Numerous other forms of dementia

Dr. Sinclair takes Coenzyme Q10 for a more personal reason, too.

It’s thought to counteract the less-desirable effects of his statin medication.

5. Quercetin

Quercetin from brocolli

Quercetin is — you guessed it — yet another plant-derived antioxidant that finds itself on Dr. Sinclair’s best-of list.

Found in numerous fruits and veggies (including apples, grapes, tomatoes, and broccoli), quercetin may possess both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory qualities.

According to David Sinclair, quercetin doubles (triples?) as a senolytic agent.

That means it may be able to reduce senescent cell counts within the body, leading to healthier cell division and faster cell turnover.

Dr. Sinclair reports positive effects from taking quercetin daily. (Source)

Quercetin may also:

  • Destroy cancer cells
  • Regulate blood sugar
  • Help prevent heart disease
  • Improve circulation and reduce swelling

6. Fisetin

Fisetin is another longtime pillar in David Sinclair’s supplement routine.

Going by what he posts on his Twitter account, he’s been taking Fisetin for over two years.

While Fisetin still needs to be involved in more human research, the initial results from animal studies are promising.

They show that Fisetin may:

  • Reduce oxidation
  • Reduce inflammation
  • Reduce tumor formation
  • Reduce insulin resistance
  • Reduce neurological damage
  • Reduce cardiovascular disease
  • Reduce chronic stress (in lab mice)

Dr. Sinclair believes that Fisetin could be an important ally for anyone who wants to fully maximize their lifespan and healthspan.

7. Metformin

Metformin is one of David Sinclair’s most controversial supplement choices.

This prescription-only pharmaceutical is typically prescribed to individuals with type-II diabetes, but Sinclair believes its benefits far transcend blood sugar regulation.

Metformin may actually extend lifespan in all mammals by switching on fat-burning pathways.

Diabetic patients who take metformin usually live longer than patients who do not.

Sinclair cautions followers that metformin isn’t without risks, however.

It can cause GI distress, diarrhea, and nutrient imbalances, especially in the first couple weeks of use.

Those who take metformin would be wise to supplement with vitamin B12 if they plan to take the compound in the long run.

Timing also matters when it comes to maximizing metformin’s benefits.

Some research hints that metformin might make exercise less effective, reducing endurance and muscular strength.

For these reasons, Dr. Sinclair cycles metformin so that he’s not taking it on his workout days.

Those who want to play things a little safer and avoid all these side effects may want to try the metformin alternative berberine.

It’s just as effective at regulating blood sugar as metformin is — all while being all-natural.

8. Spermidine

spermidine formula

Spermidine is an incredibly potent anti-aging compound named for its presence within sperm.

Studies show spermidine may extend the lifespan from yeast cells to fruit flies to lab rats.

How?

By activating autophagy, the body replaces damaged cells with ‘upcycled’ new ones. (Source)

More autophagy, in turn, leads to less aging.

In a way spermidine activates similar pathways as intermittent fasting, even though its benefits aren’t reliant on what you eat.

Though clinical research is yet to confirm this idea, it’s likely that spermidine can prevent age-related degeneration in humans.

9. Statin

Statins are another personal choice that Dr. Sinclair doesn’t recommend to everybody.

He takes them as a precautionary measure because cardiovascular disease runs in his family.

10. TMG

Trimethylglycine, or TMG, is an interesting compound comprised of the amino acid glycine and three methyl groups.

While the human body can produce it and is also found in beets and other foods, Dr. Sinclair believes TMG supplementation is still worthwhile.

Why?

For the same reason, NMN supplementation removes what would otherwise be a rate-limiting factor from the anti-aging equation.

Speaking of NMN, TMG and this NAD+-booster may work better together.

That’s because NMN supplementation can cause your body to lose too many methyl groups, resulting in lower creatine levels and reduced muscular strength.

TMG’s methyl groups may help prevent methyl depletion from taking place.

TMG has benefits of its own, too:

  • it may improve athleticism
  • heart health

11. Alpha Lipoic Acid

Red Yeast rice

Alpha Lipoic Acid is a naturally-occurring antioxidant found in yeast, organ meats, and some vegetables.

Dr. Sinclair further boosts his alpha lipoic acid intake via supplementation.

Considering that this compound may have anti-diabetic, anti-cholesterol, and anti-obesigenic effects, it’s easy to see why.

12. Aspirin

Dr. Ray Peat says:

Aspirin protects against several kinds of toxicity, including excitotoxicity (glutamate), dopamine toxicity, and oxidative free radical toxicity. Since its effects on the mitochondria are similar to those of thyroid (T3), using both of them might improve brain energy production more than just thyroid. (By activating T3, aspirin can sometimes increase the temperature and pulse rate.) Magnesium, niacinamide, and other nerve protective substances work together.

Don’t let the fact that it’s been around a hundred years fool you: if aspirin were discovered today, it would probably be considered a wonder drug.

Not many other compounds can match its huge array of protective effects!

David Sinclair takes roughly 80 milligrams of Aspirin each morning.

He explains that this small daily dose may reduce inflammation, leading to reduced risks of chronic disease in the long run.

Perhaps Dr. Sinclair also had his family medical history in mind when he decided to incorporate aspirin into his daily routine.

Other Ways To Tackle Aging

Still interested in other ways of combating aging?

Then you may be interested in anti-aging skincare products.

Think of these products as the proverbial icing on top of the cake; they may not be able to compensate for poor nutrition/supplementation, but they can make a solid supplementation plan even better.

Related: Check out my review of top anti-aging creams for men here.

Dr. David Sinclair’s Top Supplements: Summing Things Up

As of 2022 David seems to have paired down his supplement routine a little bit.

On a recent podcast, he gave us an update regarding what he’s currently taking each day:

  • 1 gram of NMN
  • 1 gram of resveratrol
  • 1 gram of spermidine
  • 500mg of Fisetin
  • 500mg of quercetin
  • 800mg of metformin

Well, there you have it.

I hope you gleaned some valuable points from this article. Maybe you’ll decide to adopt Dr. Sinclair’s supplement routine as your own, or maybe you won’t…either way, be sure to enjoy your longevity journey!

Adam Author

About the LifeHacker Guy

Hi, I'm Adam the founder of the LifeHacker Guy.

I have a First Class Honours degree in Sports Science from Brighton University, specialising in exercise physiology and nutrition. In my youth I was a competitive Triathlete and long-distance runner placing top 10 in most triathlon races I completed.

Since suffering from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, I moved into web development, after a couple of years I then moved onto developing a number of online businesses. I've recently taken a sabbatical and I'm now looking to make big changes in my life, hopefully this may resonate with you - join me in my journey!

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