Popular longevity ingredients we deliberately do not sell, with the evidence grade and our reasoning.
This is not medical advice. If a clinician has you on any of these, do not change anything without talking to them.
Why we leave it out: A prescription drug in the US. Not something a supplement company can or should sell.
What the evidence shows: The aging case rests on observational data in people with diabetes; the TAME trial meant to test it in non-diabetic adults has not started for lack of full funding.
Barzilai 2016, Cell Metab · Bannister 2014, Diabetes Obes Metab · AFAR: TAME trial
Why we leave it out: Prescription immunosuppressant. Human longevity data are early and side effects are real.
What the evidence shows: Robust lifespan extension in mice. In the 48-week PEARL trial, low-dose rapamycin did not change its primary endpoint (visceral fat).
Why we leave it out: The sirtuin-activation story was disputed, it did not extend lifespan in rigorous mouse testing, and human outcome data are absent.
What the evidence shows: Yeast lifespan effect not replicated (Kaeberlein 2005); no lifespan effect in the NIA Interventions Testing Program (Miller 2011); dietary levels unrelated to mortality in older adults (Semba 2014).
Kaeberlein 2005, J Biol Chem · Pacholec 2010, J Biol Chem · Miller 2011, J Gerontol A · Semba 2014, JAMA Intern Med
Why we leave it out: Regulatory status was unsettled: FDA said in 2022 that NMN was excluded from the supplement definition, then reversed that position on September 29, 2025. It is now lawful to sell, but its human evidence is no stronger than NR, which has the longer safety record, so we chose NR. We will revisit as trials report.
What the evidence shows: Small trials show it raises NAD+ and one found improved muscle insulin sensitivity in 25 women; no lifespan data in people.
Yoshino 2021, Science · Yi 2023, GeroScience · NutraIngredients: FDA declares NMN lawful (Sep 30, 2025)
Why we leave it out: Promising in mice, but human trials are small and the leading senolytic company (Unity Biotechnology) wound down in 2025 after mixed results. Dasatinib is a cancer drug.
What the evidence shows: Mouse function and survival improved (Xu 2018); a 14-person open-label pilot in lung fibrosis showed feasibility only (Justice 2019).
Why we leave it out: Human evidence is observational dietary data; supplement doses are far below those used in mice.
What the evidence shows: Extended mouse lifespan; dietary intake correlated with lower blood pressure in people.
Why we leave it out: Grade A evidence, of harm: large trials found no benefit and some increased risk.
What the evidence shows: Beta-carotene raised lung cancer in smokers (ATBC); vitamin E raised prostate cancer risk (SELECT); USPSTF recommends against both.
ATBC 1994, NEJM · Klein 2011, JAMA · Bjelakovic 2012, Cochrane
Why we leave it out: Food is the better source; supplement-only calcium has been linked to cardiovascular risk signals.
What the evidence shows: Meta-analysis found more heart attacks with calcium supplements without vitamin D; debated.
Why we leave it out: Interesting animal data, few or industry-funded human trials with surrogate endpoints. We will revisit as trials report.
What the evidence shows: Taurine extended mouse lifespan about 10-12%; Ca-AKG reduced frailty in mice; urolithin A missed primary endpoints in a 66-person trial.
Singh 2023, Science · Shahmirzadi 2020, Cell Metab · Liu 2022, JAMA Netw Open