“Anti-ageing” is one of the most overused words in the supplement aisle. Here’s what the research says about three popular ingredients.

CoQ10 helps cells produce energy, and levels decline with age. Supplementation has some evidence in heart failure and may help certain people with statin-related muscle aches, though results are inconsistent. There’s no good evidence it slows ageing itself.

Collagen peptides have shown small improvements in skin hydration and elasticity in several trials. Many were short and industry-funded, so the real-world benefit is likely modest.

NAD+ boosters, such as nicotinamide riboside (NR) and nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), reliably raise NAD+ levels in the blood. Whether that translates into better health, function or longer life in humans hasn’t been shown. Much of the excitement comes from animal studies.

No supplement has been proven to extend human lifespan. The habits with the strongest evidence for healthy ageing are unglamorous: not smoking, regular physical activity, good sleep, a varied diet, sun protection and staying socially connected.

Take care: supplement quality varies, and long-term safety data on newer compounds like NMN is limited. Check the product is listed on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (look for an AUST L number).

Bottom line: Some of these have narrow, plausible uses. None are a fountain of youth.