Can Elysium’s “Basis” Pill Really Make You Younger?

Can a pill make you younger? Elysium’s Nobel-winning scientists say theirs can.  Here’s a video and the story…

Can a pill make you younger?

AN ARTICLE I recently read got me thinking about all the smart people and big money being devoted to inventing the ultimate anti-aging pill that can make you younger.

This is a momentous task because aging is not simply one thing that you can sequester and solve; rather it’s a multidimensional, inter-related, complicated symphony of degeneration.

Yes, I made that description up, but it’s spot on.

We “age” because our parts wear out, and they do that for many, many reasons, which is both beyond the scope of this article and my capacity to understand, let alone explain. (But if you want to see a list of 20 theories of aging, go here and scroll down a bit.)

Even if scientists succeed in creating a pharmaceutical that can delay or prevent aging for a bit, it will be expensive and perhaps inaccessible to many of us.

But there is something available right now that is promising.

(Click to learn about Basis)

 

Can Elysium’s Pill Make You Younger?

A company called Elysium Health makes a“longevity supplement” called Basis.

Pay $60 for a one-month supply, or for $40 per month for a three-month subscription, and you can get a supplement that could do for you what they did in the lab for mice and worms.

In the lab, mice and worms live longer by ingesting certain ingredients, which are over-the-counter compounds that people can take to combat aging. The compound is believed to cause effects similar to a diet that is severely short on calories.

Dietary restriction is a proven way to make mice live longer, and Rhesus monkeys, too. Sharing 93% of their genome with humans (1), these monkeys are the species closest to us biologically that have undergone extensive calorie restriction studies to look at the impact on longevity.

Simply put, scientists pretty much agree that if even you, human person, can put up with about a 30% reduction in your caloric intake – as long is it’s pumped with nutrition – you may be able to live longer, and healthier.

So far, caloric restriction is the only proven way to predictably extend the lifespan of animals. But the hurdle to implementing this is that all animals, particularly we humans who make eating an art form, want to eat more, not less.

Given our predilection for more, not less food, scientists are trying to find a way to make a pill that will mimic the effects of calorie restriction, to make a pill, thereby, to make you younger.

Elysium says it’s got something that will do it. They call it Basis, about which they say:

Basis works at the cellular level, targeting critical metabolic components that support systems such as energy production, DNA repair, cellular detoxification, and protein folding.

Basis has two novel compounds. The first, nicotinamide riboside, is a precursor of the critical coenzyme NAD+, which is involved in metabolic processes such as energy production, DNA repair, cellular detoxification, the inflammatory response, and protein folding.

The second part is a new polyphenol compound, Pterostilbene, which like the NAD+ precursor, promotes metabolic health. The effects of both compounds have been scientifically validated in many laboratories.

You can source the ingredients found in Basis outside of Elysium Health, and that’s why I thought I’d be able to show you how to do this at less cost than what Elysium charges for it. But, hats off to them, Basis costs the same for a month’s supply as compared to other high quality brands, and $10 less per month for a three-month subscription.

Basis has 250 mgs of Nicotinamide Riboside and 50 mgs of Pterostilbene per serving. You could buy a high quality product like Niagen by High Performance Nutrition for $47, and Source Natural’s Pterostilbene for $14. Together, these would cost you a dollar more than the $60 for Basis. Even less if you were to buy a Basis subscription, as above mentioned.

Update -- Human Trials

Elysium’s study of human participants taking the recommended dose of BASIS, ™  increased their levels of  NAD+ from baseline in whole blood by an average of 40% at four weeks and maintained that increase for the duration of the trial. Participants taking double the recommended daily dose saw their NAD+ levels increase about 90% at four weeks with a much higher level of NAD+.

Read more about Basis here.

Read why I doubled my dosage here.

 

A Nod to Dr. Sinclair

Dr. David Sinclair, who was listed as one of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of 2014, and is a darling of the life extension proponents, discovered that Niagen might prolong lifespan. His research showed that the cellular age of mice could decrease from two years to six months after being given molecules of Nicotinamide Riboside.

(Niagin and Nicotinamide Riboside are pretty much two faces of the same coin, as far as I can figure.)

Think of it this way — mice that were two years old had the cells of six-month-old mice after being administered Nicotinamide Riboside!

Nicotinamide Riboside (“NR”) occurs naturally in beer and milk, but you couldn’t get enough of it by consuming those foods to improve metabolic efficiency and overall health, as are the claims for this supplement.

NR has been shown to boost NAD+ levels. NAD+ is a critical coenzyme (a nonprotein compound that is necessary for the functioning of an enzyme) found in all living cells. It plays a central role in key metabolic processes such as energy production, DNA repair, cellular detoxification, the inflammatory response and protein folding. And like a lot of things, NAD+ declines with age.

This video presents Dr. Sinclair’s Niagen story:

 

Now, on to Pterostilbene, the second and last ingredient in Basis.

Pterostilbene is a polyphenol shown to improve metabolic health in lab studies. Polyphenols are a class of antioxidants that form over 4,000 species, and are found naturally in blueberries and grapes.

Pterostilibene is similar to resveratrol, that grape “extract” found in red wine that has been heralded as a longevity promoter. Recent studies suggest that Pterostilibene is actually superior to Resveratrol, which might sadden Dr. Sinclair, as he also was one of a team of scientists who discovered that Resveratrol, a molecule in red wine, can “stick to this protein that controls ageing and make it more active”, he said.

I’m looking forward to making some room in my supplement budget so that I can begin trying Niagen and Pterostilibene, whether individually or the Basis brand. To my mind, if your aim is to bend the age curve (it’s shown in this article), then Niagen should play a role, and probably Pterostilibene as well, particularly if it’s superior to Resveratrol.

UPDATE 2/12/18: I’ve taken Basis for more than two years, and am happy to report that I’m still alive. Truthfully, I feel great, don’t get sick and can still exercise with wild abandon, but I can’t pinpoint just one thing I’m doing that’s responsible for this. I’m going 12 things that are responsible for how well I’m aging, the Basis supplement among them.

 

Your Takeaway

Everyone who makes a supplement has good story about it. Given that no one wants to spend a fortune on taking hundreds of pills each day (well, other than Ray Kurzweil), we need to be smart about what we consume, and that means checking to see if the science backs the claims.

Those of you who are undeterred by science-speak can go to PubMed.gov and search to see if the supplement (or drug) you’re considering has been studied relative to your expectation.

As of five minutes ago, PubMed displayed 134 studies on “Nicotinamide Riboside”. Go check it out.

For those of you who like plain English, there are websites devoted to truth-telling when it comes to what supplements actually can and can not do. Examine.com comes to mind.

I reviewed Examine.com right here. They produce various reports that can save you a lot of time and money, and have hundreds of supplement evaluations on their site that you can read for nada.

When it comes to Niagen and Pterostilibene, I think the scientific studies – although not conclusive – suggest that these supplements might have a beneficial effect at making us biologically younger, as happened with our mousey friends, whose 30,000 genes have a 99% direct counterpart in humans. (2)

That’s not as good as those Rhesus monkeys that share 93% of their genome with humans, but its a good reason that mice experiment results often parallel what happens with humans.

That’s it.

Ciao for now.

P.S.  Elysium Health raised $20 million in financing. Read about that and a new Basis competitor launched by Prohealth in my article:

Elysium Health’s Basis Just Got $20 Million But Prohealth’s NAD+Ignite Is The Better Deal

Prohealth no longer sells the Basis competitor made from the NAD+ precursor Nicotinamide Riboside, so stick with Basis for now, unless you prefer the NMN precursor.


(I receive an affiliate fee if you buy Basis linked from this page, but you don’t pay more.)

 

P.P.S  Read about two common drugs that may be repurposed for anti-aging,  Rapamycin and Metformin, and if you get on the List I’ll send you the book I’m writing, The Ageproof Method. For that, click here.

Last Updated on April 19, 2020 by Joe Garma

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Joe Garma
 

I help people live with more vitality and strength. I'm a big believer in sustainability, and am a bit nutty about optimizing my diet, supplements, hormones and exercise. To get exclusive Updates, tips and be on your way to a stronger, more youthful body, join my weekly Newsletter. You can also find me on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.

Click Here to Leave a Comment Below 78 comments
Gajendra Kumar - July 9, 2015

I am 30 years old. My Height is 5feet 3.5 inches. My weight is 80kg.
I want to increase of body Height.

Reply
    Joe Garma - July 10, 2015

    Gajendra, at 30 you’re height is unlikely to increase without some magical potion about which I’m unaware.

    What you can do is to explore the advantageous of your height.

    One that pops into my mind is that shorter people possess a naturally greater strength-to-weight ratio than taller people, mainly do to certain leverage advantages. Accentuate that by training like a gymnast, who are also short, but command the admiration of others.

    Go to gmb.io/ and get inspired!

    Reply
    Bob Harben - January 12, 2017

    Good luck with that, lol.

    Reply
    Darrell Branker - December 19, 2018

    hi! this is a excellent site and i always get pleasure from the details posted here. Bookmarked and shared. Many thanks once more!

    Reply
Phil - August 9, 2015

Joe, nothing magic about it – I did increase my height by 2 cm (0.8 inch) during the last 10 years or so. I’m 59 right now. Since the supplements that I use are fairly common I don’t see how this can possibly be monetized. Interestingly enough my physician who measured me said that this is not unheard of (although I never mentioned anything to him about artificially inducing this effect). So apparently some folks keep on growing into a mature age by themselves so to speak
Phil

Reply
    Joe Garma - August 9, 2015

    Phil, would like to see your list of supplements, your protocol and any references speaking to the efficacy of these things increasing height.

    Reply
    Robin - September 18, 2016

    Phil, what supplements and activities do you think caused this growth? Usually people tend to get shorter as they age! Thank you for your answer. Robin

    Reply
Phil - August 10, 2015

Joe, frankly this height increase is a surprising side effect that I did not expect. The second and much more pronounced side effect was the increase in shoulders width, chest size etc – I had to throw out pretty much all of my wardrobe. Another more or less intended effect was the increase in muscle mass – I used to work out several years ago but don’t have the time now (and don’t want to gain more muscle mass) – nonetheless the high muscle mass stays in place and so does the physical strength. I get a feeling that I could easily and quickly increase both to very impressive levels, but don’t want to gain any more weight as with all this enlargement in every dimension I already reached the weight of 135 kg. I suppose if I lost all the fat in my body about 10 kgs could be disposed off. The only reference that I could possibly get would be the old medical records showing my height, which could be compared to today’s height – if I’m able to locate them. The list of supplements is very short and very simple; but I suppose the findings of this nature are worth money. That’s what I’m pondering – how to monetize this thing and would appreciate your suggestions. For now I’m thinking of perhaps waiting until I’m 65 meanwhile acquiring the young Schwartzenegger-type physique so that I would look convincing and then put up the promised disclosure of my regimen and list of supplements on E-Bay for some rich folks to notice. But then I think people will suspect me of falsifying my age or using hormones. Meanwhile someone like Dr Sinclair could actually develop something useful which would minimize the value of my offer. Puzzled…
Phil

Reply
    Joe Garma - August 10, 2015

    Well, Phil, yours is a very interesting story, but w/o knowing what your protocol + supplements that achieved the attributes you describe, have no thoughts about monetization. I’ve never heard of anything that produced your results other than steroids.

    Reply
Alisha - September 20, 2015

Joe now that you have been using Basis please
Let us know if you have had any results .
I purchase several weeks ago but only take it speratically . I may be more diligent if I knew what to expect .
Thank you from Sunny Naples, Fl

Reply
    Joe Garma - September 20, 2015

    Good for you, Alisha, that you’re giving it a try. Given that there’s no pill or some technique that’s proven to stop or reverse aging, we need to pay attention to what may be helpful and experiment. Of course, resetting hormones and one’s microbiome, eating food that looks like it did on the farm, moving frequently and vigorously will all help to extend “healthspan”, not to mention a youthful mindset!

    I will report on my reaction to Basis, but mind you it will take awhile to note what may be happening. If you need an incentive to keep regular with it, go to the Elysium website and read the science and get inspired by the potential. Of course, Basis will do little if a person makes lifestyle choices that promote aging, so keep that in mind.

    Reply
jon - October 11, 2015

I at the age of 42 am in school in a RN program. I actually started taking Elysium hoping for a mental edge rather than the anti aging deal. It is hard to prove that when I began taking elysium that the mental haze seemed to lift because I was suspicious of placebo effect but unexpectedly when my 40 day trial ran out my energy level lowered and the haze although not as bad seemed to be creeping back. I just bit on the six month subscription, I still don’t know if its real or placebo but as a nursing student whatever helps! Also I seem to require less sleep with Elysium, been rested and alert with 6 hours and functioning fine even on five hours which is less than normal for me.

Reply
    Joe Garma - October 11, 2015

    Jon, for mental acuity/energy, look into nootropics. I have little direct experience with supplements in this category, but have read much about them, and some are highly rated. Check out http://www.naturalstacks.com/

    Reply
    Susan Banks - March 12, 2016

    I am a nurse so I certainly understand the rigors of nursing school. So – I thought I’d reach out to you to share….

    There is a difference between wanting to slow/reverse aging on a cellular level and needing help specifically with mental acuity. You should evaluate the brain supplement released last Fall after 20 years of research in Dr. Jeffery Stock’s labs at Princeton University. It is called “EHT” after the patented biomolecule isolated by Dr. Stock. There’s lots of info out there or you can go to http://sjbanks.buyneriumeht.com. You don’t have to give any personal information or commit to anything to see the information but, if you do want more info, that same page will allow you to submit your contact info.

    Wishing you well in school and life!!

    Reply
    Susan Banks - March 12, 2016

    I am a nurse so I certainly understand the rigors of nursing school. So – I thought I’d reach out to you to share….
    There is a difference between wanting to slow/reverse aging on a cellular level and needing help specifically with mental acuity. You should evaluate the brain supplement released last Fall after 20 years of research in Dr. Jeffery Stock’s labs at Princeton University. It is called “EHT” after the patented biomolecule isolated by Dr. Stock. There’s lots of info out there or you can go to http://sjbanks.buyneriumeht.com. You don’t have to give any personal information or commit to anything to see the information but, if you do want more info, that same page will allow you to submit your contact info.

    Wishing you well in school and life!!

    Reply
    Wes - September 11, 2016

    So basically it is like a Drug in the sense that you need to keep taking it to maintain the desired effect. Kind of Like an Opiate in a sense of the word.
    So to maintain this sense of well being and clear head. You need to keep up with your Fix. Or keep purchasing the product

    Reply
Loraine van Vuuren - October 11, 2015

I live in Australia and wants to buy “Basis” from Elisium. On their website it seems they only ship in the US…, can you help please?

Reply
    Joe Garma - October 11, 2015

    Loraine, I have no connection to the company. Suggest you go to their website and use the contact form to see if/when they have distributors in Australia. That said, remember you can buy the ingredients in Basis separately, as I discussed in the blog post.

    Reply
    annie - April 13, 2016

    Loraine, I was reading about a company called shipitto that says it solves your problem. I’ve never used them, so can’t recommend them. Just telling you about it. I don’t actually even know if they’re still in business. They give people a U.S. address and you can ship online purchases to that address and then they ship it to you, wherever you are. At least that’s my understanding.

    Reply
John romano - October 26, 2015

$60 a month for a pill that may or might not work it seems like a long shot, if a person is over weight taking this basis pill and another person who is not taking the basis pill but doing the calorie restriction diet and working out who will benefit long term ? And wouldn’t it be cheaper for one to restrict calorie than to spend $60 a month on a pill that may or might not work if a person is still eating the same amount of calorie and taking the basis at same time it’s counter intuitive it’s like saying eat as much as you want no need to excerse hey no worrie Elysium basis has you cover you will stay young and love for ever ?!! Lol

Reply
    Joe Garma - October 26, 2015

    John, supplements are tricky things… they may or may not work. Certainly there’s a lot of hype in the industry. It’s a good idea to look at the primary ingredients and then see if there are studies that back up the claims made. I use examine.com as a reference, and wrote about them here: https://garmaonhealth.com/your-better-health-supplement-cheat-sheet/

    Yes, $60/month (actually $50 if you’re on the Elysium monthly plan) is a lot of money, particularly if you’re also taking other supplements (like I am). If however you’re already spending that much on supplements, you can substitute Basis for the others for a couple of months and monitor how you feel. See if it makes a difference in energy, vitality, etc.

    And, yes, calorie restriction seems to be more proven so far than Basis, but few have the discipline/will power to do it.

    Reply
    wes - September 11, 2016

    As the Old Saying goes, If it sounds too good to be True it most likely is.
    How the sheep are so massively deceived. It being easily understood.
    When you get a PHD from MIT. That Backs or supports a Product, Endorses, or even partially creates. It all revolves around One thing Primarily
    Money & Profits. And some nifty Marketing guides. Save your Money and focus on the Realities we do know.
    Meaning Your Diet. Eating as healthy as possible, Personally if you have access to a farmers market or locating the freshest organically grown vegetables you can and incorporate a lot of Juicing into your diet. Try to keep away from Read meat all processed foods.
    Eat things like Wild Baked Salmon , Open range organic Chicken, And various Beans for Protein sources. Give up all refined / processed Sugars. And as much exercise as you can handle. And this is your secret to living as long and healthy as possible. Good Sleep, Some meditation.
    Grant it in our current day fast paced society all these things are a challenge to do and many of these food products maybe a challenge to locate. Ideally doing as much of this as possible. The Dark Green vegetables, Lots of Kale. Ideally from a Cold Press Juicer. Because when you get any Fresh Vegetable or Fruit up to a Hot Temp. You Kill a lot of the Nutrient value and Enzymes you want from the product. Id lean on this far more than a magic Pill to take.

    Reply
glenn - November 13, 2015

NMN seems to be a little more exciting than NR.. The mitochondria in muscles of elderly mice were restored to a youthful state after just a week of injections with NMN (nicotinamide mononucleotide), a molecule that naturally occurs in cells and, like NR, boosts levels of NAD. NMN is not available to humans yet 🙁

Reply
    Joe Garma - November 13, 2015

    There are many exciting interventions/medications et al that are not available to humans yet, Glenn, but have been efficacious for animals. This speaks to one important reason to do everything one can to maintain health and longevity… to reach that “Bridge #2” that Ray Kurzweil writes about. If you don’t get my reference, read “Are Ray Kurzweil’s “Three Bridges” to Immortality Insane?” https://garmaonhealth.com/ray-kurzweils-three-bridges-immortality/

    Reply
    Scott Herford - October 24, 2017

    Hi Glen
    It took a week for the mice on equivalent of 15grams daily for 30gm body weight. I’d say would take a longer time frame for a 75kg human. Still a gamechanger. Cheers Scott.

    Reply
Allan Silliphant - December 29, 2015

I want to call attention to a prescription med that is very helpful when taken
along with the the pure synthesized (NR) Niagen and pterostilbene . That would be the slow release version of the most popular pharma drug for blood glucose control…metformin. These 3 substances, working in synergy, have turned my health around. I have V.A. detailed medical records to prove it. I feel so strongly about the medical value of it for my follow vets, that I have been meeting with key staff from the U.S. Congress, concerned with improving V.A.health care. Here’s what it has done for me, and several other diabetes, & cardio/vascular patients. In my case. I have easily lost 31pounds in 92 days. My a1C went down from 7.9% to 5.8& in less than a year. I went from 3 to 1 or 0 time the wake at night to urinated. Pre-cancerous P.K. lesions on my cheeks, as well a rosacia blotches cleared up. I can do fully 4 times as much in terms of physical work-out. I’m 74, and looking great after losing 6 inches around the waist. Visualize, if you will, a 31 lb. bag of fat, that no long exists. This is just the beginning. Science will do wonders in new medical advances over the rest of our lives…the this stuff works and it lead to much richer life experience for our kids, having an extra decade or 2 of health.

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Allan Silliphant - December 29, 2015

I want to call attention to a prescription med that is very helpful when taken
along with the the pure synthesized (NR) Niagen and pterostilbene . That would be the slow release version of the most popular pharma drug for blood glucose control…metformin. These 3 substances, working in synergy, have turned my health around. I have V.A. detailed medical records to prove it. I feel so strongly about the medical value of it for my follow vets, that I have been meeting with key staff from the U.S. Congress, concerned with improving V.A.health care. Here’s what it has done for me, and several other diabetes, & cardio/vascular patients. In my case. I have easily lost 31pounds in 92 days. My a1C went down from 7.9% to 5.8& in less than a year. I went from 3 to 1 or 0 time the wake at night to urinated. Pre-cancerous P.K. lesions on my cheeks, as well a rosacia blotches cleared up. I can do fully 4 times as much in terms of physical work-out. I’m 74, and looking great after losing 6 inches around the waist. Visualize, if you will, a 31 lb. bag of fat, that no long exists. This is just the beginning. Science will do wonders in new medical advances over the rest of our lives… this stuff works! and it leads to much richer life experience for our kids, having an extra decade or 2 of health.

Reply
    Joe Garma - December 29, 2015

    Yes, Allan, Metformin is being closely looked at in various studies to evaluate it’s age management properties, though this is the first I’ve heard about it working synergistically with NR and Pterostilbene. Dr. Dean Ward, a noted anti-aging doctor, loves the stuff as this article shows http://warddeanmd.com/dr-deans-recommended-antiaging-medicine/. That said, those not under a doctor’s care need to be careful with pharma drugs, as it’s super easy to take too much for too long and not be aware of potential harm, because you’re not being evaluated and tested. Great to hear how well your health has improved!

    Reply
Allan Silliphant - January 6, 2016

I have been under the care of a VA internist who is also an associate Professor
at UCLA Geffen Medical school. He retired from a VA a few weeks ago. Joe, I have
been on this better version of Metformin for years. Normal a1C% and a 32 lb. +
weight loss are real pluses that metformin alone seldom provides.

Reply
    Joe Garma - January 6, 2016

    Allan, can you tell us more about the “better version” of Metformin? What makes it better?

    Reply
Allan Silliphant - January 10, 2016

It is the extended release version. My VA doctor had to twist the arm of the
pharmacy management, because cost is a VERY BIG ISSUE at the VA. He did that 4 years ago, and now since going on Niagen, as well as the 100 mg pterostilbene (ptero-pure) from the USDA, patented process. I see the 3 substances as a triad, that allowed my 100 day loss of 31 lbs. of abdominal fat, and allthe other gains that have turned up. At least in my case, the ptero-pure gave me, ( I believe ) the focus to stay on a strict 1500 calorie diet, during the weight loss. I do about 40 reps with 3 lb. weights, some old fashioned “dynamic tension” for arms & chest, & 300 high knee lifts while standing,which probably helps the stuff to work more effectively. I’ve gotten up the nerve to request a left, interior/exterior carotid artery, branching scrape-out (endatarterectomy). Yes, I do agree with body fixing, like Dr.
Aubrey deGrey. Joe, I would enjoy talking with you.

Reply
    Joe Garma - January 17, 2016

    Hi Allan.

    I’m working on an automated online scheduler that will enable me to offer some talk/Skype time with Subscribers. If you have yet to subscribe, do so https://garmaonhealth.com/live-a-younger-stronger-life/ and you’ll get the alert when the scheduler is up, and we can go from there.

    So, stay tuned.

    Reply
Corey Trench - January 17, 2016

For my 62nd birthday, I bought two bottles of Basis to try. For years, I have modified my diet, according to the latest fad. Always with some result. Growing up, my mother was always a great fan of vitamin supplements (Adelle Davis), She pushed niacin on us, for some reason, and loved the work of UCLA’s Ray Walford. He died of ALS and his daughter carries the torch for caloric restriction.

Personally, I saw the most dramatic and sustained weight results when I went vegan (185 – 158). I had zero cravings, except for coffee. Frankly, it scared me. T. Colin Campbell fascinates. But, I did feel strange, neurologically, I would describe it. And, adjusted to just a little white meat and felt much better. My weight returned to something that is more normal. I take supplements, including DHA, resveratol, tumeric, and niacin (in honor of Mom and it helps my mood, interestingly). I like Dr. Perlmutter and what he says about protein, certain nutrients, and the brain makes some sense, based on my experience with pure vegan diet. However, I am not off all Gluten.

Stiffness and arthritis are the bane of my existence. I do exercise, but not as intensely anymore. I have not had a cold or the flu, of any significance, for going on 6 years. I avoid flu shots, don’t fly much, and frankly, I don’t have the same stress level of running a business. Shaved my beard off 25 years, which began a significantly change.

All I think has made for a stronger immune system. Or, it could be aging has been positive, in some ways. I loathe, but accept, the memory loss, connection to facts, and the tardiness in neural synapse firings.

After only three days of talking Basis, I have been shocked. Again, it could a placebo effect, but I have slept fantastic and am waking up earlier and without the fog people have discussed here and on Elysium’s site. It bothers me some that it seems to return when you stop taking it, according to other comment posters. But, what does that say? Maybe Basis actually has an impact on us.

I can tell you when I wake up, I feel very clear and my first craving is for water! Of all things. Not coffee. My coffee intake, and I drink a lot, has gone way down in 3 days (!). If this holds, it would more than make up for the monthly cost, should I decide to do it. We’ll see.

Joe, glad I found you and I appreciate what you are doing here and look forward to hearing about your experiences with Basis or similar products. Let me know when you find something for stiffness. Ugh!

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    Joe Garma - January 17, 2016

    Thanks for sharing your story, Corey. I’ve been on Basis now for about two months. It’s hard to pinpoint what a specific supplement is doing when you take a lot of them and are not doing anything to isolate and test effects per a double blind experiment. That said, initially I felt an overall sense of well being — kinda like being more physically integrated — but don’t notice that much anymore. Perhaps got used to it. Anyway, much too early to tell if Basis is going to make a difference.

    Re your stiffness… tumeric is good, but curcumin (a compound of tumeric) is better. And don’t stop there. Check out my supplements page for inflammation and joints https://garmaonhealth.com/inflammation-arthritis-supplements/. If you buy curcumin, make sure it’s a kind that makes the active ingredient highly bioavailable, as curcumin typically isn’t. I take this one: http://amzn.com/B00MNMFYQI/garonhea-20 A big tip is to go to examine.com and read what their review of the studies reveals. Here’s an examine.com link for joint health: http://examine.com/search/?q=joint+health

    Finally, don’t forget to articulate your joints… meaning, do daily mobility exercises. Here are some to consider: https://garmaonhealth.com/functionally-fit-fast-workout-part-ii/

    Reply
      Corey Trench - January 17, 2016

      Thanks, Joe. Interesting about curcumin. Will definitely check that out and followup on your suggestions. Your comments about Basis make sense. Where is the control group, right? Seems like several different companies are going for it in this space. We’re a large market and perhaps skeptical of pharmaceutical products, in general.

      Reply
    Lori - March 11, 2016

    Corey, I had to comment after reading your comment about coffee. I tried Elysium for a month and just finished about a week or so ago. I too had noticed a lessening of my need for morning coffee after 2 – 3 weeks on E. Just today, I again am needing that cup in the a.m. and until now, have never that could be due to the E.

    I’ve also noticed my energy level has been down and again I wonder if it’s because I’m off E? Could this be similar to the effects seen when going off antidepressants, steroids,etc? If so, I should be getting back to my “normal” as my body gets rid of the residue. However, I’ve decided to reorder and see what happens.

    I’m a young 74 female with severe R.A. controlled by Enbrel, atrial fib & hypothyroidism. Also have sleep apnea.

    Reply
    Jeff - March 17, 2016

    Try MSM for your arthritis. It worked miracles for numerous people I know.

    Reply
    Dale Almond - April 24, 2016

    Corey, it is very possible that your vegan diet is causing you to demyelinate, which accounts for your stiffness and cognitive issues. My husband and I both went vegan a couple of years ago based on T. Colin Campbell’s China study. We both became weak, underweight, and cognitively challenged. When we consulted a new functional medicine doctor (they look for root causes and natural solutions, not pharmaceuticals) she immediately ordered us to eat grass-fed meat and healthy saturated fats. The difference was dramatic. I would suggest a “paleo” diet, and start very slowly if you have not eaten meat for a while. It has also turned out there are grave flaws in Campbell’s research.(Google Denise Minger). My own personal belief is that there are a very few people who thrive on a vegan diet, probably because of their genetic makeup, but that the vast majority of us need the protein and fat that goes with an omnivorous diet. Demyelination puts you at grave risk of Alzheimers, MS, ALS, and other neurodegenerative diseases. Give yourself six months on a diet of grass-fed meat, wild-caught fish, organic egss and organic vegetables, and you may see surprising improvement. Best of luck to you!

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    Eric - July 20, 2016

    Make sure you are eating lots of green leafy veggies so you get a high conversion of Vitamin K1 to Vitamin K2 (or just take a supplement of MK-4 version of K2)… this amazing stuff gets calcium out of your muscles (heart and skeletal) and back into your teeth and bones where it belongs.

    It helps with stiffness when you have low K2 in the body.

    Reply
    Robin - September 18, 2016

    Hi Corey,
    Omg, Adelle Davis was your mom!! Super amazing. When I was in college years ago, I ran a health food store in Queens , NY. I believe your mom wrote a bible of a resource book that I followed closely and sold in the store. I went to a nutritionist dr before it was popular back then and took loads of vitamins and cut out wheat and other allergic provoking foods. So happy to find this site. My son sends me these anti-aging vitamins – I take them to detox and hopefully can heal my gut. My metabolism was always an issue for me. I’m maybe 20 lbs overweight and I want to restart my metabolism again. I look young for my age. I’ve done intermittent fasting and felt awful doing that . I was exposed to mold in my rental and now I’m into detoxing and on a healing track. Anyone have thoughts on this. Again, I’m loving the company on here- very informative!! Robin

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Charlotte Smith - March 4, 2016

I would just like to know if Basis is available in South Africa, and if not how can I get hold of it?? Tried going onto their website but I don’t seem to be able to.

Charlotte

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    Joe Garma - March 12, 2016

    Have no idea if it’s available in SA, Charlotte, but you can get something very close by combining NAD (Nicotinamide Riboside) with Pterostilbene. Check Amazon.com for those supplements.

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DAVID CHUNG - March 16, 2016

I am overf 70 male. I have been taking Basis Elysium for the last 3 months, 2 pills a day. 1 in the morning 1 in the late afternoon. After finished 2 bottles, I noticed the age spot (1″ round -sun/liver-spot?) on my left cheeck disappeared (95%). After the 3rd bottles, that age spot almost gone. And I noticed that the smaller one seemingly fade away too. My skin looks brighter, fresher.
Suggested dose is 2 pills a day, but it seems that I should take 2 pills in the morning (AM) to be most effective. I will start to take 1 every 1/2 hour (total 2 pills a day) in the morning next time.

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    Joe Garma - March 16, 2016

    In my experience, David, I find it unusual to pinpoint a specific benefit resulting from a specific supplement. It’s gratifying when it does occur. I have read that 2 Basis in the morning is a good way to go, which is what I’m now doing. That said, one size doesn’t typically fit all, and so I wonder if size matters — smaller person, smaller dose and visa versa.

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Carol Ann - March 21, 2016

Hi I only take some vitamin d and a B complex and I have been toying with the idea of adding SAMe to my daily intake, as you can see I am a total novice at supplements. I am a 51 yr old RN and I work 12 hour shifts, hard on me to, I feel like I have run a marathon after work and then wake up stiff and sore all over. Any suggestions for me? Thanks

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    Joe Garma - March 21, 2016

    It’s nearly impossible to completely assess the many variables involved in what might make someone function better without a lengthy interview, some tests and an in-person visit, Carol. The basics would be to make sure you get undisturbed sleep at regular intervals, eat well-balanced meals consisting of real food (not the stuff from cans and boxes), don’t abuse caffeine, stay (get) within 10-lbs of ideal weight, build some muscle, stretch/increase mobility, take a high quality mult-vitamin/mineral, fish oil, adaptogens like Ashwagandha, Ginseng and Rhodiola and vitamin D3. As a 51-yr old woman, would also get some tests to reveal your progesterone/estrogen balance as well as checking on thyroid, adrenal and leptin function.

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CLAUDIA - March 25, 2016

I have just finished my first container of Elysium now and have begun the semi annual order. The one major difference in my life is SLEEP!! For over 10 years I have been not sleeping well waking a lot and not being able to go back to sleep. Within 4 days or so of taking Elysium faithfully (2 in the morning on an empty stomach) I was sleeping like I have NEVER slept before. I would buy this stuff for the rest of my life for that change alone. I sleep so deeply and long that when I awake I wonder where I’ve been? So grateful for this. I don’t know what else Elysium is doing for me but perhaps the very deep quality sleep I am experiencing is doing wonderful things alone. Oh and I’m turning 75 in a few days.

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    Joe Garma - March 28, 2016

    Nothing good happens without restful sleep, Claudia, so glad you’re getting your fair share. 😉

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Colleen - March 28, 2016

Bought this product. Took 2 for a few days. Headaches daily and stomach cramping and nausea. Could 2 pills be too much for a persona and may I return if 1 pill creates the same side effects?

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    Joe Garma - March 28, 2016

    Colleen, suggest you write customer support about returning the product. I don’t work for Elysium. Haven’t heard of Basis causing the issues you report, but we’re all different.

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annie - April 13, 2016

I’m looking for a link from your site to a place to buy Basis. Would like to do it that way to thank you for this well written article and all the information in it.

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Dennis - July 3, 2016

Hi Joe, I have ben following Basis for a few months now trying to get some solid info about the long term effects, I know there isn’t anything proven yet but it seems like you have ben on this for some time now. How long have you ben taking Basis? What effects has Basis had for you?

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Justin Brooks - July 3, 2016

Any thoughts on taking Basis with resveratrol given that it contains pterostilbene? Any problems? I’m going to ask the company as well. I take a daily resveratrol supplement with 600 mg of highly pure resveratrol and was considering starting Basis.

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Justin Brooks - July 3, 2016

Any thoughts on taking Basis with resveratrol given that it contains pterostilbene? Any problems? I’m going to ask the company as well. I take a daily resveratrol supplement with 600 mg of highly pure resveratrol and was considering starting Basis.

Thanks,

Justin

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    Joe Garma - July 3, 2016

    Hi Justin.

    As I mentioned in today’s blog post https://garmaonhealth.com/two-anti-aging-drugs-supplements/ I was on Basis for about 6 months and have off it for 2. It’s difficult for me to know cause and effect re my supplements because I don’t test just one at a time. That said, when I added Basis to the mix I did not notice anything in particular. There were a few times when taking my morning walk that I thought I had more liveliness in my legs, but that could be due to resting them after a workout. Nonetheless, I will begin taking Basis again in about a month.

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    Joe Garma - July 3, 2016

    Without knowing the particulars of your body, Justin, can’t really know; however, both resveratrol and pterostilbene are safe at higher than normal dosage and I’ve found nothing that suggests it’s a problem taking them together. As you probably gather from reading my stuff, if I had to choose one it would be pterostilbene.

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joe duffy - July 13, 2016

Saw the article about Basis and it has my interest. I just want to do a little more research and I’m frankly puzzled that there isn’t any real discussion about side effects, or adverse effects on the Elysium site. I know that it;s officially listed as a “supplement” but are there any adverse effects to taking Basis?

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    Joe Garma - July 13, 2016

    Joe, the two primary ingredients in Basis are Nicotinamide Riboside and Pterostilbene. Suggest you do a google search on those to find potential side effects, and if you find any of note, please let us know.

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Steve - September 24, 2016

It’s funny they had one independent study, which ended in July, but they still haven’t posted the results. I emailed Elysium a week ago about it, and no response. Seems fishy. Too good to be true??

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    Joe Garma - September 25, 2016

    Might be too good to be true, Steve. I’m in contact w/ them and will follow-up w/ new info once it’s available.

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      Steve - September 25, 2016

      Joe, if you are able to get more info on that independent study results, it would be great. Following is a snippet of email I sent them:

      “I followed the link to the A Study to Evaluate Safety and Health Benefits of Basis Among Elderly Subjects. (15BSHE), at https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/record/NCT02678611?term=elysium&rank=1, and saw that there were no study results posted. Why is that? Also, under Current Primary Outcome Measures for this study, there were concerns indicated for blood pressure, heart rate, kidneys, etc. Am I reading what is on this website incorrectly? Should I be concerned about these things when taking Elysium Basis? What ARE the study results?”

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        Joe Garma - September 25, 2016

        Steve, what I can tell you is that I’ve was taking Basis for about nine months, then took three months off and then went back to it for the last two months and will continue till my supply runs out — about another three months.

        During the time I’ve used it I may have experienced a slight but noticeable increase in energy/vitality, typically evidenced in more spring in my step; however, this also could be due to other factors, not Basis alone.

        I have a tentative appointment w/ marketing people at Elysium in December and hope to learn more about their test outcomes and then will communicate these findings to my readers.

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          Steve - September 25, 2016

          Great, thanks Joe! I find that taking a good brand of 100mg of Ubiquinol every day also gives you more energy, as well as improving your cardiovascular system 🙂

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soulprogrammer - March 8, 2017

Hi Joe,
Any update on Elysium’s human trial results?

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    Joe Garma - March 8, 2017

    Soulp, Elysium put out a press release about the preliminary findings of their human trial last December: https://www.elysiumhealth.com/clinical-trial-press-release. Here’s a snippet:

    “The study also showed that in participants taking the recommended dose of BASIS, ™ NAD+ levels increased from baseline in whole blood by an average of 40% at four weeks and maintained that increase for the duration of the trial. Participants taking double the recommended daily dose saw their NAD+ levels increase approximately 90% at four weeks, and a significantly higher level of NAD+ (compared to the recommended dose of BASIS™) was maintained for the duration of the trial. This first-in-humans study demonstrates clearly that BASIS™ can increase NAD+ levels in the blood safely and sustainably. Confirming that BASIS™ is an effective NAD+ precursor in humans is a vital first step to elucidating how BASIS™ supports human health.”

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soulp - March 13, 2017

I mean do you have any idea when the results of Elysium human clinical trial will be released? We need to look at the details outcome of the study.

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    Joe Garma - March 13, 2017

    Soulp, suggest you subscribe to their emails, assuming they do that; otherwise check their site from time to time.

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Corey - March 18, 2017

Joe,

Joe,

I am stopping for a week or so. It’s been one full year and three months of use. There may be some pluses, but I have run into an issue on my right side, around the bottom rib cage. I thought hernia, pulled muscle, gall bladder. Had it looked it. Decision was muscle strain. I play golf. I did not quite belief it, though. it was more underneath my rib cage.

Still had the issue, then I read something in a forum about non-alcoholic fatter than normal liver. You look at a picture of where the liver is and I thought … Hmmm. Within a few days of stopping, but I missed a couple of days some golf because it’s cold, I stopped taking Basis. Pain has seemingly disappeared.

I believe there are probably positives for many supplements. Like everything, we’re all different in our responses. I find this listening to people to about the loved ones with mental illness and medications, which, as you know, can very powerful, positively and negatively. I am afraid with nutrients it’s not too different.

Anyway, I wanted to let you know, All of us would love high quality of life until the end. I think there are some cognitive and skin benefits to Basis for this 63 year old. The liver. That concerned me and it was an uncomfortable, sharp pain. Next time you write about NR, I might post my experience and ask for others to input.

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    Joe Garma - March 19, 2017

    Corey, I think it’s a good idea to hit the pause button on supplement consumption regularly. This is particularly recommended for herbs. Our bodies seek to get to homeostasis, which is the tendency of the body to seek and maintain a condition of balance or equilibrium within its internal environment, even when faced with external changes. A simple example of homeostasis is the body’s ability to maintain an internal temperature around 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit, whatever the temperature outside. So, perhaps the body become unresponsive to supplements at some point, and to reverse that tendency, stopping their consumption for awhile and then continuing is a good idea.

    Re the pain you’ve been experiencing, well, I have no idea how that could relate to Basis consumption. I’ve found no mention of that side effect on the Net. But as you said, and it’s true, each of us are unique and might respond differently to any input — food, supplements, exercise, etc. — so we must take that into consideration and pay attention to how we respond to whatever new things we try.

    In my case, I’m in my 16th month taking Niagen, first w/ Basis and now with Prohealth’s product, which comes from the same manufacturer but is less expensive, and thereby I’m consuming double the amount. I wrote about it here: https://garmaonhealth.com/elysium-healths-basis-vs-prohealths-nad-ignite/. I can’t be sure, but my sense is that I have more energy overall and simply have more spring in my step.

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Allan silliphant - May 11, 2017

It has been a good while since I’ve commented here about my self experimentation , while being a 22 year user of metformin supplied by my VA doctors. My little group of Vets all take metformin. We take everything that major universities have been trying with animals, except rapamycin. I’m the only member of our informal research group who takes all the good stuff, exercises 1000 reps daily with a ten lb. hand weight, & other workout. I have lost 50 lbs.
My arms are wonderfully strong, now. my waist is 32 inches. all visceral fat around my abdomen is burned off. I had to pass a treadmill stress test to get the second (left) side of my carotid artery surgery. This has be a great success.
I take CoQ10, ptero-pure USDA human tested for saftey, Niagen (NR) as well as two substances to help the body to rid
itself of the senolesent cells in the lining of the arteries. These were tested by Mayo Clinic & Scrips Inst. of Florida. One is quercetin, Another senoletic is tocotrienols a part ofthe Vitamin E group. I’m trying to get my beautiful pup, now 10 1/2 into the rapamycin research on dogs, under way with people’s pets managed by the U. of Wash.
I’ve had a Chance to meet & talk about my work with Dr. David Sinclair, recently at USC gerontology. I’ll be on Rapamycin as soon as I can obtain it with help from the research players I in contact with. Even the VA doctors are
impress with the dramatic progress I’ve been able to achieve. I’m 76 now, but look and fell like I’m to young for Social Security…Check out pictures on my facebook page.

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    Joe Garma - May 12, 2017

    Allan, yours is a fantastic story, and shows what can be done when applying oneself to a thorough, proven health protocol. I did check out your FB pics as you suggested. You look trim and hale. Noticed from one pic that you’ve visited Santa Barbara, one of my favorite places in CA. Keep up the good work and please continue to share your progress!

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Jeff Johnson - January 30, 2018

This is a more complete accounting of results from the clinical trial mentioned (NCT02678611). Little change in most markers of health that were being looked at – which is probably why that part of the trial was not emphasized. Obviously some limitations with a short trial, however as mentioned, blood levels of NAD+ showed sustained increases.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41514-017-0016-9

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Kelly Harris - February 13, 2018

I started taking Elysium a year ago, got a year supply. I now have stage four stomach cancer and it has spread to my lymph system and I have a fatty liver, found by and photographed by invasive surgery. I’m now on my fifth round of chemo. I’m not saying that is what caused it, but I was a 58 year old who was doing 355 lbs. on machines and did squats of 365 lbs. three times a week, two to two and a half hours and two days of yoga for one hour. I had a PET scan done at 55 and was given clear bill of health.
Again I’m not saying that Elysium did this I’m just saying I wonder if it helped my cancer grow faster?

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    Joe Garma - February 13, 2018

    Geez, Kelly, what you’re going through is terrible. I hope you can beat this. Re Basis as a potential cause of your cancer… I have no idea, but would be shocked if it were, because the ingredients in Basis have been used for many years by many thousands of people and there have been no reports (to my knowledge) of cancer being instigated. Suggest you search around on an search engine like google and see if you can uncover anything.

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    Joe Garma - September 13, 2018

    Your brother’s a smart man!

    Reply
william young - January 26, 2019

Been taking Basis for about a year now. before that i was taking the ingrediants seperate. I am 71 and its almost a sin to feel and look this good. I work out and take othe suppliments as well.

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