From Ingredients to Protocols: Why Longevity Needs More Than NMN and Resveratrol

NMN and resveratrol got people excited about longevity — but they won’t take us far. The real breakthroughs will come from full protocols that combine science, behaviour and systems-level thinking.

👋🏼 Hi, I’m Shantanu — I run Xandro Lab, a science-first longevity brand in Singapore. I’ve spent the past two years building in the longevity and performance space.

Over the last few months, I’ve been watching how quickly this field is evolving. We’ve moved from “maybe try NMN” to hyperbaric oxygen therapy, red light devices in bedrooms, cold plunge studios, diagnostic panels and even full-scale longevity retreats.

And it isn’t just a trend. It’s happening at the exact same time as the world is ageing faster than ever before. By 2030, one in four people in Singapore will be over 65. In the US it’ll be one in five. Japan already crossed 29%. So the interest in longevity isn’t hype — it’s a very rational response to a very real problem.

That also explains why we suddenly see so many ingredients being discussed. Creatine for muscles. Taurine for brain function. Glycine for sleep. Magnesium malate vs bisglycinate vs citrate. NR vs NMN vs NADH. Every month, a new molecule is positioned as the missing piece.

Here’s the uncomfortable truth: none of these ingredients — on their own — will move the needle. They can help, yes. But longevity is a systems-level problem. Unless sleep, metabolic health, circadian rhythms, movement and stress regulation are all addressed together, you’re basically fixing one pathway while ten others drift out of balance.

That’s why I believe the next frontier is going to be blends — not single ingredients. Blends that are designed as part of a larger protocol and that evolve as science (and user data) progresses.

Rise of longevity blends across the world in last 2 years

📌 Today’s Reading

1. Why single ingredients won’t be enough

2. The rise of longevity blends — the challenges nobody talks about

3. How we built Protocol X — and why we’re confident in protocols, not products

4. A Neutral comparison: Protocol X vs AG1, IM8, AgeMate, Novos, Blueprint

5. The future — where this whole space is headed next

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1. Why Single Ingredients Aren’t Enough Anymore

Single compounds like NMN, resveratrol, taurine, creatine or spermidine are useful — but they’re ultimately limited by design. Each one targets a specific pathway or biological mechanism. NMN increases NAD⁺. Resveratrol is known for its effect on sirtuins and inflammatory pathways. Taurine has shown benefits in metabolic and cardiovascular health. Creatine supports muscular and cellular energy metabolism. Spermidine influences autophagy. But real longevity isn’t determined by a single pathway. It’s determined by how multiple systems work together — metabolic health, hormonal regulation, circadian rhythm, inflammation, stress response, musculoskeletal health, brain function, and so on.