Over the past couple of years, celebrities, tech bros, and biohackers have come to believe they’ve found the ultimate source of good health. Boosting this one thing, they say, will cure all ails, rejuvenate the body, and lead to longer life. They are talking about the star of middle-school biology class: mitochondria.

The “powerhouse of the cell” has gained recognition recently as possibly an overlooked player in our bodies’ well-being. Celebrities like Hailey Bieber and Gwyneth Paltrow are supposedly fans of NAD , a coenzyme crucial for mitochondrial function, now offered at medspas via injections, supplements, or IV infusions. A crop of biotech startups are selling at-home assessments of your mitochondria (prices range from $349 to $699), and public figures like longevity-obsessed millionaire Bryan Johnson, podcaster Joe Rogan, and Surgeon General nominee Casey Means have spoken publicly about the importance of mitochondria for health.

While this might seem like just another pseudoscientific “wellness” trend, behind the surge in popularity is a growing body of genuine academic research advancing our understanding of how mitochondria work, and how they could contribute to human health. Japanese researchers, for example, recently found that a mitochondrial gene in mice can influence longevity, and scientists at Duke University recently published research showing that replenishing a person’s mitochondria could be a way to reduce the pain of diabetic nerve damage.

Still, it’s reasonable to want to see more evidence before you spend $699 to “unlock the full potential of your cellular health” and “experience the future of NAD boosting.” Here’s how to separate what is real from what is marketing when it comes to mitochondria and your health.

How mitochondria help our bodies function

You might remember from biology class that mitochondria are responsible for turning sugars from our food into energy. This means that mitochondria are hugely important for keeping your body functional. They are responsible for your metabolism, and therefore also control how energetic you feel, says Martin Picard, an associate........

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