Brad Stanfield, MD’s Longevity Protocol
About Brad Stanfield
Evidence Rating Key
Core Three (His Personal Non-Negotiables)
As of mid-2025, Stanfield narrowed to just three supplements he considers truly essential:
| Supplement | Dose | Purpose | His Reasoning | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Omega-3 Fish Oil | High EPA+DHA | Brain health, cognitive protection, cardiovascular | “The thought of developing dementia terrifies me.” New research explains why some omega-3 trials failed — Omega-3 Index must be high enough to see cognitive benefit. | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Creatine Monohydrate | ~5g/day | Cognitive function + muscle preservation | “The ONE supplement all longevity researchers are taking.” Takes it primarily for brain creatine stores, not just muscle. Considers it the most evidence-backed supplement available. | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| MicroVitamin (custom) | Daily | Balanced nutrition without megadosing | His own formulation (6th iteration). Includes low-dose nicotinamide for NAD+ support instead of NMN/NR. Designed to fill gaps without overdoing any single nutrient. | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Extended Stack (Evidence-Supported Additions)
| Supplement | Dose | Purpose | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Psyllium Husk | 2.5g/day | Fiber supplementation. Meta-analysis of 3.5M people: higher fiber = 23% reduced all-cause mortality | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| TMG (Betaine) | Standard dose | ATP recycling, muscle protein synthesis. Mixed trial results but promising | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Glutathione | Standard dose | Master antioxidant, immune function, oxidative stress regulation | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Collagen Peptides | Standard dose | Skin health, joint support | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Hyaluronic Acid | 200mg/day | Skin wrinkle reduction — RCTs show up to 18% reduction. Reviewed cancer safety data (no concern) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Protein Powder | As needed to hit targets | Muscle preservation with aging. “Higher protein intake associated with lower all-cause mortality” | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Melatonin | Low dose, before bed | Sleep quality — production drops 10x with age. Emphasizes timing: 1-2h before bed | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Medications (Prescription — Discussed Openly)
| Medication | Purpose | His Commentary |
|---|---|---|
| Finasteride | Blocks testosterone→DHT conversion. Hair loss prevention + prostate cancer risk reduction | Cites long-term placebo-controlled trial showing reduced prostate cancer rates and trend toward reduced mortality |
| Rosuvastatin + Ezetimibe | LDL cholesterol lowering. Target: <60 mg/dL | Despite great diet and exercise, his LDL was 73 mg/dL. Chose hydrophilic statin (doesn’t accumulate in muscle/fat) |
What He Stopped Taking (and Why)
Stanfield is unusually transparent about supplements he’s removed from his stack — making him a valuable reality check:
- Metformin — Stopped after data convinced him it may blunt exercise benefits. “For pre-diabetics and Type 2 diabetics, wonderful. For longevity in healthy people, the data doesn’t support it.”
- Quercetin & Fisetin — Stopped after the Interventions Testing Program found no healthspan, lifespan, or senolytic activity in mice. “Preclinical work does not support use.”
- NMN / NR (NAD+ precursors) — Uses low-dose nicotinamide in MicroVitamin instead. “Human data demonstrating a benefit is lacking.” Prefers lifestyle NAD+ support: exercise, good diet, fasting, quality sleep.
- Resveratrol — “Completely false longevity claims. Meta-analyses show no net positive effect.”
- Ashwagandha — “Didn’t notice a difference. Stopped to reduce pill burden.”
On Rapamycin
Stanfield is running his own clinical trial combining rapamycin with exercise. He’s excited about the drug — the ITP (Interventions Testing Program) consistently shows lifespan extension in mice — but does not recommend taking it outside of clinical trials until safety and efficacy are confirmed in humans. This puts him between Kaeberlein (who takes it) and Attia (who uses it clinically).
How Stanfield Compares
Stanfield’s stack is evidence-conservative with an aesthetic edge — he includes collagen and hyaluronic acid for skin, which no other longevity doctor on this site takes. His “stopped” list is as informative as his “taking” list. Closest in philosophy to Kaeberlein (both skeptical of supplement hype) but takes more supplements. His commercial product (MicroVitamin) is less extensive than Hyman’s store or Johnson’s Blueprint line.
Sources
- drstanfield.com/pages/my-supplements — Full current list with reasoning
- “The Only Three Supplements Doctor Brad Takes” (July 2025)
- “5 Supplements That ACTUALLY Work” (October 2025)
- “Stop These Longevity Supplements (Dangerous Side Effects)” (February 2025)
- “Why Creatine Is The ONE Supplement All Longevity Researchers Are Taking” (March 2025)
Protocol pages are maintained by Longevity Notes. See also: Peter Attia · Andrew Huberman · David Sinclair · Gary Brecka · Bryan Johnson · Rhonda Patrick · Peter Diamandis · Matt Kaeberlein · Mark Hyman · Compare All Protocols
📋 Protocol Change Log
March 2026 — Initial protocol page published based on latest public interviews and content.