What it is
NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) is a coenzyme present in every human cell. It carries electrons in redox reactions and is consumed as a substrate by sirtuins, PARP enzymes and CD38. Tissue levels decline with age, which is why it appears in metabolic and ageing research.
How it works
NAD+ functions both as a redox cofactor and as a consumed substrate for NAD+-dependent enzymes. Research asks whether raising NAD+ availability restores the activity of those enzymes, a link that is proposed rather than established in humans.
Regulatory status
- Cosmetic ingredient
- Research compound
- In clinical trials
- Approved medicine
Not approved as a medicine by the FDA or the EMA. Some are registered in individual countries. Supplied for laboratory research only.
What published research is studying
- Whole blood and tissue NAD+ concentrations after precursor supplementation (randomized trials)
- Skeletal muscle insulin sensitivity in postmenopausal women with prediabetes (10-week randomized trial)
- Systolic blood pressure and arterial stiffness in middle-aged and older adults
- Pharmacokinetics and clearance of directly infused NAD+ in humans
Key findings
In a pilot study of a 6-hour intravenous NAD+ infusion, plasma NAD+ and its metabolites were unchanged for 2 hours, indicating rapid plasma removal.
Grant R et al., Front Aging Neurosci 2019In an 8-week randomized placebo-controlled trial in overweight adults, the NAD+ precursor nicotinamide riboside raised whole blood NAD+ by 22%, 51% and 142% across three dose levels.
Conze D et al., Sci Rep 2019In a 10-week randomized placebo-controlled trial in postmenopausal women with prediabetes, the NAD+ precursor nicotinamide mononucleotide increased insulin-stimulated glucose disposal.
Yoshino M et al., Science 2021 (NCT03151239)In a 2 x 6-week randomized crossover trial in healthy middle-aged and older adults, nicotinamide riboside was well tolerated and stimulated NAD+ metabolism.
Martens CR et al., Nat Commun 2018
What the studies measured
Study durations
- Intravenous NAD+ pharmacokinetic pilot: a single 6-hour infusion (Grant 2019).
- Nicotinamide riboside dose-ranging safety trial: 8 weeks (Conze 2019).
- Nicotinamide mononucleotide trial in prediabetes: 10 weeks (NCT03151239).
Endpoints
- Whole blood and plasma NAD+ concentration
- Urinary NAD+ metabolite excretion
- Insulin-stimulated glucose disposal by hyperinsulinaemic-euglycaemic clamp
- Systolic blood pressure and aortic stiffness
- Adverse event rates and tolerability
How strong is the evidence?
Most randomized human evidence covers oral NAD+ precursors rather than NAD+ itself; the only published human infusion study was a small pharmacokinetic pilot with no clinical endpoints.
Common questions
Is NAD+ an approved medicine?
Research compound. Not approved as a medicine by the FDA or the EMA. Some are registered in individual countries. Supplied for laboratory research only.
How much human research is there on NAD+?
Most randomized human evidence covers oral NAD+ precursors rather than NAD+ itself; the only published human infusion study was a small pharmacokinetic pilot with no clinical endpoints.
Does UU supply NAD+?
Yes, as premium-grade research material for laboratory use. Every batch is tested by an independent lab and the certificate of analysis is published.