From the Guidelines
Tru Niagen (Nicotinamide Riboside) is recommended at doses of 250-500mg daily for general health and potential anti-aging benefits, with a focus on boosting NAD+ levels in cells. This recommendation is based on the understanding that NAD+ is crucial for cellular energy production, DNA repair, and activating sirtuins (proteins associated with longevity) 1. It is essential to note that while Tru Niagen may have potential benefits, it is not FDA-approved to treat any disease, and benefits can vary between individuals based on age, lifestyle, and genetic factors.
When considering the use of Tru Niagen, it is crucial to be aware of the upper intake levels (ULs) for nicotinic acid and nicotinamide. According to the espen micronutrient guideline, the UL for nicotinamide is 12.5 mg/kg body weight/d or approximately 900 mg/d for adults, with no adverse effects observed at doses up to 25 mg/kg body weight/d in prolonged studies in diabetic subjects 1.
Key considerations for taking Tru Niagen include:
- Consistency is key, taking it daily at approximately the same time
- It can be taken with or without food, though some evidence suggests taking it with fatty foods may enhance absorption
- Metabolic effects may take 8-12 weeks to become noticeable
- Some users may experience mild digestive discomfort or headaches initially
- Those on blood thinners, with liver conditions, or pregnant/nursing women should consult healthcare providers before starting.
Overall, while the evidence is promising, it is essential to approach the use of Tru Niagen with caution and consider individual factors that may influence its effectiveness and safety.
From the FDA Drug Label
DOSAGE & ADMINISTRATION Usual Adult dose is one or two tablets taken once or twice a day with or without food or as prescribed by a physician. The FDA drug label does not answer the question.
From the Research
NAD+ Precursors and Tru Niagen Supplement
- The administration of NAD+ precursors, such as nicotinamide riboside (NR), has been shown to increase the intracellular NAD+ pool and have beneficial effects on physiological changes and diseases associated with aging in various organisms, including rodents and humans 2.
- Tru Niagen, a supplement containing NR, has been studied for its potential to improve general health and anti-aging purposes, with some studies suggesting that it is safe and can significantly increase NAD+ levels in humans 2, 3.
Recommendations for Using Tru Niagen
- While there is evidence to suggest that NR supplementation can be beneficial, the efficacy of NAD+ precursors is lower than expected from preclinical studies, and further research is needed to determine the optimal method of raising NAD levels and identifying target conditions 2, 4.
- The current evidence suggests that supplementation with NAD+-boosting compounds, including NR, is safe and tolerable, but dosing regimens and study durations vary greatly across interventions, and small sample sizes limit data interpretation of physiological outcomes 3.
- More research is needed to fully understand the potential benefits and limitations of using Tru Niagen for general health and anti-aging purposes, including the refinement of personalized therapy and improved detection methodologies 5, 6.
Key Considerations
- NAD+ metabolism plays a critical role in maintaining tissue and metabolic homeostasis and for healthy ageing, and targeting NAD+ metabolism has emerged as a potential therapeutic approach to ameliorate ageing-related disease 6.
- The decline in NAD+ levels with age is linked causally to numerous ageing-associated diseases, and restoring NAD+ levels has been shown to slow down and even reverse some of these diseases 6.
- However, much remains to be learnt about how NAD+ influences human health and ageing biology, including a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms that regulate NAD+ levels and how to effectively restore NAD+ levels during ageing 6, 3.