From the Guidelines
NAD+ supplementation through precursors like nicotinamide riboside (NR), nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), niacin (vitamin B3), and nicotinamide is recommended to boost cellular NAD+ levels, potentially supporting mitochondrial function, DNA repair, and cellular stress resistance, with typical supplementation doses ranging from 250-1000mg daily for NMN or NR, as supported by recent studies 1.
Importance of NAD+
NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) is a critical coenzyme found in all living cells that plays essential roles in metabolism, cellular energy production, and various biological processes. It functions primarily as an electron carrier in redox reactions, particularly in the mitochondria where it helps convert nutrients into ATP, the body's main energy currency. NAD+ levels naturally decline with age, which has been linked to various aspects of aging and age-related diseases.
Benefits of Supplementation
The administration of 'supraphysiological' doses of vitamin B3 (≥500 mg/kg) has been demonstrated to prevent specific events and the subsequent loss of cellular NAD+ levels, as shown in a study on Wistar rats 1. Niacin helps to convert nutrients into energy, create cholesterol and fats, create and repair DNA, and exert antioxidant effects 1.
Safety and Side Effects
NAD+ precursor supplements are generally considered safe but may cause mild side effects like flushing, nausea, or fatigue in some individuals. The recommended daily dose of niacin is 40 mg/day, and it can be obtained in the diet from a variety of whole and processed foods, with highest contents in fortified packaged foods, meat, poultry, red fish such as tuna and salmon, lesser amounts in nuts, legumes and seeds 1.
Key Points
- NAD+ supplementation can potentially support mitochondrial function, DNA repair, and cellular stress resistance.
- Typical supplementation doses range from 250-1000mg daily for NMN or NR.
- Niacin is a critical component of NAD+, and its recommended daily dose is 40 mg/day.
- NAD+ precursor supplements are generally considered safe but may cause mild side effects.
From the FDA Drug Label
The FDA drug label does not answer the question.
From the Research
NAD+ Overview
- NAD+ (Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) is an essential pyridine nucleotide cofactor present in cells and involved in several important biological processes, including oxidative phosphorylation and production of adenosine triphosphate, DNA repair, calcium-dependent secondary messenger, and gene expression 2.
- Alterations in cellular NAD+ levels have been observed in multiple lifestyle and age-related medical conditions, leading to the hypothesis that dietary supplementation with NAD+ precursors could exert health benefits 3.
NAD+ Precursors and Supplementation
- Nicotinamide Riboside (NR) has gained significant attention as a potent NAD+-enhancement agent due to its excellent safety and efficacy profiles and oral bioavailability in humans 4.
- Supplementation with NAD+ precursors, such as NR, has been shown to increase NAD+ abundance and related metabolites in multiple tissues, and is safe and tolerable in humans 5.
- However, the clinical outcomes for NR supplementation strategies have not yet met the expectations generated in mouse models, and further research is needed to evidence the clinical benefits regarding specific diseases and doses administered 3, 2.
Therapeutic Potential and Limitations
- Boosting intracellular NAD+ concentrations using NR has been shown to provide protective effects against a broad spectrum of pathological conditions, such as neurodegenerative diseases, diabetes, and hearing loss 4.
- The current limitations in NR-based therapies include the variability in dosing regimens and study durations, as well as small sample sizes, which limit data interpretation of physiological outcomes 5.
- Future investigations are needed to overcome these limitations and to further understand the potential efficacy of NAD+-boosting compounds for improving physiological function and extending human health span 2, 5.
Safety and Effectiveness
- Supplementation with NADH and precursors has been observed to be well tolerated, with some side effects such as muscle pain, nervous disorders, fatigue, sleep disturbance, and headaches, but these adverse events do not present a serious risk to the health of the participants 2.
- The oral administration of NADH has been associated with an increase in general quality of life and improvement in health parameters, such as a decrease in anxiety, maximum heart rate, and inflammatory cytokines in serum and cerebrospinal fluid 2.