Pepdexpepdex
Stack
← All supplements

NMN / NR

NAD+ precursors · Longevity

LimitedLittle human data, early, small, or narrow.

NAD+ precursors sold on a very large promise built on a very small human base.

0
Human trials showing NAD+ precursors extend lifespan or slow ageing

What it is

NAD+ precursors, the longevity shelf's flagship. NAD+ matters for mitochondrial function, and declines with age in several tissues and animal models (though human findings are tissue-specific and inconsistent, one 2026 study found whole-blood NAD+ stable across age). Raising NAD-related markers is proven; translating that into health outcomes is where it gets thin.

How it works

NMN and NR are converted into NAD+, a coenzyme every cell uses for energy metabolism and DNA repair. Trials reliably show blood NAD+ rising after supplementation. What no trial has shown is that the extra NAD+ produces the anti-ageing effects the marketing implies, the biomarker moves, the outcomes have not followed.

Which form to buy

Nicotinamide riboside (NR)The most-studied precursor

The largest human safety and NAD+-raising trial base of the two.

Best-evidenced for the biomarker, still unproven for outcomes.

Nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN)The popular one

Raises NAD+ in trials too. Its US regulatory status was contested for years, but FDA reversed course in September 2025 and concluded NMN is NOT excluded from the supplement definition (other requirements still apply).

Works on the biomarker; the legal cloud has lifted.

Plain niacin / nicotinic acidCheapest NAD+ route

Also raises NAD+, for pennies, with flushing as the tradeoff.

Unfashionable but effective at the biomarker.

Nicotinamide (niacinamide)Skin/derm use

A different niacin form with real dermatology evidence, unrelated to longevity claims.

Good for its own reasons, not this one.

What it actually does, graded

Raises NAD-related blood markersStrong

Consistently demonstrated, this part is not in dispute.

Improved physical function or muscle in older adultsLimited

Small trials, mixed results, no consistent functional benefit yet.

Metabolic improvements (insulin sensitivity)Limited

A few small positive signals, several null trials.

Slowing ageing / extending lifespan in humansNone shown

The entire selling proposition, with no human evidence behind it. Small trials have reported endpoint-specific signals (muscle insulin sensitivity, six-minute-walk distance), mixed, short-term and inconclusive, not proof of anti-ageing.

Pros and cons

Pros
  • The biomarker effect is real and reproducible
  • Good short-term safety record across trials
Cons
  • Expensive, often the priciest item in a stack
  • Outcome evidence is mixed, short-term and unreplicated rather than robust
  • Outcome evidence remains mixed and short-term rather than robust

What to expect

  • NAD-related blood markers rise within weeks, the most reliably reproduced effect.
  • Anything you can feel: not demonstrated in controlled trials.

Interactions

CautionCancer history or active cancerNAD+ is used by dividing cells; whether boosting it affects tumour biology is unresolved. Oncologist conversation.
MonitorBlood-pressure and diabetes medicationSome metabolic signals in trials; worth watching your numbers.

Is it for you?

Probably worth it if
  • You understand you are buying a biomarker change and are comfortable funding an open question
Probably skip it if
  • You want proven anti-ageing effects, that evidence does not exist yet
  • Budget is tight; this is the most expensive unproven item on most shelves

Who should avoid it

  • Anyone with active or recent cancer, without oncology input

Research on this supplement

Papers about this supplement, not proof of the claims above. A title says what was studied, which is sometimes a negative result or a different question entirely.

  • Effects of Nicotinamide Mononucleotide Supplementation on Blood Pressure: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
    Nutrients, 2026
  • The Effect of Nicotinamide Mononucleotide and Riboside on Skeletal Muscle Mass and Function: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
    J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle, 2025
  • Efficacy of oral nicotinamide mononucleotide supplementation on glucose and lipid metabolism for adults: a systematic review with meta-analysis on randomized controlled trials
    Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr, 2025

What the evidence says

Human trials reliably show blood NAD+ rises. What is NOT shown is that the rise produces the ageing outcomes the marketing implies. The gap between those two facts is where the entire category lives.

What studies used

250-1,000 mg daily in trials. Morning.

Reported from published studies and product labelling — a record of what was used in research, not a recommendation. What is right for you is a conversation with a clinician.

Evidence base

A2,434 research papers
established literature

Strong human evidence: either a phase 3 or 4 trial report alongside review-level evidence, or ten or more randomised controlled trial reports.

This letter measures how much human research exists, not whether it works for you — the tier above (Limited) is the read on quality.

Research (12)

Turn NMN / NR into a plan that's yours

The info above is free. Membership makes it personal, the Coach answers questions about your exact stack, the Stack tracks it for you, and the Verified Sources shows you how to vet what you buy.

  • ✓ AI Coach, ask anything about your stack. It does the dosing math, flags interactions, and tells you what to do next.
  • ✓ Personal Stack, save your protocol, track it across devices, log doses, get a heads-up before a vial runs out.
  • ✓ Verified Sources, the vetted reference for checking quality and sourcing, members only.
Become a member, from $4.99/week

Cancel anytime · or save with $59.99/yr · Coach + Stack included

Where next

Every supplement in the catalogThe full shelf, grouped and evidence-tiered.→The compound indexSteroids, nootropics and research chemicals.→The peptide indexInjectable peptides and what trials used.→