Supplement shoppers are used to seeing letters on product labels. Vitamins C, D, and the Bs feel like old friends at this point. But recently, a new batch of initials has been showing up in the supplement aisle: NAD+, NMN, and NR.
That may sound like a confusing alphabet soup at first. But these compounds are attracting increasing attention for their potential roles in cellular energy and healthy aging.
At the center of the buzz is NAD+, a molecule found in every cell of the body that plays a key role in energy metabolism and other cellular processes. Researchers have known about NAD+ for decades. Studies suggest that NAD+ availability may decline with age, prompting researchers to explore whether restoring NAD+ could counter some of the physiological changes associated with aging.
That’s where NMN and NR come in.
Meet the NAD+ Precursors
Both nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) and nicotinamide riboside (NR) are NAD+ precursors, which means the body’s cells can convert these compounds into more NAD+.
In animal studies, NMN supplementation increased NAD+ levels and improved several measures associated with healthy aging, including metabolic, mitochondrial, inflammatory, and physical-function outcomes.
Similar research involving NR, a form of vitamin B3 (niacin), have been shown to raise NAD+ levels and improve mitochondrial function, energy metabolism, insulin sensitivity and exercise endurance, while protecting against weight gain from a high-fat diet.
In comparison, research in humans is relatively new. In one 60-day randomized trial of 80 healthy adults ages 40 to 65, NMN supplementation increased blood NAD+ levels and was associated with significant improvement on a six-minute walking test compared with placebo. The greatest improvements were seen with 600 and 900 milligrams (mg) daily, but 900 mg did not significantly outperform 600 mg.
A review of 10 randomized controlled trials with a total of 437 participants found that NMN supplementation showed modest improvements in physical strength and aerobic performance. Most studies were short-term, and more research is needed.
In one 12-week human trial in older adults with mild cognitive impairment, NR approximately doubled blood NAD+ levels. “It’s promising,” said researcher Christopher Martens, an associate professor of kinesiology and applied physiology at the University of Delaware. “But to really confirm whether NR is beneficial, we need a bigger clinical trial.”
Beyond the Precursors
Some consumers are choosing liposomal NAD+, a form designed to protect it during digestion with the aim of improving delivery. NADH—an electron-carrying form of NAD+ that helps cells produce energy—has also been studied, often in combination with CoQ10, in people with myalgic encephalomyelitis/ chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS).
“Solaray’s approach to the NAD+ category is to offer consumers multiple pathways to support different touchpoints in the cellular energy system. Our portfolio currently includes NMN, liposomal NAD+, and NADH. Those products are formulated at or above the clinically studied doses,” said Rachel Kilroy, Sr. Director of Global Innovation at Solaray.
