What are NAD+ supplements?<\/p>\n
NAD+ supplements are available in a variety of forms \u2014 from pills and gels to intravenous infusions at wellness spas.<\/p>\n
But here\u2019s the catch: These supplements typically don\u2019t contain NAD+, and that\u2019s because the body has a difficult time absorbing it. NAD+ is a large molecule that doesn\u2019t easily cross cell membranes to enter the bloodstream, Martens explains.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Instead, the supplements usually contain building blocks \u2014 also known as precursors \u2014 that your body converts to NAD+. Yabluchanskiy says the most common ones are nicotinamide riboside (NR), a form of vitamin B3<\/a>, and nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), which is synthesized from B3. These substances can penetrate cells and change into NAD+.<\/p>\n Niacin, another form of B3, is often not included in NAD+ supplements because high doses can cause side effects like skin flushing or an upset stomach<\/a>, says Jean Moon, a professor at the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy.\u00a0<\/p>\n Do NAD+ supplements offer any benefits?<\/p>\n There is evidence that consuming these NAD+ precursors will increase the amount of NAD+ in the blood, Martens says. \u201cWhat we know less about is whether the boost in NAD that\u2019s occurring in blood is actually getting to the tissues,\u201d where it could make a difference in how your body works, he explains.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\n At this point, there\u2019s \u201cno human evidence that NAD can extend lifespan in humans,\u201d Yabluchanskiy adds.\u00a0Most studies on NAD+ supplementation have been short term and have involved animal subjects. Human studies often show mixed results, but research is ongoing.\u00a0<\/p>\n NAD+ supplements may have greater potential to address specific health conditions than to address aging overall, Yabluchanskiy says.\u00a0For instance, some human studies have found that NAD+ supplements may benefit those with peripheral arterial disease (PAD), a condition where the vessels that carry blood from the heart to the legs are narrowed or blocked.\u00a0<\/p>\n One study<\/a> published in Nature Communications in 2024, coauthored by Martens, found that the NAD+ precursor NR helped increase walking speed<\/a> for people over 50 who have PAD.\u00a0Research coauthored by Yabluchanskiy and published<\/a> in 2025 in The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics found that NR could improve blood flow to brain regions involved in memory in older adults with PAD, modestly improving cognition.\u00a0<\/p>\n However, a <\/a>different study led by Martens and published in Alzheimer\u2019s & Dementia found that while NR raised blood NAD+ levels in people over 65 with mild cognitive impairment\ufeff, \ufeffit didn\u2019t improve cognitive function, blood pressure or cerebral blood flow.\u00a0<\/p>\n Some research has shown NAD+ supplements could benefit people with Parkinson\u2019s disease<\/a>. But a recent randomized clinical trial<\/a> published in JAMA found that NAD+ precursors didn\u2019t improve clinical outcomes for people with Parkinson\u2019s who were 65 and older.\u00a0<\/p>\n