Peptide Profile
NAD+
Your cells' master energy currency and anti-aging powerhouse—NAD+ keeps your mitochondria humming, activates longevity genes called sirtuins, and helps repair DNA damage that accumulates as you get older.
Dose Range
250-500mg
Frequency
Once daily
Route
Oral (NR or NMN precursors)
Cycle Length
Ongoing/indefinite
Onset
Moderate (1-2 weeks)
Evidence
Moderate
Compound Profile
Scientific & Efficacy Data
C21H27N7O14P2
Molecular Formula
663.4 g/mol
Molecular Weight
1-2 hours (plasma); tissue levels persist longer
Half-Life
Variable by route: ~30% oral (precursors), ~100% IV
Bioavailability
53-84-9
CAS #
5892
PubChem ID ↗
Developed By · 1906
Arthur Harden and William John Young
Lister Institute (London)
Primary Benefits
Powers mitochondrial ATP production—the fundamental energy source for every cell in your body
Activates sirtuins and supports DNA repair mechanisms associated with healthy aging
Supports neuronal energy metabolism and shows promise for cognitive protection in aging
Amino Acid Sequence
Not a peptide - NAD+ is a dinucleotide coenzymeDosing
How much
do I take?
Starting Dose
250-300 mg NR or NMN daily
Start with a lower dose to see how your body responds. Most people begin with oral precursors like nicotinamide riboside (NR) or nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN). Take in the morning with or without food.
Standard Dose
500-1000 mg NR or NMN daily
This is the most commonly used range in research studies. Some people split the dose (morning and early afternoon) for more consistent levels. Clinical trials have safely used up to 2000 mg daily.
Advanced Dose
250-500 mg IV NAD+ infusion
IV infusions deliver NAD+ directly into your bloodstream, bypassing digestion. Sessions typically take 2-4 hours (slower = less flushing). Often used in clinical settings for intensive protocols or specific conditions.
Timing
Best time to take
Morning is generally recommended for oral NAD+ precursors since they can boost energy and alertness. Some people find afternoon doses interfere with sleep. IV infusions can be done anytime but plan for 2-4 hours.
With food?
NAD+ precursors can be taken with or without food. Some people find taking with food reduces any digestive upset. Fat-soluble companions like resveratrol absorb better with a meal containing healthy fats.
If stacking
NAD+ precursors pair beautifully with sirtuin activators like resveratrol and quercetin—they work synergistically. CoQ10 and PQQ support the same mitochondrial health pathways. Space supplements 30 minutes apart if taking multiple.
Adjusting Your Dose
Increase if
- +You've used the starting dose for 4+ weeks with good tolerance
- +You want more noticeable energy or cognitive benefits
- +Research suggests higher doses for your specific goals
Decrease if
- -You experience persistent flushing or skin reactions
- -Digestive upset doesn't resolve after the first week
- -You feel overly stimulated or have trouble sleeping
- -Any side effect concerns you
Signs of right dose
- ✓Sustained energy throughout the day without crashes
- ✓Mental clarity and focus feel improved
- ✓Better exercise recovery
- ✓Improved sleep quality (despite daytime energy)
Dosing Calculator
Calculate Your Exact Dose
Amount to Draw
10
units
Suitability
Is this
right for me?
Best For
Healthy Aging Enthusiasts
NAD+ levels naturally decline 50% or more by middle age, and this drop is linked to many signs of aging. Boosting NAD+ helps maintain the cellular repair and energy production that keeps you feeling vital. It's like refilling your cells' gas tanks.
Brain Health Seekers
Your brain is an energy hog—it uses about 20% of your body's energy despite being only 2% of your weight. NAD+ supports the mitochondria that power your neurons, and research shows promising effects on cognitive function and neuroprotection.
Athletes and Active People
Every time you exercise, your muscles burn through NAD+ to produce energy. Boosting your NAD+ levels may help with recovery, endurance, and maintaining muscle function as you age. Many athletes notice improved workout recovery.
Metabolic Support Seekers
NAD+ plays a central role in how your body processes fats and sugars. Research shows it may help support healthy blood sugar levels, improve insulin sensitivity, and support weight management efforts when combined with a healthy lifestyle.
Consider Alternatives If
Who Should Avoid
Do not use if
- ×You have active cancer—NAD+ fuels cellular energy production, and there's theoretical concern this could benefit cancer cells
- ×You are pregnant or breastfeeding—safety hasn't been established for these populations
- ×You have a known allergy to niacin, nicotinamide, or related B vitamins
- ×You have severe liver disease—NAD+ metabolism involves the liver
- ×You're taking high-dose niacin already—combining could cause excessive flushing
Use with caution if
- !You take blood pressure medications—NAD+ can affect vascular function
- !You have diabetes—monitor blood sugar as NAD+ may affect glucose metabolism
- !You take chemotherapy drugs—potential interactions need medical oversight
- !You have gout—some NAD+ precursors may affect uric acid levels
- !You take immunosuppressants—NAD+ affects immune cell function
Administration
How do I
use it?
Reconstitution
What you need
- •NAD+ powder vial (for injectable forms)
- •Sterile saline or bacteriostatic water
- •Sterile syringes and needles
- •Alcohol swabs
- •Sterile vial for mixing
Injection
Route
Intravenous (IV) infusion is most common for direct NAD+; subcutaneous or intramuscular injections are less common but sometimes used
Best sites
- •IV: Arm veins (administered by healthcare professional)
- •IM: Deltoid (upper arm) or gluteus (buttock)
- •SubQ: Abdominal area (if applicable)
Technique
- 1.IV NAD+ should only be administered by qualified healthcare professionals
- 2.The infusion rate is crucial—too fast causes intense flushing and discomfort
- 3.Typical infusions run over 2-4 hours for 250-500mg doses
- 4.Slower rates (4+ hours) are better tolerated but require more time
- 5.Monitor for flushing, nausea, or chest tightness during infusion
Storage
Signs of degradation
Sample Daily Schedule
Safety
Is it
safe?
Safety Profile
NAD+ precursors like NR and NMN have demonstrated excellent safety profiles in human trials, with doses up to 2000-3000 mg daily being well-tolerated. The most common side effects are mild flushing (similar to niacin) and temporary digestive upset. IV NAD+ is more intense but also appears safe when administered properly by healthcare professionals.
Multiple human clinical trials have evaluated NAD+ precursor safety in various populations including healthy adults, older adults, and patients with conditions like Parkinson's disease and heart failure. Most trials report the supplements are well-tolerated with no serious adverse events. Long-term safety data (5+ years) is still limited.
Common Side Effects
Experienced by some users
Flushing and warmth
A warm, red feeling on your skin—especially face, neck, and chest. This is similar to niacin flush and happens because NAD+ affects blood vessel dilation. More common with IV infusions.
Management: Start with lower doses and increase gradually. For IV, slower infusion rates dramatically reduce flushing. Taking with food may help. An antihistamine beforehand can reduce intensity.
Digestive upset
Mild nausea, stomach discomfort, or loose stools when first starting NAD+ supplements. Your gut is adjusting to the new compound.
Management: Take with food to buffer your stomach. Start with a lower dose and work up over 1-2 weeks. Most people find this resolves within the first week.
Mild headache
Some people experience headaches when starting NAD+ supplementation. This may relate to changes in cellular metabolism or blood flow.
Management: Stay well-hydrated—dehydration worsens headaches. Usually resolves within the first few days. If persistent, try reducing your dose.
Less Common
- •Increased energy or restlessness
- •Vivid dreams
These typically resolve with continued use or dose adjustment.
Stop and Seek Help If
- ×Any signs of allergic reaction—difficulty breathing, severe rash, swelling
- ×Persistent digestive problems that don't improve after 2 weeks
- ×Severe or persistent headaches
- ×Heart palpitations or significant changes in heart rhythm
- ×If you develop any condition where NAD+ is contraindicated (like cancer diagnosis)
- ×Side effects that concern you or affect quality of life
NAD+ supplements and infusions are not FDA-approved for treating any medical condition. The information provided is for educational purposes only. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any supplement regimen.
Interactions
With other peptides
- ✓Complementary pairing—Epithalon works on telomeres while NAD+ supports cellular energy and sirtuin activation. Different but synergistic anti-aging mechanisms.
- ✓Generally safe to combine. BPC-157 supports healing while NAD+ provides cellular energy for repair processes.
- ✓Safe combination for comprehensive anti-aging. GHK-Cu focuses on tissue repair and skin health.
- ✓Can be used together for immune and cellular health support. No known negative interactions.
With medications
- !Chemotherapy drugs - Theoretical concern that boosting cellular energy could benefit cancer cells. Always consult your oncologist before using NAD+ during cancer treatment.
- ✓Blood pressure medications - NAD+ can affect blood vessel function. Monitor blood pressure and work with your doctor if you're on antihypertensives.
- ✓Diabetes medications - NAD+ may affect glucose metabolism. Monitor blood sugar more closely and adjust medications as needed with your doctor.
- ✓Blood thinners - High-dose NAD+ precursors may have mild blood-thinning effects. Inform your doctor if you're on anticoagulants.
With supplements
- ✓Resveratrol - Excellent pairing! Resveratrol activates sirtuins, which need NAD+ to function. They work synergistically for longevity benefits.
- ✓Quercetin - Good combination. Quercetin may help stabilize NAD+ precursors and provides additional antioxidant benefits.
- ✓CoQ10 - Complementary mitochondrial support. Both support energy production through different pathways.
- ✓High-dose niacin - Use caution—combining NAD+ precursors with high-dose niacin may cause excessive flushing. One or the other is usually sufficient.
Effectiveness
Does it
work?
Evidence Level
Moderate human trials
What to Expect
Week 1-2
What you might notice
- •Possible mild flushing or warmth after taking
- •Maybe some digestive adjustment
- •Subtle increase in energy for some people
- •Sleep might feel slightly different
What's normal
- •Taking time to notice anything significant
- •Mild side effects that improve over days
- •Not feeling dramatic changes right away
What's next
- →Continue with your starting dose
- →Note any changes in energy or sleep
- →Side effects typically reduce after this period
Week 3-4
What you might notice
- •More consistent energy throughout the day
- •Possible improvements in mental clarity
- •Better workout recovery for active people
- •Side effects should be minimal by now
What's normal
- •Subtle rather than dramatic improvements
- •Good days and less-good days are normal
- •Benefits building gradually
What's next
- →Consider increasing dose if well-tolerated
- →Continue tracking energy and cognition
- →Maintain consistent daily timing
Month 2-3 and beyond
What you might notice
- •Sustained improvements in energy and vitality
- •Better overall sense of well-being
- •Improved exercise capacity and recovery
- •Some users report better skin health
What's normal
- •Benefits plateau at a new, better baseline
- •Consistent positive effects rather than ever-increasing
- •NAD+ becomes part of your wellness routine
What's next
- →Continue long-term supplementation for ongoing benefits
- →Consider periodic blood work to track metabolic markers
- →Adjust dose based on your response and goals
Signs It's Working
Energy and Vitality
- ✓More consistent energy throughout the day
- ✓Fewer afternoon energy crashes
- ✓Feeling more alert without caffeine dependence
- ✓Better stamina for physical activities
- ✓Waking up feeling more refreshed
Cognitive Function
- ✓Improved mental clarity and focus
- ✓Better memory recall
- ✓Faster mental processing
- ✓More sustained attention during tasks
- ✓Reduced brain fog
Physical Recovery
- ✓Faster recovery after exercise
- ✓Less muscle soreness
- ✓Better exercise performance
- ✓Improved sleep quality
- ✓Enhanced overall physical resilience
Not Seeing Results?
Common reasons
- •Not taking consistently—NAD+ works best with daily, ongoing use
- •Dose too low—some people need higher amounts to notice benefits
- •Poor quality supplement—look for third-party tested products from reputable brands
- •Expecting overnight results—benefits build over weeks to months
- •Not addressing lifestyle factors—NAD+ supplements work best alongside good sleep, exercise, and nutrition
- •Taking at wrong time—evening doses may cause sleep issues that mask energy benefits
Key Research
"NAD+ precursor supplementation in human ageing: clinical evidence and challenges"
Vinten KT, Trætowicz MM, Coskun E, 2025
Finding: This comprehensive review evaluated human clinical trials of NAD+ precursors, finding that while NAD+ levels clearly decline with age, the clinical benefits of supplementation in humans are still being established. The review highlights the need for larger, longer trials.
View Study"Effect of Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide on Heart Failure Caused by Ischemic Cardiomyopathy: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial"
Yu X, Xu J, Cao J, 2026
Finding: In 180 heart failure patients, IV NAD+ significantly improved heart function (ejection fraction) compared to placebo. Patients also showed trends toward fewer hospitalizations and better functional capacity, suggesting NAD+ may help struggling hearts.
View Study"NR-SAFE: a randomized, double-blind safety trial of high dose nicotinamide riboside in Parkinson's disease"
Berven H, Kverneng S, Sheard E, 2023
Finding: High-dose NAD+ precursor (3000 mg/day NR) was well-tolerated in Parkinson's patients with no moderate or severe side effects. Blood NAD+ levels increased up to 5-fold, and clinical symptoms showed improvement, supporting the safety of high-dose protocols.
View Study"Safety and Tolerability of Nicotinamide Riboside in Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction"
Wang DD, Airhart SE, Zhou B, 2022
Finding: In 30 heart failure patients, 2000 mg daily NR was safe and well-tolerated, approximately doubling blood NAD+ levels. Increased NAD+ correlated with improved cellular respiration in immune cells, demonstrating biological effects beyond just raising NAD+ numbers.
View Study"Effects of NAD+ supplementation with oral nicotinamide riboside on vascular health and cognitive function in older adults with peripheral artery disease"
Szarvas Z, Reyff ZA, Peterfi A, 2025
Finding: In older adults with blood vessel disease, 4 weeks of NAD+ precursor supplementation improved brain blood vessel function and cognitive performance across multiple domains. The supplement also reduced oxidative stress in blood vessel cells.
View StudyFrequently Asked Questions