--- title: "NAD+ (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide)" canonical_url: https://bestpeptidecalculator.app/library/nad_plus description: "Essential redox cofactor sold as IV clinic infusions and oral precursors (NR/NMN). NAD+ itself is not FDA-approved as a drug for anti-aging." updated: 2026-09-06 publisher: Peptide Library notice: "Research and educational use only. Not medical advice." --- # NAD+ (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide) NAD+ (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide), also called β-NAD, is a redox coenzyme. Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide is a redox coenzyme that cycles between oxidised and reduced forms as a hydride acceptor in the dehydrogenase reactions of glycolysis, the citric acid cycle and fatty-acid oxidation. Essential redox cofactor sold as IV clinic infusions and oral precursors (NR/NMN). NAD+ itself is not FDA-approved as a drug for anti-aging. Also known as: β-NAD. Categories: Fat Loss, Longevity, GLP-1/Metabolic, Experimental. ## Classification - Type: Redox coenzyme / supplement - Mechanism class: Cellular Energy / Redox Coenzyme - Development stage: Research only - Regulatory class: Research compound, not FDA-approved ## Mechanism Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide is a redox coenzyme that cycles between oxidised and reduced forms as a hydride acceptor in the dehydrogenase reactions of glycolysis, the citric acid cycle and fatty-acid oxidation. Separately from that catalytic role it is consumed as a substrate by sirtuins, PARP enzymes and CD38, which cleave it and release nicotinamide — linking cellular NAD+ availability to deacetylation signalling, DNA repair and calcium signalling. Tissue NAD+ declines with age in several models, which is the basis of interest in restoring it. Whether intravenous NAD+ itself raises intracellular concentrations is not well established, since the intact dinucleotide is thought to be degraded extracellularly before uptake; most controlled human data concerns oral precursors rather than NAD+ itself. Targets: Sirtuins, PARPs, Redox enzymes. Origin: Endogenous dinucleotide; manufactured as a chemical. ## Properties - Molecular formula: C21H27N7O14P2 - Molecular weight: 663.43 g/mol - CAS number: 53-84-9 - Half-life: Minutes to hours (rapidly metabolized) - Studied routes: Oral ## Evidence - Evidence level: Limited Human Evidence - Highest documented: None documented - Human trials: 0 - Controlled human trials: 0 - Preclinical sources: 0 No human dose is established for this compound. Each step shows whether the sources Peptide Library has reviewed include that kind of research. Counts are reviewed sources, not every study ever published. Reviews and programme summaries that describe human use are shown as "reported", not as trials, and registered trials without published results are listed but not counted. A higher step means research has progressed further; it does not mean a compound works better or is safer. Compounds whose evidence has not been reviewed yet show "Not reviewed" instead of a guess. ### Studies 1. NCT05589766 - N-DOSE: A Dose Optimization Trial of Nicotinamide Riboside in Parkinson's Disease. Human study (early or uncontrolled). Population: Participants with Parkinson's disease (n=81). Dose optimisation and NAD+ augmentation. Research on a related compound, not this one. Limitations: Studied an analog, not NAD+ (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide) itself [Source](https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05589766) 2. The differential impact of three different NAD(+) boosters on circulatory NAD and related metabolites. Nat Metab. 2026. 2026. Human study (early or uncontrolled). Population: Human participants. Differential impact on circulatory NAD and related metabolites. Research on a related compound, not this one. Limitations: Studied an analog, not NAD+ (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide) itself [Source](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41540253/) 3. NCT05517122 - Effect of Oral NAD+ Precursors Administration on Blood NAD+ Concentrations. Human study (early or uncontrolled). Population: Participants (n=68). Blood NAD+ concentration. Research on a related compound, not this one. Limitations: Studied an analog, not NAD+ (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide) itself [Source](https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05517122) ### Registered trials - [NCT05589766](https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05589766) - [NCT05517122](https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05517122) ## Safety Side effects: IV: chest tightness, nausea, flushing; Expensive infusions of uncertain benefit. Risks: Not an approved longevity drug. Contraindications: Active cancer (consult physician); Pregnancy. Human safety basis: Limited human reports Key limitations: No established human dosage.; No controlled human trial results in the reviewed sources.; Not approved by the FDA for any use.. ## Regulatory status NAD+ (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide) is not an FDA-approved product. It is sold for laboratory research and has no approved medical use. - FDA status: Not Approved - WADA status: Permitted - Availability: OTC / Supplement ## Frequently asked questions ### What is NAD+ (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide)? Essential redox cofactor sold as IV clinic infusions and oral precursors (NR/NMN). NAD+ itself is not FDA-approved as a drug for anti-aging. ### How does NAD+ (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide) work? Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide is a redox coenzyme that cycles between oxidised and reduced forms as a hydride acceptor in the dehydrogenase reactions of glycolysis, the citric acid cycle and fatty-acid oxidation. Separately from that catalytic role it is consumed as a substrate by sirtuins, PARP enzymes and CD38, which cleave it and release nicotinamide — linking cellular NAD+ availability to deacetylation signalling, DNA repair and calcium signalling. ### Is NAD+ (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide) FDA approved? No. NAD+ (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide) is not approved by the FDA for any indication and is categorised as otc / supplement. It has not been reviewed for safety or efficacy as a medicine, and published research should be read as investigation rather than established use. FDA's compounding lists show 503A Category 1: Under FDA evaluation. ### What is the half-life of NAD+ (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide)? Reported half-life for NAD+ (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide) is Minutes to hours (rapidly metabolized). Half-life describes how long the compound persists in circulation, not how long any effect lasts, and published figures vary with route of administration, formulation and the population studied. ### Is NAD+ (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide) banned in sport? NAD+ (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide) is recorded here as permitted in sport. Anti-doping status is revised annually, so athletes subject to testing should confirm against the current WADA Prohibited List before use. ### What peptides are similar to NAD+ (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide)? Compounds most often compared with NAD+ (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide) include MOTS-C, Humanin, Humanin-G (HNG) and SS-20. They are grouped by shared mechanism or research area rather than by equivalence, and their regulatory status and evidence base differ. ## References - [PubChem NAD+](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/NAD) - [Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide metabolism and arterial stiffness after long-term nicotinamide mononucleotide supplementation: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial — Sci Rep, 2023](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36797393/) - [NAD⁺ supplementation for anti-aging and wellness: A PRISMA-guided systematic review of preclinical and clinical evidence — Ageing Res Rev, 2026](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41655607/) - [The efficacy and safety of β-nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) supplementation in healthy middle-aged adults: a randomized, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, dose-dependent clinical trial — Geroscience, 2023](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36482258/) - [Nicotinamide mononucleotide increases muscle insulin sensitivity in prediabetic women — Science, 2021](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33888596/) - [Novel Approach to Skin Anti-Aging: Boosting Pharmacological Effects of Exogenous Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide (NAD(+)) by Synergistic Inhibition of CD38 Expression — Cells, 2024](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39513906/)