NAD+, short for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, is a naturally occurring coenzyme found in every living cell. It plays a central role in cellular energy production, mitochondrial function, DNA repair, redox balance, and healthy ageing pathways. NAD+ works closely with NADH as part of the body’s energy-transfer system, helping cells convert nutrients into usable energy.
NAD+ is widely researched in ageing, metabolism, cardiovascular health, mitochondrial function, inflammation, and neurobiology. However, it is important to note that much of the human evidence involves NAD+ precursors, such as nicotinamide riboside / NR and nicotinamide mononucleotide / NMN, rather than direct NAD+ injections or infusions. NAD+ is currently being researched and should not be presented as an approved treatment for anti-ageing, fatigue, addiction, weight loss, or disease reversal.
1. NAD+ and cellular energy — mitochondrial and metabolic research
A major review published in Cell Metabolism explains how NAD+ helps regulate energy metabolism, mitochondrial function, and communication between the mitochondria and nucleus. The review describes NAD+ as a key metabolic cofactor involved in sirtuin activity, mitochondrial fitness, and cellular adaptation to energy stress.
Original article:
https://www.cell.com/cell-metabolism/fulltext/S1550-4131%2815%2900266-1
2. Human NAD+ IV pilot study — changes in plasma and urine metabolites
A pilot human study published in Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience investigated what happens to NAD+ and its metabolites during a 6-hour intravenous NAD+ infusion. The study documented changes in plasma and urine NAD+ metabolites during and after infusion, helping researchers better understand the fate of directly infused NAD+ in humans. This was a pilot pharmacokinetic-style study and did not prove clinical benefits for anti-ageing, energy, addiction, or disease treatment.
Original article:
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/aging-neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnagi.2019.00257/full
3. Nicotinamide riboside / NR — raises NAD+ in healthy middle-aged and older adults
A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial published in Nature Communications found that chronic supplementation with nicotinamide riboside, an NAD+ precursor, was well tolerated and increased NAD+ metabolism in healthy middle-aged and older adults. This is one of the better-known human studies showing that NAD+ levels can be increased through precursor supplementation.
Original article:
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-018-03421-7
PubMed listing:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29599478/
4. NMN and insulin sensitivity — prediabetic women study
A study published in Science investigated nicotinamide mononucleotide / NMN, another NAD+ precursor, in postmenopausal women with prediabetes who were overweight or obese. The study reported that NMN increased muscle insulin sensitivity, insulin signalling, and muscle remodelling markers. This supports metabolic research interest in NAD+ precursors, although it does not mean NAD+ or NMN is an approved treatment for diabetes.
Original article:
https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abe9985
PubMed listing:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33888596/
Full article on PubMed Central:
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8550608/
5. NMN and physical performance — older men study
A clinical study published in npj Aging investigated chronic oral NMN supplementation in healthy older men. The study reported partial improvements in muscle strength and physical performance markers, while also noting that more research is needed to confirm wider anti-ageing benefits. This is useful research for the NAD+ field, but it involved oral NMN rather than direct NAD+ injection.
Original article:
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9158788/
6. Clinical evidence review — promising but still early
A review on clinical evidence for targeting NAD+ therapeutically concluded that NAD+ biology is highly promising, especially because NAD+ is involved in ageing, metabolism, and mitochondrial function. However, the review also makes clear that many benefits seen in animal studies have not yet been fully confirmed in large, long-term human trials.
Original review article:
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7558103/
7. NAD+ and cardiovascular ageing research
A review published in Circulation discussed NAD+ metabolism in cardiac health, ageing, and disease. It noted that NAD+ pools tend to decline with normal ageing, obesity, and hypertension, and that NAD+ restoration is being investigated in cardiovascular research. This supports the scientific interest in NAD+ pathways, but it should not be used to claim that NAD+ treats heart disease.
Original article:
https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.121.056589
Quick Research Summary
Current research suggests that NAD+ is central to cellular energy, mitochondrial function, DNA repair, redox balance, and healthy ageing pathways. Human studies show that NAD+ precursors such as NR and NMN can increase NAD+ metabolism and may influence certain metabolic or physical-performance markers. Direct NAD+ infusion has also been studied in humans, but mostly in small pilot studies focused on metabolism and tolerability rather than proven clinical outcomes.