Quick facts

Safety: Research and clinical trials have shown that NR is generally safe for most people when taken at recommended doses. Studies have used a wide range of doses, with many finding it well-tolerated up to 1,000 mg or more per day. 

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ITP results: negative

(The Interventions Testing Program (ITP) is a peer-reviewed program designed to identify agents that extend lifespan and healthspan in mice)

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Key trials: 

Martens, C.R., Denman, B.A., Mazzo, M.R., et al. (2018). "Chronic nicotinamide riboside supplementation is well-tolerated and elevates NAD+ in healthy middle-aged and older adults." This study in Nature Communications reported that NR supplementation is safe and effectively elevates NAD+ levels in middle-aged and older adults, which has implications for aging and metabolic health.

Dollerup, O.L., Christensen, B., Svart, M., et al. (2018). "A randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial of nicotinamide riboside in obese men: safety, insulin-sensitivity, and lipid-mobilizing effects." Published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, this trial investigated the effects of NR on insulin sensitivity and lipid metabolism in obese men, which are important factors in metabolic health and potentially longevity.

Airhart, S.E., Shireman, L.M., Risler, L.J., et al. (2017). "An open-label, non-randomized study of the pharmacokinetics of the nutritional supplement nicotinamide riboside (NR) and its effects on blood NAD+ levels in healthy volunteers." In PLOS ONE, this study focused on the pharmacokinetics of NR and its impact on blood NAD+ levels, providing foundational knowledge for how NR supplementation might influence health markers associated with aging.

Elhassan, Y.S., Kluckova, K., Fletcher, R.S., et al. (2019). "Nicotinamide Riboside Augments the Aged Human Skeletal Muscle NAD+ Metabolome and Induces Transcriptomic and Anti-inflammatory Signatures." Published in Cell Reports, this study examined the effects of NR on skeletal muscle, which plays a critical role in aging, and found that NR supplementation augments the NAD+ metabolome and has potential anti-inflammatory effects in aged human skeletal muscle.

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Some studies and publications: 

• Martens, C.R., Denman, B.A., Mazzo, M.R., et al. (2018). Chronic nicotinamide riboside supplementation is well-tolerated and elevates NAD+ in healthy middle-aged and older adults. Nature Communications. This study showed that NR supplementation is safe and effectively increases NAD+ levels in middle-aged and older adults, suggesting potential benefits for aging-related health.
• Zhang, H., Ryu, D., Wu, Y., et al. (2016). NAD+ repletion improves mitochondrial and stem cell function and enhances life span in mice. Science. This research found that increasing NAD+ levels in mice through NR supplementation improved mitochondrial function, stem cell viability, and extended lifespan, highlighting the potential of NAD+ boosting for enhancing longevity.
• Fang, E.F., Lautrup, S., Hou, Y., et al. (2019). NAD+ augmentation restores mitophagy and limits accelerated aging in Werner syndrome. Nature Communications. This study demonstrated that increasing NAD+ levels could mitigate some aspects of accelerated aging in a model of Werner syndrome, a genetic disorder that causes premature aging, suggesting a role for NR in addressing genetic aging disorders.
• Trammell, S.A.J., Schmidt, M.S., Weidemann, B.J., et al. (2016). Nicotinamide riboside is uniquely and orally bioavailable in mice and humans. Nature Communications. This study provided evidence of the bioavailability of NR in both mice and humans, supporting its potential as a NAD+ boosting supplement for health benefits.

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Overview: Nicotinamide riboside (NR) is a form of vitamin B3 and a precursor to nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+), a critical coenzyme involved in various metabolic processes, including energy production, DNA repair, and cell signaling. Interest in NR supplementation has grown due to its potential to increase NAD+ levels in the body, which decline with age and are associated with various aging-related health issues.

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Type of substance: Nicotinamide riboside (NR) is a form of vitamin B3, which is also known as niacin. It is a precursor to nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+), a vital coenzyme found in every cell of the body. As a substance, NR is considered a pyridine-nucleoside form of vitamin B3, which means it is a nucleoside consisting of a nicotinamide molecule attached to a ribose sugar molecule. 

This structure is crucial for its role as a NAD+ precursor. The body converts NR into nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) and then into NAD+, thereby contributing to the enhancement of cellular energy production, improvement of mitochondrial function, and activation of sirtuins, which are proteins involved in cellular health and longevity.

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‍Other related: Nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN)