NAD+
Are you looking for a NAD+ supplement? NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) is a naturally occurring substance in the body, found in every living cell. Scientific interest in this substance has grown in recent years because of its involvement in several biological processes. On this page, you can read about what NAD+ is, how it is produced in the body and what the scientific literature tells us about its role in our bodies.
By Lisanne, last updated: 22-04-2025
Contents
- Our favourite NAD+ supplements
- What is NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide)?
- How is NAD+ produced in the body?
- What factors affect NAD+ levels?
- What does research say about NAD+ in relation to ageing and cell health?
- Literatuur
Our favourite NAD+ supplements
What is NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide)?
NAD+ stands for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide. This molecule is found in human, animal and plant cells. It belongs to a group known as cofactors: substances that work alongside enzymes in cells (coenzymes). Scientists have been studying NAD+ for decades because of its role as an electron carrier and as a substrate for various enzymatic processes. (source)
Some of these enzymes are involved in regulatory processes at cell level. Examples include the enzyme groups sirtuins and PARPs. Scientists are investigating exactly how NAD+ works with these enzymes and how this affects cellular functions. Although much is already known, our understanding of many aspects is still developing.
How is NAD+ produced in the body?
The body has several pathways for producing NAD+. In the literature, these are referred to as:
- The de novo pathway: using the amino acid tryptophan.
- The salvage pathway: which recycles nicotinamide (NAM) from breakdown processes.
- Through dietary precursors: such as nicotinamide riboside (NR) and nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), both related to vitamin B3. (source)
These precursors occur in small amounts in certain foods, such as milk, fish, poultry and vegetables. How much NAD+ the body can produce depends partly on diet and metabolism. This remains an active area of research.
What factors affect NAD+ levels?
According to various scientific publications, there are indications that the amount of NAD+ in the body may vary under the influence of factors such as:
- Age: studies in model systems suggest that NAD+ levels may decline with ageing. (source)
- Diet: substances such as niacin (vitamin B3) and tryptophan can serve as building blocks for NAD+.
- Lifestyle: factors such as sleep, exercise and exposure to stress are being studied for their potential influence on NAD+ metabolism. (source)
It is important to emphasise that many of these links are still being investigated. There is currently no legally authorised health claim for NAD+.
What does research say about NAD+ in relation to ageing and cell health?
NAD+ is regularly discussed in the scientific literature in the context of ageing research. These studies investigate its effects on stem cells, mitochondrial activity, tissue repair and DNA. They focus specifically on precursors such as NR (nicotinamide riboside) and NMN (nicotinamide mononucleotide). (source)
Although the findings offer new insights, further research is needed to better understand their relevance to humans.
Literatuur
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NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) is a molecule found in every living cell. It belongs to a group known as cofactors: substances that work alongside enzymes in cells (coenzymes). In recent years, scientific interest in this substance has grown because of its involvement in several biological processes.
The body produces NAD+ from various building blocks, including vitamin B3 (niacin), tryptophan, nicotinamide riboside (NR) and nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN). These substances occur naturally in foods such as fish, poultry and certain vegetables. Some people choose to supplement their intake of NAD+-related substances.
NAD+ is not the same as vitamin B3, but the two are closely related. Vitamin B3, in the forms of niacin and nicotinamide, acts as a precursor to NAD+. The body can synthesise NAD+ from B3 through natural metabolic pathways.
NAD+ is available as a supplement, as are related compounds such as NR and NMN. These substances are taken orally, often as capsules or tablets. Some products use liposomal technology, intended to optimise absorption. Always follow the product's dosage instructions.
Vitamins do not contain NAD+ themselves, but some, particularly vitamin B3 (niacin and nicotinamide), provide building blocks the body uses to make NAD+. Tryptophan, an amino acid, can also serve as a starting point for NAD+ synthesis.
‘NAD booster’ is a popular term for supplements intended to support NAD+ production in the body. These products usually contain precursors such as NR or NMN. Although research into this is ongoing, there are currently no approved health claims for this use.
NAD+ and NADP+ are chemically related coenzymes. The main difference is that NADP+ contains an extra phosphate group. Within the cell, they are involved in different pathways: NAD+ is mainly discussed in relation to energy metabolism, while NADP+ is more often associated with biosynthetic processes and antioxidant mechanisms. The precise role of each molecule is a subject of biochemical research.