Cellular Energy · Longevity Research
NAD+
A coenzyme central to cellular energy metabolism, widely studied in aging, mitochondrial, and metabolic research.
NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) is a coenzyme found in all living cells, essential to energy metabolism, DNA repair, and the activity of sirtuin enzymes. It is not a peptide but is widely studied and sold within the research-compound space, particularly in longevity and mitochondrial research, where its decline with age is a major focus.
Research interest centers on whether restoring NAD+ levels — directly or via precursors like NMN and NR — affects markers of cellular aging in laboratory models. The field is active and rapidly expanding, though much of the strongest evidence remains preclinical.
Research areas
Mitochondrial Function
Central to ATP production; research examines NAD+'s role in maintaining mitochondrial efficiency with age.
Sirtuin Activation
Sirtuins depend on NAD+; studies explore downstream effects on stress resistance and metabolic regulation.
DNA Repair
NAD+ is a substrate for PARP enzymes involved in DNA-damage response, an area of active aging research.
Metabolic Health
Investigated in models of insulin sensitivity and energy metabolism.
Recent research findings
- 2024Continued research into NAD+ precursors (NMN, NR) and measured tissue NAD+ levels in animal and early human studies.
- 2023Reviews examined the relationship between declining NAD+ and hallmarks of aging.
- 2022Studies explored NAD+ in mitochondrial and neurodegeneration models.
Published Research & Citations
The research summarized above is drawn from published, peer-reviewed studies. Explore the 6 sources below — links open the abstract or, where marked, the full free article on the U.S. National Library of Medicine (PubMed / PMC).
- Targeting NAD+ in the clinic: emerging strategies, applications and challenges. Nature Aging, 2025. Recent review of clinical approaches to raising NAD+ and the open questions that remain.
- Covarrubias AJ, et al. NAD+ metabolism and its roles in cellular processes during ageing. Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology, 2021. Comprehensive review of how NAD+ declines with age and its role in cellular metabolism.
- Verdin E. NAD+ in aging, metabolism, and neurodegeneration. Science, 2015. Landmark review linking NAD+ availability to aging and neurodegenerative processes.
- Katsyuba E, et al. NAD+ homeostasis in health and disease. Nature Metabolism, 2020. Reviews the biology of NAD+ balance and its disruption in disease.
- Rajman L, et al. Therapeutic potential of NAD-boosting molecules: the in vivo evidence. Cell Metabolism, 2018. Surveys in vivo evidence for NAD-raising compounds such as NR and NMN.
- Martens CR, et al. Chronic nicotinamide riboside supplementation is well-tolerated and elevates NAD+ in healthy middle-aged and older adults. Nature Communications, 2018. Free full text Open-access human trial showing oral NR safely raised blood NAD+ levels.