Entry 0014Rev 1.0Coenzyme

NAD+

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide · C21H27N7O14P2

Reviewed

2 Nov 2026

Scientific editor

[Name, PhD]

References

17 sources

NAD+ is the oxidised form of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, a coenzyme present in every living cell. It carries electrons in energy metabolism, and enzymes such as the sirtuins and PARPs use it up as they work.14

It is not a peptide. It sits in this library because it is studied and sold alongside research peptides. Most human research gives its precursors, nicotinamide riboside (NR) or nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), rather than NAD+ itself.7,8

Type

Dinucleotide

Avg mass

663.4 g/mol

Human trials

Mostly precursors

WADA

Not named

01

Identity

Value
TypeCoenzyme made of two nucleotides, one carrying nicotinamide and one adenine, joined through their phosphates
FormsNAD+ (oxidised) and NADH (reduced)
FormulaC21H27N7O14P2
Avg mass663.4 g/mol (NADH 665.4 g/mol)
CAS53-84-9 (NAD+); 58-68-4 (NADH)
Made in the body fromTryptophan, nicotinic acid, nicotinamide, NR and NMN
02

History

  1. Harden and Young describe a heat-stable "coferment" needed for fermentation in yeast juice.1

  2. Sir2 is shown to be an NAD-dependent deacetylase, linking NAD+ to the sirtuin field.2

  3. Nicotinamide riboside is described as a route to NAD+ in yeast and humans.3

  4. In aged mice, falling NAD+ is linked to a breakdown in communication between the nucleus and mitochondria.4

  5. First human study of NR shows NAD+ metabolites rise in blood.7

  6. A pilot study of NAD+ given by infusion finds no rise in plasma NAD+ in the first two hours.11

  7. A seven-cohort study finds whole-blood NAD+ does not fall with age in people.12

03

What the studies measured

Animal work is extensive and mostly uses precursors. Human trials are small, short and mostly measure NAD+ levels and markers rather than outcomes.

StudyModelWhat was measuredFindingSource
Gomes 2013Aged miceMitochondrial function and NAD+ in muscleNAD+ fell with age; restoring it reversed the mitochondrial changes[4]
Mills 2016Mice, 12 months of NMNWeight, energy use, insulin sensitivityAge-related weight gain smaller; energy use and insulin sensitivity better; no obvious toxicity[5]
Zhang 2016Aged and dystrophic mice, NRMuscle stem cells and lifespanStem-cell function improved; lifespan modestly longer[6]
Martens 2018Healthy middle-aged and older adults, 6 weeks of NRTolerability, blood NAD+Well tolerated; NAD+ metabolism rose; blood pressure effects exploratory[8]
Elhassan 201912 older men, 21 days of NRMuscle NAD+ metabolome, mitochondrial functionMuscle NAD+ metabolites rose; inflammatory markers fell; mitochondrial function unchanged[9]
Yoshino 2021Women with prediabetes, 10 weeks of NMNMuscle insulin sensitivityInsulin sensitivity increased[10]
Grant 2019Healthy adults, NAD+ infusionPlasma and urine NAD+ metabolitesNo rise in plasma NAD+ in the first 2 hours; urinary metabolites rose by 6 hours[11]
04

Regulatory and sport status

As of this revision. General information, not legal advice.

WhereStatus
UKNot a licensed medicine.
EUNot a licensed medicine. The precursor nicotinamide riboside chloride is authorised as a novel food.16
USNot an approved drug. NAD is in category 1 (under evaluation) on the FDA list of substances nominated for pharmacy compounding.15
SportNot named on the WADA list. Separately, method M2.2 prohibits intravenous infusions of more than 100 mL per 12 hours outside hospital and clinical settings, whatever the substance.17
05

Open questions

  1. Whether NAD+ falls with age in human blood and tissue. Two blood studies disagree.12,13
  2. What happens to NAD+ given by infusion or injection: whether cells take it up intact or it is broken down outside them first.11
  3. Whether raising NAD+ metabolites in people changes any clinical outcome, and which precursor suits which tissue.14
06

Common questions

Is NAD+ a peptide?

No. It is a dinucleotide coenzyme. It is listed here because it is studied and sold alongside research peptides.

What is the difference between NAD+ and NADH?

They are the same molecule in two states. NAD+ is the oxidised form that accepts electrons; NADH is the reduced form that carries them.

Does NAD+ decline with age?

In mice, yes. In human blood the evidence is mixed: one study found a fall in men only, and a 2026 study across seven cohorts found no fall with age.

What are NR and NMN?

Nicotinamide riboside and nicotinamide mononucleotide, two precursors the body turns into NAD+. Most human studies use them rather than NAD+ itself.

Is NAD+ banned in sport?

It is not named on the WADA list. Large intravenous infusions are prohibited as a method, whatever they contain.

—

See also

MOTS-c Entry 0013Mitochondrial ShelfStoring lyophilised material Method
07

References

  1. Harden A, Young WJ. The alcoholic ferment of yeast-juice. Part II. The coferment of yeast-juice. Proc R Soc Lond B. 1906;78:369–375. doi:10.1098/rspb.1906.0070
  2. Imai S, et al. Transcriptional silencing and longevity protein Sir2 is an NAD-dependent histone deacetylase. Nature. 2000;403(6771):795–800. PMID 10693811
  3. Bieganowski P, Brenner C. Discoveries of nicotinamide riboside as a nutrient and conserved NRK genes establish a Preiss-Handler independent route to NAD+ in fungi and humans. Cell. 2004;117(4):495–502. PMID 15137942
  4. Gomes AP, et al. Declining NAD(+) induces a pseudohypoxic state disrupting nuclear-mitochondrial communication during aging. Cell. 2013;155(7):1624–1638. PMID 24360282
  5. Mills KF, et al. Long-term administration of nicotinamide mononucleotide mitigates age-associated physiological decline in mice. Cell Metab. 2016;24(6):795–806. PMID 28068222
  6. Zhang H, et al. NAD+ repletion improves mitochondrial and stem cell function and enhances life span in mice. Science. 2016;352(6292):1436–1443. PMID 27127236
  7. Trammell SA, et al. Nicotinamide riboside is uniquely and orally bioavailable in mice and humans. Nat Commun. 2016;7:12948. PMID 27721479
  8. Martens CR, et al. Chronic nicotinamide riboside supplementation is well-tolerated and elevates NAD+ in healthy middle-aged and older adults. Nat Commun. 2018;9(1):1286. PMID 29599478
  9. Elhassan YS, et al. Nicotinamide riboside augments the aged human skeletal muscle NAD+ metabolome and induces transcriptomic and anti-inflammatory signatures. Cell Rep. 2019;28(7):1717–1728.e6. PMID 31412242
  10. Yoshino M, et al. Nicotinamide mononucleotide increases muscle insulin sensitivity in prediabetic women. Science. 2021;372(6547):1224–1229. PMID 33888596
  11. Grant R, et al. A pilot study investigating changes in the human plasma and urine NAD+ metabolome during a 6 hour intravenous infusion of NAD+. Front Aging Neurosci. 2019;11:257. PMID 31572171
  12. Trętowicz MM, et al. Human whole-blood NAD+ levels do not vary with age or lifestyle interventions. Nat Metab. 2026;8(6):1282–1290. doi:10.1038/s42255-026-01537-5
  13. Yang F, et al. Association of human whole blood NAD+ contents with aging. Front Endocrinol. 2022;13:829658. PMID 35388296
  14. Covarrubias AJ, Perrone R, Grozio A, Verdin E. NAD+ metabolism and its roles in cellular processes during ageing. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol. 2021;22(2):119–141. PMID 33353981
  15. US Food and Drug Administration. Bulk drug substances nominated for use in compounding under section 503A, category list updated 14 May 2026. fda.gov
  16. Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/16 authorising nicotinamide riboside chloride as a novel food. eur-lex.europa.eu
  17. World Anti-Doping Agency. The 2026 Prohibited List (in force 1 January 2026). wada-ama.org Method M2.2.

Peptidarium Library. NAD+ (entry 0014), revision 1.0, 2 November 2026. peptidarium.com/library/nad

08

Revision history

RevDateChangeBy
1.02 Nov 2026Entry created.[Scientific editor]

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