Also called: Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide, NAD

By The Health Stacks Research TeamUpdated September 19, 2026

NAD+ is a tiny molecule that your body makes all on its own. It lives inside every one of your cells. Its job is to help turn the food you eat into energy your body can use. It also helps your cells fix themselves when they get damaged. People who are interested in healthy aging sometimes get NAD+ as a treatment through a drip in a vein or as a shot.

As people get older, the amount of NAD+ in their bodies goes down. Some doctors and clinics think that adding more NAD+ might help with low energy, fuzzy thinking, and aging in general. The idea is that topping up this molecule gives cells more fuel to work with. Clinics that focus on wellness and anti-aging sometimes offer NAD+ therapy along with their other services. Here is the important part: scientists have not proven that NAD+ shots or drips actually help people.

Most of the research so far has been done in animals or in cells in a lab. NAD+ is not approved by the FDA as a medicine for any health problem. It can cause side effects like feeling flushed, achy, or sick during an infusion. If you are thinking about it, talk to a real doctor first, and know that the proof it works is still very thin.

ApprovedApproved by a regulator (e.g. FDA) for a specific medical use — the highest research-status tier. Verified confidence80–100 — backed by strong, well-corroborated sources (peer-reviewed research, clinical guidelines). Our highest confidence tier.

Benefits

What NAD+ Helps With

The main themes across 20 research studies, in plain language.

Energy & mitochondrial

Cellular energy & vitality

40/100Rated 40/100Source typeUnclassified sourceIndependent sources3Every claim links to the page it came from, and stronger sources rate higher. Full methodology →· 7 underlying claims

Research suggests NAD+ plays a central role in cellular energy production and may help reduce feelings of fatigue.

Research examplesBest source ↗

Mitochondrial function support

72/100Rated 72/100Source typeEstablished referenceIndependent sources3Every claim links to the page it came from, and stronger sources rate higher. Full methodology →· 5 underlying claims

Studies indicate that NAD+ is essential for mitochondrial health and may improve muscle performance in mitochondrial disorders.

Research examplesBest source ↗

Cellular defense & repair

90/100Rated 90/100Source typePeer-reviewed studyIndependent sources3Every claim links to the page it came from, and stronger sources rate higher. Full methodology →· 3 underlying claims

Studies suggest NAD+ promotes protective cell responses and helps reduce oxidative cell damage.

Research examplesBest source ↗

Metabolic regulation

85/100Rated 85/100Source typePeer-reviewed studyIndependent sources3Every claim links to the page it came from, and stronger sources rate higher. Full methodology →· 3 underlying claims

Evidence points to NAD+ enhancing oxidative metabolism and potentially improving markers related to diet-induced metabolic issues.

Research examplesBest source ↗

Cognitive function support

90/100Rated 90/100Source typePeer-reviewed studyIndependent sources3Every claim links to the page it came from, and stronger sources rate higher. Full methodology →· 3 underlying claims

Preliminary research suggests NAD+ may support cognitive health and help counteract neurodegenerative conditions.

Research examplesBest source ↗

Aging & longevity pathways

95/100Rated 95/100Source typePeer-reviewed studyIndependent sources3Every claim links to the page it came from, and stronger sources rate higher. Full methodology →· 5 underlying claims

Research explores NAD+ restoration as a potential intervention to slow or reverse age-associated functional decline.

Research examplesBest source ↗

Liver protection

72/100Rated 72/100Source typeEstablished referenceIndependent sources1Every claim links to the page it came from, and stronger sources rate higher. Full methodology →· 1 underlying claim

Animal studies indicate NAD+ precursors may offer protective effects against specific forms of liver injury.

Research examplesBest source ↗

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Safety

Known Side Effects

Adverse effects reported in the research and by community use.

  • Cellular Energy DepletionSevere 95/100Rated 95/100Source typePeer-reviewed studyIndependent sources1Every claim links to the page it came from, and stronger sources rate higher. Full methodology →↗ ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Reported in research and community sources — not exhaustive. Discontinue use and consult a healthcare professional if side effects occur.

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Evidence

Research Citations (19)

Every claim above traces back to a source you can check — here are 19 of them.

  • NAD+ metabolism in health and disease.

    2007 95/100Rated 95/100Source typePeer-reviewed studyIndependent sourcesstill being verifiedEvery claim links to the page it came from, and stronger sources rate higher. Full methodology →
    Source
  • The simultaneous measurement of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide and related compounds by liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry.

    2006 95/100Rated 95/100Source typePeer-reviewed studyIndependent sourcesstill being verifiedEvery claim links to the page it came from, and stronger sources rate higher. Full methodology →
    Source
  • Nutrient-sensitive mitochondrial NAD+ levels dictate cell survival.

    2007 95/100Rated 95/100Source typePeer-reviewed studyIndependent sourcesstill being verifiedEvery claim links to the page it came from, and stronger sources rate higher. Full methodology →
    Source
  • Nicotinamide riboside promotes Sir2 silencing and extends lifespan via Nrk and Urh1/Pnp1/Meu1 pathways to NAD+.

    2007 95/100Rated 95/100Source typePeer-reviewed studyIndependent sourcesstill being verifiedEvery claim links to the page it came from, and stronger sources rate higher. Full methodology →
    Source
  • Regulation of Glucose Metabolism by NAD(+) and ADP-Ribosylation.

    2019 95/100Rated 95/100Source typePeer-reviewed studyIndependent sourcesstill being verifiedEvery claim links to the page it came from, and stronger sources rate higher. Full methodology →
    Source
  • Identification of the mitochondrial NAD+ transporter in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

    2006 95/100Rated 95/100Source typePeer-reviewed studyIndependent sourcesstill being verifiedEvery claim links to the page it came from, and stronger sources rate higher. Full methodology →
    Source
  • Emerging therapeutic roles for NAD(+) metabolism in mitochondrial and age-related disorders.

    2016 95/100Rated 95/100Source typePeer-reviewed studyIndependent sourcesstill being verifiedEvery claim links to the page it came from, and stronger sources rate higher. Full methodology →
    Source
  • Regulatory Effects of NAD(+) Metabolic Pathways on Sirtuin Activity.

    2018 95/100Rated 95/100Source typePeer-reviewed studyIndependent sourcesstill being verifiedEvery claim links to the page it came from, and stronger sources rate higher. Full methodology →
    Source
  • The redox state of free nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide in the cytoplasm and mitochondria of rat liver.

    1967 95/100Rated 95/100Source typePeer-reviewed studyIndependent sourcesstill being verifiedEvery claim links to the page it came from, and stronger sources rate higher. Full methodology →
    Source
  • Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, a metabolic regulator of transcription, longevity and disease.

    2003 95/100Rated 95/100Source typePeer-reviewed studyIndependent sourcesstill being verifiedEvery claim links to the page it came from, and stronger sources rate higher. Full methodology →
    Source
  • The redox state of free nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide phosphate in the cytoplasm of rat liver.

    1969 95/100Rated 95/100Source typePeer-reviewed studyIndependent sourcesstill being verifiedEvery claim links to the page it came from, and stronger sources rate higher. Full methodology →
    Source
  • Age-related NAD(+) decline.

    2020 95/100Rated 95/100Source typePeer-reviewed studyIndependent sourcesstill being verifiedEvery claim links to the page it came from, and stronger sources rate higher. Full methodology →
    Source
  • Early steps in the biosynthesis of NAD in Arabidopsis start with aspartate and occur in the plastid.

    2006 95/100Rated 95/100Source typePeer-reviewed studyIndependent sourcesstill being verifiedEvery claim links to the page it came from, and stronger sources rate higher. Full methodology →
    Source
  • Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide biosynthesis and pyridine nucleotide cycle metabolism in microbial systems.

    1980 95/100Rated 95/100Source typePeer-reviewed studyIndependent sourcesstill being verifiedEvery claim links to the page it came from, and stronger sources rate higher. Full methodology →
    Source
  • Structural and functional properties of NAD kinase, a key enzyme in NADP biosynthesis.

    2006 95/100Rated 95/100Source typePeer-reviewed studyIndependent sourcesstill being verifiedEvery claim links to the page it came from, and stronger sources rate higher. Full methodology →
    Source

News

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