Nasal SprayFrom $166/mo
InjectionFrom $166/moNicotinamide riboside (NR)
Six weeks of oral NR raised NAD+ in blood cells by about 60% in healthy adults aged 55 to 79, and was well tolerated (Martens et al., 2018).
- Home
- Benefits
Evidence, not hype
NAD+ Benefits: What the Research Really Shows
NAD+ is essential to every cell, and early studies are encouraging. Here's what human research has actually found, what's still unproven, and what you can count on from NADMedics.
Medically reviewed by Vanessa Niles, R.N., M.D., F.A.C.O.G. —
What studies show
Potential benefits seen in human studies
Small, mostly short trials. Most used precursors taken by mouth, not NAD+ injections or spray.
NMN in middle age
In a 60-day trial of 80 adults, 300 to 900 mg a day of oral NMN raised blood NAD and improved six-minute walking distance versus placebo (Yi et al., 2023).
NMN and insulin sensitivity
Ten weeks of NMN increased muscle insulin sensitivity by about 25% in women with prediabetes, according to an NIH summary (Yoshino et al., 2021).
NR in Parkinson's
In the phase I NADPARK trial, 30 days of oral NR raised brain NAD levels and was well tolerated (Brakedal et al., 2022).
NR in heart failure
A pilot trial found NR roughly doubled whole-blood NAD+ and appeared safe in people with heart failure (Wang et al., 2022).
IV NAD+ pilot
A six-hour, 750 mg IV infusion in healthy men raised plasma NAD+ by the end, with no adverse events during the infusion (Grant et al., 2019).
The big picture
Real biology, early evidence
NAD+ is a coenzyme more than 400 enzymes need, and research reviews describe its levels falling in several tissues with age. That’s why scientists study it.
Raising NAD+ in blood is one thing; improving how people feel or age is another. That second step hasn’t been proven yet. See our conditions page for where research is heading.
Claims that aren’t proven
You’ll see these in NAD+ marketing. No clinical trial has shown them:
- Slowing or reversing aging
- More energy or stamina in healthy people
- Sharper memory or focus
- Weight loss
- Treating any disease (NAD+ has no FDA-approved use)
What NADMedics does offer
- A free online consultation with a licensed U.S. provider
- NAD+ compounded by a licensed U.S. pharmacy, only if prescribed
- At-home nasal spray or injections, no clinic chair
- Clear plans from $166 a month, with shipping and follow-up included
- Plain-spoken information about what NAD+ can and can’t do
Questions
NAD+ benefits: common questions
Do these study results apply to NAD+ injections or spray?
Not directly. Most trials used oral precursors (NR or NMN), and one used IV NAD+. Human studies of NAD+ injections under the skin or nasal spray are very limited.
How soon would I notice benefits?
There's no reliable timeline. Some people describe changes within weeks; others notice nothing. Your provider checks in so you can decide together.
Are the benefits worth the risks?
That's a personal decision. Short studies suggest NAD+ and its precursors are generally tolerated, but long-term data are missing. A provider can help you weigh it.
What is NAD+ best known for?
Its role as a coenzyme: NAD+ helps turn food into usable energy and is used by enzymes involved in DNA repair. More than 400 enzymes need it, according to NIH.
Does NAD+ help with weight loss?
No clinical trial has shown that NAD+ therapy causes weight loss.
Can NAD+ improve sleep?
That hasn't been shown. Some people find doses taken late in the day keep them awake, so timing can matter.
Keep learning
Related NAD+ guides
- NAD+ Nasal Spray Effectiveness: Does It Really Work Well?Does NAD+ nasal spray work? See what research shows about intranasal NAD+, why human trials are missing and how to judge whether it's worth trying.NAD+ nasal spray · 4 min read
- Are NAD+ Injections Safe? The Real Risks and Benefits SharedAre NAD+ injections safe? See the common side effects, what FDA alerts found about contaminated NAD+, who should avoid it and how to lower your risk.NAD+ injections · 6 min read
- NAD Nasal Spray vs Pill: Which Option Truly Works Better?NAD+ nasal spray vs pills: compare oral NAD+, NADH, NR and NMN with prescription spray, what human trials show for each and the costs and trade-offs.NAD+ nasal spray · 5 min read
Official sources
NAD+ benefits: sources and research
Official government and research sources behind this page, so you can check the facts yourself.
- NIH PubMed CentralMartens et al. Chronic nicotinamide riboside supplementation is well-tolerated and elevates NAD+ in healthy middle-aged and older adults (2018)
Randomized crossover trial of oral NR in healthy adults.
- GeroScienceYi et al. The efficacy and safety of NMN supplementation in healthy middle-aged adults (2023)
60-day randomized trial of 300, 600 and 900 mg/day oral NMN.
- NIH PubMedYoshino et al. Nicotinamide mononucleotide increases muscle insulin sensitivity in prediabetic women (2021)
10-week randomized trial of oral NMN.
- National Institutes of HealthSupplement improves glucose metabolism in women's muscle
NIH summary of the 2021 NMN trial in women with prediabetes.
- NIH PubMedBrakedal et al. The NADPARK study: nicotinamide riboside in Parkinson's disease (2022)
Phase I trial: oral NR raised brain NAD levels and was well tolerated.
- NIH PubMedWang et al. Safety and tolerability of nicotinamide riboside in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (2022)
Pilot trial: NR roughly doubled whole-blood NAD+ and appeared safe.
- Frontiers in Aging NeuroscienceGrant et al. Changes in the human NAD+ metabolome during a 6-hour NAD+ infusion (2019)
Small pilot study of intravenous NAD+ in healthy adults.
- NIH PubMed CentralCovarrubias et al. NAD+ metabolism and its roles in cellular processes during ageing (2021)
Review of how NAD+ works in cells and how levels change with age.
- NIH PubMedNAD+ therapy in age-related degenerative disorders: a benefit/risk analysis (2020)
Weighs early promise against the lack of long-term human trials.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Vanessa Niles, R.N., M.D., F.A.C.O.G., on October 12, 2026. NAD+ has no FDA-approved use; compounded NAD+ is not FDA-approved or evaluated for safety or effectiveness. Results in studies may not apply to you.
Curious whether NAD+ fits you?
Book a free online consultation. If a provider prescribes NAD+, plans start from $166 a month.
Book a free consultation