Ageing research reviewsFeb 8, 2026

NAD⁺ supplements for anti-aging and health: a systematic review of lab and human studies

Longevity & Aging Weekly Brief ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗

Updated Feb 9, 2026

Abstract

A total of 113 studies were identified, including 33 human intervention studies and 80 rodent studies, evaluating NAD-related compounds.

NAD⁺ augmentation in rodent models is frequently associated with improvements in metabolic and functional outcomes, though effects vary.
Oral administration of nicotinamide riboside (NR) and nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) in humans consistently demonstrated biochemical target engagement.
Human studies indicated that NR and NMN were generally well tolerated over weeks to months.
The effects of NAD⁺ supplementation on healthspan-related outcomes in humans were heterogeneous, often showing no significant impact.
No trials specifically evaluated intravenous or intramuscular NAD⁺ for anti-aging or wellness outcomes, indicating a gap in research.

Simplified

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD⁺) declines with age, motivating "NAD⁺-boosting" strategies ranging from lifestyle interventions to supplementation with NAD⁺ precursors (e.g., nicotinamide riboside [NR], nicotinamide mononucleotide [NMN]) and, in some wellness settings, parenteral NAD⁺ administration. We conducted a PRISMA-guided systematic review of peer-reviewed human and rodent intervention studies (January 2010-October 2025) evaluating NAD-related compounds administered orally or parenterally. We identified 113 eligible studies: 33 human intervention studies (28 randomized; 5 nonrandomized) and 80 rodent studies. In rodent models, NAD⁺ augmentation was frequently associated with improvements in metabolic, mitochondrial, inflammatory, and functional outcomes, although effects varied across models and endpoints. In humans, oral NR and NMN consistently demonstrated biochemical target engagement (circulating (plasma/whole blood) or cellular (e.g., PBMC) NAD-related metabolites) and were generally well tolerated over weeks to months; however, effects on functional, metabolic, vascular, and other healthspan-relevant outcomes were heterogeneous and often null or endpoint-specific. No eligible outcomes trials evaluated intravenous or intramuscular NAD⁺ itself for anti-aging or wellness indications. One nonrandomized intravenous NMN study met inclusion criteria and primarily contributed short-term safety and biomarker information. An intravenous NAD⁺ pharmacokinetic pilot lacking eligible clinical outcomes was identified as contextual evidence only. Overall, NAD⁺ augmentation shows clear biological activity, but clinical effectiveness for anti-aging or wellness outcomes remains inconclusive. Larger, well-designed randomized trials with longer follow-up and prespecified clinically meaningful endpoints are needed, particularly for parenteral approaches.

Full Text

Full text is available at the source.

View Full Text ↗

NAD⁺ supplements for anti-aging and health: a systematic review of lab and human studies

Abstract

Full Text

You found one interesting study. We’ll send the next 7.

what lands in your inbox each week:

Recent issues from the longevity & aging brief

Abstract

Full Text

Related papers

You found one interesting study. We’ll send the next 7.

what lands in your inbox each week:

Recent issues from the longevity & aging brief