SupplementsSpecialtyNR
NR
nicotinamide riboside
A form of vitamin B3 that reliably raises NAD+ in your blood. Whether that makes you feel or age any differently is the open question.
- Builds up
- About 2 weeks
- In your body
- Hours for NR
- Per 1 capsule
- 500 mg
- 30-day supply
- $27.00One capsule a day, plus packing and delivery
What is nr?
NR, short for nicotinamide riboside, is a form of vitamin B3. Your cells turn it into NAD+, a helper molecule they need to make energy and repair DNA.
NAD+ levels seem to fall as we get older. In one study of human skin, older people had clearly less of it. That's where all the longevity excitement comes from: the idea is that topping up NAD+ could help keep your cells running well.
Ours is nicotinamide riboside chloride, in a vegan capsule colored with purple carrot.
What it does
- NAD+Raises NAD+ levels in the blood, which cells use throughout the body.
- Cell energySupplies a building block for the way cells turn food into energy.
- Healthy agingSupports the normal upkeep of cells as you get older.
These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
What people take it for
Good evidenceRaising NAD+This part is solid. Studies consistently found higher NAD+ in the blood within 2 weeks.
Early daysWalking and staminaIn 90 people with poor leg circulation, it added about 18 meters to a 6-minute walk over 6 months. A bigger study is needed.
MixedBlood pressure and metabolismOne small study hinted at lower blood pressure, but it didn't hold up statistically. Another found no change in blood sugar control in men with obesity.
How long it takes
NAD+ in your blood climbs within 2 weeks of daily use, then holds steady. In one study it stayed up for the full 8 weeks.
- HoursNR is quickly turned into related compounds, and NAD+ starts to climb
- 2 weeksNAD+ in your blood reaches a new, higher level
- 6 to 12 weeksHow long most studies ran, with few changes in how the body works
How long it stays in your body
In one small study, NR in the blood fell by half about every 2.7 hours, while your body turned it into related compounds. NAD+ stays up while you keep taking it, but we couldn't find a clean number for how fast it fades after you stop.
What's in a capsule
One capsule holds 500 mg. Studies have used from 100 mg up to 2,000 mg a day. At 300 mg a day NAD+ rose about 51%, and at 1,000 mg about 142%, so one capsule falls in between.
What's actually known
Here's the honest picture. A review of 25 human studies found NR does raise NAD+ in blood, but it has shown few clear health effects so far. Much of the excitement comes from mice, and the human results have been quieter.
Blood isn't muscle, either. When researchers looked inside people's muscle after taking NR, NAD+ itself often hadn't changed, even though related compounds had. So a higher number on a blood test doesn't mean every tissue got the same boost.
One nice thing is the lack of flushing. Niacin, another form of B3, can cause a hot, prickly flush at larger amounts because it sets off a particular receptor. NR isn't expected to do that, and in one 8-week study nobody reported flushing. Safety looks good so far, even at 2,000 mg a day for 12 weeks, though studies have been short.
What it interacts with
- Cancer, now or in the pastCancer cells use NAD+ too. In a mouse study of one aggressive breast cancer, NR led to more cancer and spread to the brain. That's mice, not people, but talk to your oncologist first.
- Blood pressure medicinesA small study hinted at slightly lower blood pressure. It's worth watching if yours is already treated.
- Niacin and other B3NR is part of the same family, and B-complex products and multivitamins also hold B3. Keep the total in mind.
- Regular medicinesInteractions haven't been well studied, which isn't proof there are none. Ask your pharmacist if you take anything regularly.
Goes well with
Side effects
- Usually none. Studies found about the same number of complaints as with a dummy capsule.
- A few people have reported nausea, flushing, leg cramps or bruising.
Check first if
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding: the label says to check with a healthcare professional first.
- Children under 12: the label says to check with a healthcare professional first.
- Cancer, now or in the past: talk to your oncologist first.
- Liver or kidney disease: ask your doctor first, since most studies looked at healthier people.
- Any known medical condition: check with your doctor, as the label advises.
The blood tests that go with it
- HOMA-IRBlood sugar control, which NR didn't improve in men with obesity.
- HomocysteineClearing used B3 takes up methyl groups, which could raise it. It didn't change on NR in an 8-week study.
- LDL cholesterolNR didn't raise it in an 8-week study.
- PlateletsOne early study saw a slight dip, but later work with a comparison group didn't.
- hs-CRPLow-level inflammation, which may be one place NR has an effect.
- ALTA liver check. Studies haven't found changes so far.
Work it out
Supplementation
Or start from a ready-made protocol.
Start from one of these, or add it to your own. Everything comes in one pouch each morning.
Mind & balance
For your focused hours.
30-day pack · 5 a morning · 150 pills
$70.35 / month
Choose this packMind & balance
For a demanding day.
30-day pack · 6 a morning · 180 pills
$75.30 / month
Choose this packBody & skin
A skin-focused routine.
30-day pack · 6 a morning · 180 pills
$75.42 / month
Choose this packBody & skin
Put heart health in focus.
30-day pack · 7 a morning · 210 pills
$84.54 / month
Choose this packDaily foundations
Start with your gut.
30-day pack · 6 a morning · 180 pills
$98.70 / month
Choose this packBody & skin
A bone-focused foundation.
30-day pack · 6 a morning · 180 pills
$84.88 / month
Choose this packBody & skin
For an active life.
30-day pack · 5 a morning · 150 pills
$75.40 / month
Choose this packMind & balance
Make space for balance.
30-day pack · 6 a morning · 180 pills
$73.50 / month
Choose this packDaily foundations
Four mineral building blocks.
30-day pack · 4 a morning · 120 pills
$62.10 / month
Choose this packDaily foundations
An antioxidant-focused stack.
30-day pack · 6 a morning · 180 pills
$86.22 / month
Choose this packLife stages
Your everyday starting point.
30-day pack · 6 a morning · 180 pills
$79.62 / month
Choose this packLife stages
A broader daily foundation.
30-day pack · 7 a morning · 210 pills
$92.29 / month
Choose this packDaily foundations
For a plant-based routine.
30-day pack · 7 a morning · 210 pills
$86.10 / month
Choose this packYour own
Build your own pouch.
Know what you want to take? Pick each ingredient, and we time it through your day.
Build your own
- cGMP-certifiedFacilities
- FDA-registeredFacilities
- Accredited labsIndependent testing
- Non-GMOIngredient options
- OrganicIngredient options
- VeganFormula options
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Want it more precise? Get the app.
A page can only tell you about NR. The app tells you about you: whether it fits, when to take it, and whether it's working.
- Checked against your blood work and everything you already take
- On your daily timeline, around your sleep, training and meals
- Followed over time, so you can see what moved
NROPEN 09:00NR against your blood work, your sleep and what you already take.
AIYou started NR 3 months ago, and your resting heart rate and sleep look about the same. Want to review whether it's earning its place?
ASK ABOUT NRFind the goal that's yours.
Your record, your routine and LifeFrom AI, pointed at the outcome that matters to you.
Questions
What is nicotinamide riboside good for?
It raises NAD+, a molecule cells need for energy and repair. What that means for how you feel or age isn't clear yet.
What are the benefits of nicotinamide riboside?
The proven part is higher NAD+ in the blood. Hints of better walking in people with poor circulation and lower inflammation are still early.
How long does NR take to work?
NAD+ rises within 2 weeks. Whether you notice anything is another matter, and many people won't.
What are the side effects of nicotinamide riboside?
Usually none. A few people report nausea, flushing, leg cramps or bruising. Studies found these about as often as with a dummy capsule.
Is NR the same as NMN or niacin?
They're relatives. All can feed NAD+, but they take different routes. Niacin can cause a hot flush, and NR generally doesn't.
Is NR safe long term?
We don't know yet. Studies so far look good but mostly ran for 3 months or less, and one ran for 6 months.
Who should not take NR?
Check first if you're pregnant or breastfeeding, have a medical condition, or have or had cancer. The label says the same for children under 12.
Can I take NR every day?
That's how studies gave it. NAD+ rises and holds as long as you keep taking it, as far as studies have looked.
Does NR slow aging?
No one has shown that in people. It raises a molecule that falls with age, which is a long way from slowing aging itself.
Does NR interact with medicines?
It hasn't been studied much. If you take blood pressure medicine, or have ever had cancer, talk to your doctor first.
Sources
- Damgaard MV, Treebak JT. What is really known about the effects of nicotinamide riboside supplementation in humans. Sci Adv, 2023.
- Conze D et al. Safety and metabolism of long-term administration of NIAGEN in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial of healthy overweight adults. Sci Rep, 2019.
- Trammell SAJ et al. Nicotinamide riboside is uniquely and orally bioavailable in mice and humans. Nat Commun, 2016.
- Martens CR et al. Chronic nicotinamide riboside supplementation is well-tolerated and elevates NAD+ in healthy middle-aged and older adults. Nat Commun, 2018.
- Dollerup OL et al. A randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial of nicotinamide riboside in obese men. Am J Clin Nutr, 2018.
- McDermott MM et al. Nicotinamide riboside for peripheral artery disease: the NICE randomized clinical trial. Nat Commun, 2024.
- Massudi H et al. Age-associated changes in oxidative stress and NAD+ metabolism in human tissue. PLoS One, 2012.
- Maric T et al. A bioluminescent-based probe for in vivo non-invasive monitoring of nicotinamide riboside uptake reveals a link between metastasis and NAD+ metabolism. Biosens Bioelectron, 2023.
- Airhart SE et al. An open-label, non-randomized study of the pharmacokinetics of the nutritional supplement nicotinamide riboside and its effects on blood NAD+ levels. PLoS One, 2017.
Written by LifeFrom from these sources, and not yet reviewed by a clinician. Talk to your doctor before starting a supplement.
