NAD Booster Supplements Review (NAD+/NADH, Nicotinamide Riboside, and NMN)

How Important Is Boosting NAD+ Levels? Find Out and Learn How Booster Supplements Compare.

Latest Update

Nicotinamide Riboside for Peripheral Artery Disease?

Medically reviewed and edited by Tod Cooperman, M.D.

Updated June 17, 2024 ⓘ Published November 02, 2021

NAD Boosters (NAD+/NADH, Nicotinamide Ribose, and NMN)

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In addition the results of its expert testing, ConsumerLab uses only high-quality, evidence based, information sources. These sources include peer-reviewed studies and information from agencies such as the FDA and USDA, and the National Academy of Medicine. On evolving topics, studies from pre-print journals may be sourced. All of our content is reviewed by medical doctors and doctoral-level experts in pharmacology, toxicology, and chemistry. We continually update and medically review our information to keep our content trustworthy, accurate, and reliable. The following sources are referenced in this article:

Summary

What Are NAD Boosters and Do They Help?
Most cells in your body use NAD as a coenzyme in the production of energy from glucose. The thinking behind supplements that boost NAD levels is that they can, therefore, boost energy and have other positive effects in the body. Conditions for which they have been tried in small studies include chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), improving cognitive function, dementia, Parkinson's disease, depression, cholesterol-lowering, and blood sugar control. However, there is no good clinical evidence (based on the studies reviewed in this report) to support these uses despite some interesting laboratory findings. It is not even clear that taking these supplements will increase NAD in cells in organs such as the brain, even though they raise NAD levels in the blood and blood cells. Furthermore, if you have adequate intake of vitamin B3 (as niacin, niacinamide, or nicotinamide), you are already getting the basic building block for NAD, which is nicotinamide. (See What It Is).
What Did ConsumerLab's Tests Show?
We purchased and tested the quality of several types of NAD boosting supplements: NAD, NADH, nicotinamide riboside, and NMN (nicotinamide mononucleotide) supplements. While we found each to provide its listed amount of key ingredient, and none was contaminated with lead, arsenic, or cadmium, we found many of these products to be relatively expensive, although you can save a lot (as much as 67%) by carefully comparing products to choose the right brand. (See What CL Found)

In addition, it's important to know that the amount of nicotinamide riboside (found in branded ingredients such as Niagen and Tru Niagen) in a supplement is typically not shown on the label and is greatly affected by the chemical form (e.g., chloride or hydrogen malate) used. In this report, we've made it easy to compare actual amounts of nicotinamide riboside across products.
Which NAD Boosters Are CL's Top Pick?
In each category of NAD booster, NAD/ NADH, nicotinamide riboside, and NMN, we chose a Top Pick, based on high quality and low cost.
Concerns with NAD Boosters?
In addition to the strong possibility that these supplements will not provide a benefit and tend to be expensive, be aware that some provide amounts of vitamin B-3 above the established daily upper tolerable intake level. There is also a theoretical safety concern that compounds that raise NAD+ levels like, nicotinamide riboside, as well as NAD, NADH, and possibly NMN, may promote the growth of existing cancers. (See Concerns and Cautions)

Make sure you're choosing the best NAD booster supplements approved in our tests!

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NAD Boosters (NAD+, NADH, Nicotinamide Ribose, and NMN) compared in this review

Alive By Science NMN SL

Double Wood NMN 250 mg

iHealth NMN Coffee

iHealth NMN Gene Balance

iHealth NMN Refresh Electrolyte Drink

Life Extension Nad+ Cell Regenerator 300 mg

MAAC10 Nicotinamide Mononucleotide

PipingRock.com True N.A.D. 260 mg

Source Naturals NADH

Swanson Maximum Strength NADH

Thorne NiaCel 200

Tru Niagen 300 mg

You must be a member to get the full test results along with ConsumerLab.com recommendations and quality ratings. You will get results for 11 NAD booster supplements selected by ConsumerLab.com.

In this comprehensive review, you'll discover:

Which NAD booster supplements passed or failed our tests
ConsumerLab.com's Top Picks, representing the best quality NAD+, NADH, nicotinamide ribose, and NMN supplements at the best price
How much nicotinamide riboside is actually in each supplement, information that you may not know from reading product labels

The evidence for and against the promoted health benefits of NAD supplements, including boosting energy, improving cognitition, lowering cholesterol, and improving blood sugar control, as well as improving symtpoms of Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).
How different ingredients in NAD booster supplements compare, including, NAD+, NADH, nicotinamide ribose, and NMN compare
How to buy and use NAD+, NADH, nicotinamide ribose, and NMN supplements
The safety of NAD+, NADH, nicotinamide ribose, and NMN supplements

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NAD Booster Supplements Review (NAD+/NADH, Nicotinamide Riboside, and NMN)

How Important Is Boosting NAD+ Levels? Find Out and Learn How Booster Supplements Compare.

Summary

What Are NAD Boosters and Do They Help?

What Did ConsumerLab's Tests Show?

Which NAD Boosters Are CL's Top Pick?

Concerns with NAD Boosters?

Make sure you're choosing the best NAD booster supplements approved in our tests!