Nicotinamide Riboside (NR)
Also known as: NR, nicotinamide riboside chloride, Niagen, NIAGEN
Nicotinamide riboside is a naturally occurring form of vitamin B3 that the body converts to NAD+ through a shorter route than niacin or niacinamide. It is sold chiefly as the chloride salt and marketed for healthy aging, cellular energy, and metabolic support. Randomized trials in healthy and overweight adults have used 100 to 1,000 mg per day for up to 8 weeks or longer with good tolerability and dose-dependent rises in blood NAD+. NIH ODS notes it is not marketed or labeled as a niacin source.
Research summary
Phosphorylated by NRK1/2 to nicotinamide mononucleotide and then to NAD+, raising the NAD+ pool available to sirtuins, PARPs, and mitochondrial dehydrogenases.
Dosage
Daily amounts, of compound.
| Lowest studied | Typical range | Highest studied | Upper limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 mg | 250–500 mg | 1,000 mg | — |
Doses are mg nicotinamide riboside chloride. An 8-week randomized trial in overweight adults compared 100, 300, and 1,000 mg/day and reported dose-dependent NAD+ increases (Conze 2019); a 6-week crossover in middle-aged and older adults also used a 1,000 mg daily regimen (Martens 2018). Water-soluble; usually taken once daily with or without food. No UL exists, and the niacin UL is not applied because NR is not labeled as niacin. Hygroscopic; supplied as the chloride.
Standardization: ≥98% nicotinamide riboside chloride
Source material: synthetic
Forms of NAD+ Precursor
| Form | Typical dose | Element % | Formats | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nicotinamide Riboside (NR) | 250–500 mg | — | Capsule, Tablet, Powder | high |
| NMN (Nicotinamide Mononucleotide) | 250–600 mg | — | Capsule, Tablet, Powder | premium |
Format suitability
- Capsule
- Powder
- Tablet
- Softgel
- Gummy
- Liquid
Hygroscopic and heat-sensitive; keep out of hot-process gummies and aqueous liquids without stability data.
Formulation notes
Often stacked with pterostilbene, resveratrol, or trimethylglycine in NAD+ formulas. Nicotinamide is a metabolite, so total B3 load rises with high doses.
Sources
- Niacin — Health Professional Fact SheetNIH ODS
- Safety and Metabolism of Long-term Administration of NIAGEN (Nicotinamide Riboside Chloride) in a Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-controlled Clinical Trial of Healthy Overweight Adults. (Conze D, 2019)PubMed
- Chronic nicotinamide riboside supplementation is well-tolerated and elevates NAD(+) in healthy middle-aged and older adults. (Martens CR, 2018)PubMed
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