NAD+

A ubiquitous cellular redox cofactor rather than a peptide.

Early human evidenceNon-peptide compound reference

Also known as: Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, Oxidized NAD

(how we review)

Open the calculator

Dosing & scaling, explained

The in-app 50-100 mg injection presets are source-library conventions. The cited human IV pilot used a different route, amount, and six-hour infusion. This is educational source context, not a protocol or recommendation.

How sourced amounts are organized

  1. Starting pointNot clinically establishedNo validated titration window

    There is no regulator-approved starting dose for this research use. A low-looking number is not automatically safe.

  2. Recorded preset50-100 mg per administrationCalculator library reference

    This is the range represented in the in-app protocol library. It describes the source record; it does not validate the regimen.

  3. Higher exposureNo validated bolus ceilingRisk and uncertainty increase

    Higher exposure is not established as more effective. Human pharmacokinetic and long-term safety data may be absent.

Route and infusion rate are central to interpretation. A slow IV infusion cannot validate a subcutaneous or intramuscular preset.

Patterns described in source material

  • Every 2-3 days in recorded presets

    The cadence represented by the recorded calculator presets.

  • 750 mg over 6 hours in one IV PK pilot

    Published experiments may use a different route, formulation, timing, or population and should not be treated as interchangeable.

  • No universal schedule

    No single schedule has been validated across products or research contexts.

Clinical context
  • 750 mg total6-hour IV infusionHuman metabolome pilotn=8 active participants

The pilot characterized metabolism and tolerability; it did not establish a therapeutic dose or outcome.

Storage, handling and interpretation

Lyophilized material

Keep cold, dry, and protected from light according to the manufacturer certificate or validated lab SOP.

After reconstitution

Use sterile technique, refrigerate as validated, and avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles.

Traceability

Record lot, concentration, preparation date, and the identity/purity documentation used by the lab.

Reported protocols for NAD+

What published studies and recent community write-ups report about amounts, timing and course length. 3 clinical, 2 preclinical and 4 community-reported rows, each linked to its source. These are descriptions of what others report, not instructions, and nothing here is medical advice.

ContextDoseFrequencyRouteCourseSource
Clinical3 rows
Only published human pharmacokinetic study of intravenous NAD+11 men aged 30-55 with a BMI under 30 (8 given NAD+, 3 given saline)750 mg in normal saline, about 2 mg per minute (3 micromoles per minute)Single infusionIntravenous over 6 hours, with 0.1% dextrose in the bagOne 6-hour session, sampled to 8 hoursNot applicableFrontiers in Aging Neuroscience (PubMed Central)2019
Plasma NAD+ did not change at all until after 2 hours and rose 398% only at the end of the infusion, which the authors read as complete removal from plasma at this rate for at least the first two hours. No adverse events occurred and liver enzyme shifts were judged not clinically significant; the authors state the 750 mg dose was chosen empirically because it is what clinics commonly use, not from dose finding.
Oral precursor trial in Parkinson's disease (NADPARK)30 newly diagnosed, treatment-naive patients with Parkinson's disease1000 mg of nicotinamide riboside per day, or placeboDailyOral30 daysNoneCell Metabolism (PubMed)2022
Cerebral NAD levels measured by phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy rose significantly but variably, and the subset whose brain NAD rose showed altered cerebral glucose metabolism with mild clinical improvement. This is a precursor given by mouth rather than NAD+ itself, and it is the strongest design in this area: a randomized phase 1 trial.
High-dose oral precursor safety trial (NR-SAFE)20 adults with Parkinson's disease, randomized 1 to 1 against placebo1500 mg of nicotinamide riboside twice daily (3000 mg per day)Twice dailyOral4 weeksNoneNature Communications2023
No moderate or severe adverse events occurred and blood NAD+ rose up to 5-fold, with a slight early rise in serum homocysteine that did not deplete the methyl donor pool. The authors supported extending phase 2 dosing to 3000 mg a day with safety monitoring, and noted that clinical improvement was confounded by levodopa timing.
Preclinical2 rows
Rat focal ischemia model, intranasal NAD+Rats with transient focal cerebral ischemia10 mg/kgSingle dose, given 2 hours after the ischemic onsetIntranasalSingle dose, assessed at 24 and 72 hoursNot applicableFrontiers in Bioscience (PubMed)2007
Intranasal NAD+ raised brain NAD+ content, sharply reduced infarct size at both timepoints and lessened neurological deficits, while the same 10 mg/kg dose of nicotinamide did not. This is the first in vivo evidence that NAD+ itself can be delivered to the brain, in rats and by a route not used in wellness practice.
Isotope tracing of NAD synthesis and breakdown in miceCell lines and mice given labeled NAD precursors50 mg/kg of labeled nicotinamide riboside or mononucleotide (200 mg/kg in a follow-up arm)Single bolus per experimentIntravenous bolus compared head to head with oral gavageHours of tracer samplingNot applicableCell Metabolism (PubMed)2018
Intravenous nicotinamide riboside and mononucleotide reached several tissues intact, but the same molecules given by mouth were broken down to nicotinamide in the liver first, and NAD turnover varied widely between tissues. The authors note that 50 mg/kg in a mouse is roughly 290 mg in a 70 kg adult on a body surface area basis, which puts it in the range of common supplements.
Community-reported4 rows
Prescriber-oriented summary of subcutaneous and intravenous practiceSubcutaneous: about 20 mg per injection to start, titrated to about 100 mg; maintenance 50-100 mg. Intravenous: 500-1000 mg per day for intensive addiction detox protocols1-3 injections weekly during the initial phase, then weekly or every other week; detox infusions dailySubcutaneous self-injection from a reconstituted 500 mg lyophilized vial, or clinic intravenous drip4-10 days for detox infusion courses; open-ended for maintenance injectionsNone described; dose stepping replaces cyclingCommunity resource2026
This September 2026 guide describes headache, nausea, dizziness and flushing as dose-rate dependent, notes that fast infusion causes real vasodilation with hypotension and tachycardia, and states that some prescribers avoid going above about 300 mg a week subcutaneously. It flags cancer history, pregnancy, severe liver or kidney impairment and unstable cardiovascular disease as contraindications and calls these practice ranges rather than trial-established doses.

How a course is commonly described

  1. Loading phaseCommunity-reported

    Clinic protocols front-load sessions: four 500 mg infusions over 4-7 days in one practice, or weekly infusions over about six weeks with the dose stepping up each time in another. The stated goal is to saturate stores before spacing sessions out, a rationale with no trial behind it.

  2. Subcutaneous titration, weeks 1-6Community-reported

    Injection protocols start around 20-25 mg and climb over several weeks toward 100 mg, one to three times a week, because headache, nausea and dizziness track the size and speed of the dose rather than cumulative exposure.

  3. Weeks 4-8: assessment pointCommunity-reported

    The same 2026 guide reports that practitioners expect energy and cognitive changes, when they happen, to emerge gradually over four to eight weeks rather than immediately, and treats week eight with unremarkable labs as the point to reconsider the dose or route.

  4. MaintenanceCommunity-reported

    After loading, infusion intervals stretch to weekly, every two weeks or monthly at 500-1000 mg, and subcutaneous use settles at 50-100 mg weekly. Providers set the interval from how long the subjective effect is reported to last, usually described as one to two weeks.

  5. Clinical comparisonClinical

    The single published human study of intravenous NAD+ gave one 750 mg infusion over 6 hours and found plasma NAD+ unchanged for the first 2 hours, with no outcome measures taken at all. No trial has tested a loading series, a maintenance interval or subcutaneous NAD+ against placebo.

  6. Where the evidence standsClinical

    A 2026 review of intravenous longevity infusions found transient falls in oxidative biomarkers and modest fatigue improvements, almost all from disease-specific or aesthetic settings rather than healthy aging cohorts, with few validated aging biomarkers and heterogeneous protocols. Its authors conclude that intravenous longevity therapy should be treated as experimental rather than evidence-based practice.

  • The entire human record for injected or infused NAD+ is one 2019 pharmacokinetic pilot in 8 men. A 2026 systematic review of 113 studies found no outcome trial of intravenous or intramuscular NAD+ for wellness or anti-aging, so loading series and maintenance intervals are clinic convention.
  • Infusion rate matters more than dose for tolerability: NAD+ given quickly causes flushing, chest tightness, a drop in blood pressure and a faster heart rate, which is why clinic protocols stretch 500 mg over 3-4 hours and slow the drip when symptoms start.
  • NAD+ is not FDA-approved for any indication and injectable preparations are compounded products that receive no pre-market review. Published cautions include cancer history, pregnancy and breastfeeding, severe liver or kidney impairment and unstable cardiovascular disease. The rows above record what sources report, not endorsements of use.
Sources for this section (11)
  1. A Pilot Study Investigating Changes in the Human Plasma and Urine NAD+ Metabolome During a 6 Hour Intravenous Infusion of NAD+Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience (PubMed Central)2019Clinical
  2. NAD+ supplementation for anti-aging and wellness: A PRISMA-guided systematic review of preclinical and clinical evidenceAgeing Research Reviews (PubMed)2026Clinical
  3. Intravenous longevity therapy: a critical review of evidence, mechanisms, and clinical utilityActa Dermatovenerologica Alpina Pannonica et Adriatica (PubMed)2026Clinical
  4. The NADPARK study: A randomized phase I trial of nicotinamide riboside supplementation in Parkinson's diseaseCell Metabolism (PubMed)2022Clinical
  5. NR-SAFE: a randomized, double-blind safety trial of high dose nicotinamide riboside in Parkinson's diseaseNature Communications2023Clinical
  6. Intranasal administration with NAD+ profoundly decreases brain injury in a rat model of transient focal ischemiaFrontiers in Bioscience (PubMed)2007Preclinical
  7. Quantitative Analysis of NAD Synthesis-Breakdown FluxesCell Metabolism (PubMed)2018Preclinical

Plus 4 community resources (dosing guides, forum threads and vendor write-ups), reported above but not linked.

Overview

NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) is a coenzyme present in every cell, where it carries electrons through glycolysis and the citric acid cycle and serves as the substrate consumed by sirtuins, PARP enzymes and CD38. Tissue levels fall with age and with oxidative stress, which is the rationale behind the wellness industry's NAD-boosting products: oral precursors such as nicotinamide riboside and nicotinamide mononucleotide, and parenteral NAD+ itself given by intravenous drip or subcutaneous injection. It is not approved by the FDA for any indication, injectable forms are compounded preparations that receive no pre-market review, and a 2026 systematic review found no outcome trials at all of intravenous or intramuscular NAD+ for anti-aging or wellness use. Because it is a dinucleotide rather than a peptide, it has no amino acid sequence.

What researchers are exploring

These themes describe recurring questions in published research. They are not claims of effectiveness or recommendations for use.

  • 1

    Cellular redox

    NAD+/NADH couples carry electrons in core metabolic pathways.

  • 2

    Enzyme signaling

    NAD+ is consumed by sirtuins, PARPs, and other signaling enzymes.

  • 3

    Aging biology

    Precursor strategies aim to change NAD-related metabolites, with mixed functional outcomes.

  • 4

    Parenteral pharmacokinetics

    A small IV pilot measured plasma and urinary metabolites during a six-hour infusion.

What the current evidence can support

Study models remain visible so laboratory and animal findings are not mistaken for established human outcomes.

  • Human

    Small IV pharmacokinetic pilot

    Eight participants received 750 mg NAD+ over six hours; the study measured metabolite handling, not clinical efficacy.

  • Review

    Precursor evidence is not direct NAD+ evidence

    Human NR and NMN trials cannot be automatically generalized to injected NAD+.

  • Review

    Clinical outcomes remain inconclusive

    Reviews find biochemical target engagement more consistently than meaningful health outcomes.

Amounts recorded for NAD+

These amount records are independent from vial strength, reconstitution volume and measuring device. A recorded source is not the same as study backing, and these values are not recommendations.

  • 1
    Lower recordedSign in for schedule, duration and source context.
    50 mg
  • 2
    Typical Dose Range · upper endpointSign in for schedule, duration and source context.
    250 mg
  • 3
    More Intensive Therapy · lower endpointSign in for schedule, duration and source context.
    500 mg

Chemistry identifiers

Sequence, synonyms and registry identifiers as recorded in PubChem, the National Library of Medicine's open chemistry database. Formula, mass and CAS number are summarized at the top of the page.

Also listed as

Nadide, beta-NAD, Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, Coenzyme I, Diphosphopyridine nucleotide, Cozymase, UNII 0U46U6E8UK, NSC 20272

InChIKey

BAWFJGJZGIEFAR-NNYOXOHSSA-N

Origin / design

Endogenous redox and enzyme cosubstrate present in all cells

IUPAC name

[[(2R,3S,4R,5R)-5-(6-aminopurin-9-yl)-3,4-dihydroxyoxolan-2-yl]methoxy-hydroxyphosphoryl] [(2R,3S,4R,5R)-5-(3-carbamoylpyridin-1-ium-1-yl)-3,4-dihydroxyoxolan-2-yl]methyl phosphate

Limitations and unknowns

Important limitations

  • NAD+, NADH, NR, NMN, niacin, and nicotinamide are related but non-interchangeable interventions.
  • Direct IV/IM NAD+ lacks large randomized outcomes trials for anti-aging or wellness claims.
  • A calculator preset is a recorded research convention, not a recommendation or evidence of clinical benefit.
  • Identity, purity, sterility, and stability can vary substantially outside regulated manufacturing.
  • Route, formulation, and population can make results from one study inapplicable to another use.

Sources

2 curated references, each with its journal, year and study model, plus 4 community resources reported but not linked.

  1. A Pilot Study Investigating Changes in the Human Plasma and Urine NAD+ Metabolome During a 6 Hour Intravenous Infusion of NAD+Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience2019Human
  2. NAD+ supplementation for anti-aging and wellness: a PRISMA-guided systematic reviewSystematic review2026Review

Guides that go deeper