Nicotinamide Riboside
Nicotinamide riboside is an NAD+ precursor studied for metabolic and aging-related biomarkers. Clinical outcome data are still early.
Overview
What is Nicotinamide riboside?
Nicotinamide riboside is a form of vitamin B3 that is a precursor to NAD+ in the body.
Dosage
Typical doses of nicotinamide riboside in clinical studies range from 250 mg to 2000 mg daily, often split into two doses. Doses of 1000 mg twice daily have been used in trials for up to 12 weeks.
Effect graph
Effect heatmap
SupplementDEX Database
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Database Snapshot
Most nicotinamide riboside research is concentrated in a handful of conditions.
- Obesity accounts for 3 of 15 studies (20%).
- Mild cognitive impairment accounts for 2 of 15 studies (13%).
- Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) accounts for 2 of 15 studies (13%).
- Sparse coverage remains for Mild cognitive impairment, Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), Parkinson's disease.
Dietary Sources
Top dietary sources
Food sources
Sources include Brewer's yeast and Cow's milk.
Safety
Dose windows
Long-term
Nicotinamide riboside is generally well tolerated at studied doses. Long-term safety data are limited. Consult a healthcare provider before use, especially if you have a medical condition or take other medications.
Frequently Asked Questions
References
Sources14 references
SupplementDEX uses only high-quality sources to determine supplement effectiveness.
1.SupplementDEX Database: Athletic performance — Acute nicotinamide riboside supplementation improves redox homeostasis and exercise performance in old individuals: a double-blind cross-over study2020
In old but not young adults, acute nicotinamide riboside supplementation improved redox markers and isometric muscle torque by 8% and fatigue index by 15% in a crossover trial.
2.SupplementDEX Database: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease — Effect of nicotinamide riboside on airway inflammation in COPD: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial2024
In 40 stable COPD patients, nicotinamide riboside for 6 weeks reduced sputum IL-8 by 53% vs placebo, with effects persisting 12 weeks after stopping; NAD+ doubled in blood.
3.SupplementDEX Database: Mild cognitive impairment — Cognitive and Alzheimer's disease biomarker effects of oral nicotinamide riboside (NR) supplementation in older adults with subjective cognitive decline and mild cognitive impairment2025
In 46 older adults with subjective cognitive decline or MCI, 8 weeks of nicotinamide riboside 1 g/day did not improve RBANS cognition vs placebo in a crossover trial.
4.SupplementDEX Database: Mild cognitive impairment — A randomized placebo-controlled trial of nicotinamide riboside in older adults with mild cognitive impairment2023
In 20 older adults with MCI, 10 weeks of nicotinamide riboside 1 g/day safely doubled blood NAD+ but did not change MoCA or other cognitive scores vs placebo.
SupplementDEX Database · Heart failure
1 reference5.SupplementDEX Database: Heart failure — Safety and Tolerability of Nicotinamide Riboside in Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction2022
In 30 heart failure patients with reduced ejection fraction, nicotinamide riboside 1000 mg twice daily was safe, doubled blood NAD+, and correlated with improved PBMC respiration.
SupplementDEX Database · High blood pressure
1 reference6.SupplementDEX Database: High blood pressure — Chronic nicotinamide riboside supplementation is well-tolerated and elevates NAD+ in healthy middle-aged and older adults2018
A crossover trial in healthy middle-aged and older adults found chronic nicotinamide riboside supplementation was well tolerated and effectively raised NAD+ metabolism.
SupplementDEX Database · Hyperlipidemia
1 reference7.SupplementDEX Database: Hyperlipidemia — A randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial of nicotinamide riboside in obese men: safety, insulin-sensitivity, and lipid-mobilizing effects2018
In obese insulin-resistant men, nicotinamide riboside 1000 mg twice daily for 12 weeks was safe but did not improve insulin sensitivity, hepatic steatosis, or body composition vs placebo.
8.SupplementDEX Database: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) — Nicotinamide riboside and pterostilbene reduces markers of hepatic inflammation in NAFLD: A double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial2023
In 111 adults with NAFLD, 6 months of nicotinamide riboside plus pterostilbene lowered ALT, GGT, and ceramide 14:0 vs placebo but did not reduce hepatic fat fraction.
9.SupplementDEX Database: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) — Nicotinamide supplementation in diabetic nonalcoholic fatty liver disease patients: randomized controlled trial2022
In 61 diabetic NAFLD patients, nicotinamide 1000 mg/day for 12 weeks reduced ALT by 26.6% vs 0.74% in controls but did not change steatosis or fibrosis scores.
SupplementDEX Database · Obesity
2 references10.SupplementDEX Database: Obesity — Nicotinamide riboside supplementation alters body composition and skeletal muscle acetylcarnitine concentrations in healthy obese humans2020
In 13 overweight adults, 6 weeks of nicotinamide riboside 1000 mg/day increased fat-free mass by 1.34%, raised sleeping metabolic rate, and altered skeletal muscle acetylcarnitine vs placebo.
11.SupplementDEX Database: Obesity — Effects of Nicotinamide Riboside on Endocrine Pancreatic Function and Incretin Hormones in Nondiabetic Men With Obesity2019
In 20 obese nondiabetic men, nicotinamide riboside 1000 mg twice daily for 12 weeks did not change beta-cell function, glucagon, or incretin hormones vs placebo.
SupplementDEX Database · Parkinson's disease
2 references12.SupplementDEX Database: Parkinson's disease — NR-SAFE: a randomized, double-blind safety trial of high dose nicotinamide riboside in Parkinson's disease2023
In 20 Parkinson's disease patients, nicotinamide riboside 1500 mg twice daily for 4 weeks was well tolerated with no moderate/severe adverse events and showed possible clinical improvement.
13.SupplementDEX Database: Parkinson's disease — The NADPARK study: A randomized phase I trial of nicotinamide riboside supplementation in Parkinson's disease2022
In 30 newly diagnosed, untreated Parkinson's patients, 1000 mg/day nicotinamide riboside for 30 days raised brain NAD+, altered brain metabolism, and associated with mild clinical improvement.
SupplementDEX Database · Sarcopenia
1 reference14.SupplementDEX Database: Sarcopenia — The Effect of Nicotinamide Mononucleotide and Riboside on Skeletal Muscle Mass and Function: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis2025
A meta-analysis of NAD+ precursor trials in older adults found NMN/NR did not significantly improve skeletal muscle index, handgrip strength, or gait speed vs placebo.