NR (Nicotinamide Riboside): A Complete Guide To The Supplement For Mitochondrial Health + Longevity

But, it turns out, scientists do think they’re getting closer to longevity in a capsule in the form of something called nicotinamide riboside (NR), which they’re formulating into increasingly popular supplements that claim to boost energy and longevity, prevent disease, and slow the aging process.

Here, learn about the fascinating connection between NR and NAD+, the potential benefits of taking an NR supplement, and more.

Many of the studies on NR and NAD+ have been performed on animals, which means we can’t draw conclusions for humans just yet. But here are some of the most exciting preliminary findings.

The good news: If you increase levels of NAD+ in the body by supplementing with a precursor like NR, you may be able to minimize mitochondrial deterioration—and thus help prevent diseases of aging. That’s because NAD+ seems to exert some of its health promoting properties is by helping sirtuins do their job1. Sirtuins are a class of proteins that regulate biological pathways, turn certain genes on and off, and help protect cells from age-related decline. For example, NAD+ increases the activity of SIRT12, which has been found to induce the formation of new mitochondria and extend lifespan.

Alzheimer’s is one of those diseases that can make getting older downright terrifying—and promising research on finding a cure, or a way to slow its progression, has been lacking. That’s why this 2018 study3 is so exciting: Researchers developed a strain of mice with features mimicking human Alzheimer’s disease, and then they added an NR supplement to the drinking water of half the mice for three months. Over this period, researchers found that the NR-treated mice had less DNA damage, higher neuroplasticity, increased production of new neurons, and lower levels of neuronal damage. In the hippocampus area of the brain (where damage and loss of volume is found in people with dementia) NR seemed to clear existing DNA damage or prevent it from spreading further. The NR-treated mice also performed better on memory tests.

Several studies4 have found that replenishing levels of NAD+ with supplements containing NR lengthen the lifespan of mice by improving mitochondrial function and increasing activation of SIRT15, a specific sirtuin protein. This is the same mechanism by which restricting calories seems to lengthen lifespan. (Additional compounds that may mimic the life-extending effects of calorie restriction include pterostilbene and resveratrol.) Other studies suggest that NAD+ increases the activation of SIRT66, which helps maintain the length of telomeres—the end caps on DNA that are associated with longevity.

In another study, supplementation with NAD+ precursors led to DNA repair and an improvement in the health of muscle tissue within the first week—to the point where researchers couldn’t tell the difference between the tissue of a mouse that was two years old versus a mouse that was four months old.

Animal research suggests that NR supplementation may help boost metabolism and prevent weight gain, even if your diet is high in fat. One study7 found that mice on high-fat diets that received NR gained 60 percent less weight than they did on the same diets without NR. These positive results, researchers say, were due to increased activation of the sirtuins SIRT1 and SIRT3, which led to improved oxidative metabolism. None of the mice receiving NR showed signs of diabetes either, and their energy levels improved.

However, due to the fact that subjects only received the supplement for 6 weeks, no conclusive health benefits for humans were able to be established. Subjects did tend to experience a drop in blood pressure, but it wasn’t statistically significant. Further studies, taking place over longer periods of time, are necessary to determine specific health benefits of NR-containing supplements like Tru Niagen or Basis.

The proposed benefits of NR are definitely enticing—but pretty much all studies have been done on animals. And while, yes, NR-containing supplements like Tru Niagen and Basis can increase levels of NAD+ in the body, we still don’t know if they can increase levels enough to actually slow down the aging process or result in any other meaningful health benefits. That said, there don’t appear to be any major health risks associated with NR supplements, so if you want to give one a try, it’s likely safe to do so. Just check with your healthcare provider first.