A quiet analytical research laboratory at night, racks of glass vials along a dim bench.

Nicotinamide Riboside (NR)

Nicotinamide riboside is the NAD+ precursor with the most complete regulatory file: US GRAS notification, EU novel food authorization, and human pharmacokinetic trials showing raised blood NAD+. Its weak points are instability in water and plasma and conversion to nicotinamide before reaching tissue.

Molecule and pharmacology

NR (the cation is 255.3 Da; commercial form is NR chloride) is a nucleoside form of vitamin B3. Inside cells, nicotinamide riboside kinases phosphorylate it to NMN, which becomes NAD+. In the gut and blood a large share is cleaved to nicotinamide. Even so, oral NR raises whole-blood NAD+ in a dose-dependent way in humans, showing that some precursor or its products reach the NAD+ pool. NR chloride is a crystalline, water-soluble salt that absorbs moisture readily.

Evidence tier

Human: single-dose and repeat-dose trials show raised blood NAD+ and its metabolome; a trial in healthy middle-aged and older adults reported a roughly 60% rise in blood cell NAD+, with no significant change in most physiological endpoints. Animal: NR improved mitochondrial and metabolic markers in several mouse models. Clinical outcomes in humans remain unestablished. No approved drug use. Evidence tier: human trial for NAD+ pharmacokinetics; clinical benefits not established. No approved drug use exists.

Regulatory status

United States: NR chloride is the subject of a GRAS notice to FDA with no questions and is marketed as a dietary supplement ingredient. European Union: NR chloride is an authorized novel food under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/16, with specified use levels. Other markets vary. Not on the WADA Prohibited List. Health Canada and other regulators have separate pathways, and permitted claims are limited to nutrient or structure and function wording where allowed.

Key facts

Oral NR raised human blood NAD+ in a dose-dependent manner (Trammell et al. 2016, Nat Commun 7:12948)
NR 1,000 mg/day for 6 weeks raised blood cell NAD+ by about 60% in healthy middle-aged and older adults (Martens et al. 2018, Nat Commun 9:1286)
NR chloride is authorized as a novel food in the EU (Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/16)
FDA responded with no questions to the GRAS notice for nicotinamide riboside chloride (FDA GRAS Notice GRN 635, 2016)

How our delivery technology applies

NR's glycosidic bond hydrolyzes in water and in plasma, releasing nicotinamide. A multi-layer shell reduces hydrolysis during storage and in the gut lumen and slows release so less NR is exposed to cleavage at once. The measurable endpoint is the ratio of NAD+ rise to nicotinamide rise in blood compared with unencapsulated NR.

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