NAC vs NAD vs NR vs NMN? What are the Differences?
NAC vs NAD vs
NR vs NMN? Due to the small alphabetical differences, these supplements are often
mixed up and confused by most consumers. We will cover the essentials and
explain about each of these supplements below.
NAD
NAD is derived from Nicotinamide Riboside (NR). The levels of NAD in our body determine the speed of aging process. In younger cells and tissues, the levels of NAD are higher. As a result, younger people tend to have better physical activity, cognitive function and potential for cell repair and regeneration. As we grow, the levels of NAD in our body start to decline. This is reflected in the form of slowed cognitive response, loss of memory and reduced agility.
Related: Longevity and Anti Aging 101: What You Need to Know (A Comprehensive Guide)
Research suggests it may be possible to reverse mitochondrial decay with
dietary supplements that increase cellular levels of a molecule called NAD
(nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide).
NAD is a linchpin of energy metabolism, among other roles, and its diminishing level with age has been implicated in mitochondrial deterioration. Supplements containing nicotinamide riboside, or NR, a precursor to NAD that's found in trace amounts in milk, might be able to boost NAD levels. In support of that idea, half a dozen Nobel laureates and other prominent scientists are working with two small companies offering NR supplements.
The NAD story took off toward the end of 2013 with a high-profile paper by Harvard's David Sinclair and colleagues. Sinclair, recall, achieved fame in the mid-2000s for research on yeast and mice that suggested the red wine ingredient resveratrol mimics anti-aging effects of calorie restriction. This time his lab made headlines by reporting that the mitochondria in muscles of elderly mice were restored to a youthful state after just a week of injections with NMN (nicotinamide mononucleotide), a molecule that naturally occurs in cells and, like NR, boosts levels of NAD.
NAD boosters might work synergistically with supplements like resveratrol to help reinvigorate mitochondria and ward off diseases of aging. Elysium is banking on this potential synergy—its NR-containing supplement includes a resveratrol-like substance called pterostilbene (pronounced tero-STILL-bean), which is found in blueberries and grapes.
While resveratrol has hogged the anti-aging spotlight over the past decade, unsung researchers in places like Oxford, Miss., have quietly shown that pterostilbene is a kind of extra-potent version of resveratrol. The pterostilbene molecule is nearly identical to resveratrol's except for a couple of differences that make it more "bioavailable" (animal studies indicate that about four times as much ingested pterostilbene gets into the bloodstream as resveratrol). Test-tube and rodent studies also suggest that pterostilbene is more potent than resveratrol when it comes to improving brain function, warding off various kinds of cancer and preventing heart disease.
How excited should we be about all this? If I were a middle-aged mouse, I'd be ready to spend some of the nickels and dimes I'd dragged off the sidewalk to try NR supplements. Even before Sinclair's paper, researchers had shown in 2012 that when given doses of NR, mice on high-fat diets gained 60 percent less weight than they did on the same diets without NR. Further, none of the mice on NR showed signs of diabetes, and their energy levels improved. The scientists reportedly characterized NR's effects on metabolism as "nothing short of astonishing."
But the paucity of human data gives me pause. Nobel laureates notwithstanding, I plan to wait until more is known before jumping up from the supper table to run out for some NR. Besides, it probably won’t be long before more data come out given the growing buzz about NAD.
NAD is a linchpin of energy metabolism, among other roles, and its diminishing level with age has been implicated in mitochondrial deterioration. Supplements containing nicotinamide riboside, or NR, a precursor to NAD that's found in trace amounts in milk, might be able to boost NAD levels. In support of that idea, half a dozen Nobel laureates and other prominent scientists are working with two small companies offering NR supplements.
The NAD story took off toward the end of 2013 with a high-profile paper by Harvard's David Sinclair and colleagues. Sinclair, recall, achieved fame in the mid-2000s for research on yeast and mice that suggested the red wine ingredient resveratrol mimics anti-aging effects of calorie restriction. This time his lab made headlines by reporting that the mitochondria in muscles of elderly mice were restored to a youthful state after just a week of injections with NMN (nicotinamide mononucleotide), a molecule that naturally occurs in cells and, like NR, boosts levels of NAD.
NAD boosters might work synergistically with supplements like resveratrol to help reinvigorate mitochondria and ward off diseases of aging. Elysium is banking on this potential synergy—its NR-containing supplement includes a resveratrol-like substance called pterostilbene (pronounced tero-STILL-bean), which is found in blueberries and grapes.
While resveratrol has hogged the anti-aging spotlight over the past decade, unsung researchers in places like Oxford, Miss., have quietly shown that pterostilbene is a kind of extra-potent version of resveratrol. The pterostilbene molecule is nearly identical to resveratrol's except for a couple of differences that make it more "bioavailable" (animal studies indicate that about four times as much ingested pterostilbene gets into the bloodstream as resveratrol). Test-tube and rodent studies also suggest that pterostilbene is more potent than resveratrol when it comes to improving brain function, warding off various kinds of cancer and preventing heart disease.
How excited should we be about all this? If I were a middle-aged mouse, I'd be ready to spend some of the nickels and dimes I'd dragged off the sidewalk to try NR supplements. Even before Sinclair's paper, researchers had shown in 2012 that when given doses of NR, mice on high-fat diets gained 60 percent less weight than they did on the same diets without NR. Further, none of the mice on NR showed signs of diabetes, and their energy levels improved. The scientists reportedly characterized NR's effects on metabolism as "nothing short of astonishing."
But the paucity of human data gives me pause. Nobel laureates notwithstanding, I plan to wait until more is known before jumping up from the supper table to run out for some NR. Besides, it probably won’t be long before more data come out given the growing buzz about NAD.
NAD vs NAD+: What's the difference?
If you have done any research on aging and health recently, you have likely stumbled across the so-called anti-aging molecule, NAD. You have probably also seen it called NAD+ and maybe even as NADH. So, what is the difference, if there is any?The short answer is that there is a difference, at least between NAD and NADH. Generally speaking, when NAD is used, NAD is being talked about generally. And often when using “NAD” it is referring to the specific chemical forms of NAD, NAD+ and NADH, interchangeably.
NAD exists in two forms: NAD+ and NADH. Its ability to switch between these two forms is what allows NAD to carry out its main function—carrying electrons from one reaction to another in the process of metabolism and energy production.
As an electron carrier, NAD+ and NADH help to convert the nutrients in your food into a form of energy your cells can use.
NAC (N-Acetyl Cysteine)
Cysteine is a semi-essential amino acid. It’s considered semi-essential because your body can produce it from other amino acids, namely methionine and serine. It becomes essential only when the dietary intake of methionine and serine is low.Cysteine is found in most high-protein foods, such as chicken, turkey, yogurt, cheese, eggs, sunflower seeds and legumes.
N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) is a supplement form of cysteine. NAC is valued primarily for its role in antioxidant production.
Glutathione vs NAC? Along with two other amino acids — glutamine and glycine —
NAC is needed to make and replenish glutathione. Therefore, N-acetyl
L-cysteine (NAC) is a precursor of glutathione, helps to replenish
intracellular glutathione, a vital cellular antioxidant. NAC has a low
molecular weight and is well absorbed via oral administration.
Glutathione
is one of the body’s most important antioxidants, which helps neutralize
free radicals that can damage cells and tissues in your body.
N-acetylcysteine (NAC) has a long history of use as a first-aid remedy for
acetaminophen poisoning. Emergency room physicians will administer it in cases
when you've taken an overdose of Tylenol or other acetaminophen products. The
way it neutralizes the toxic effects of the drug is by recharging glutathione,
thereby preventing liver damage.
Related:
NAC vs NAD
The similarity in terms of spelling with the only difference in one
character, these two popular nutrients are often mixed up and confused
by most consumers. However, scientifically these two molecules are
related to two distinctively different nutrients. NAC is related to
glutathione, an antioxidant whereas NAD is related to vitamin B
complex.
Hyperglycemia increases reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the resulting
oxidative stress plays a key role in the pathogenesis of diabetic
complications. Nicotinamide dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase is one
of the major sources of ROS production in diabetes. In this study, NAC inhibits NADPH oxidase activation in diabetes and reduces tissue oxidative damage
in all organs.
Nicotinamide Riboside vs Nicotinamide MonoNucleotide (NR vs NMN)
While most anti-aging products try to reverse signs of aging on your
skin, nicotinamide riboside — also called niagen — aims to reverse
signs of aging from inside your body.
There are multiple precursors to NAD+, each with its own physiologic effects. Nicotinamide riboside (NR) is a popular one with several notable benefits over other precursors like niacin (NA) and niacinamide (NAM). NA, for instance, may induce uncomfortable flushing, while NAM may inhibit sirtuin at high doses, both undesirable effects.
There are multiple precursors to NAD+, each with its own physiologic effects. Nicotinamide riboside (NR) is a popular one with several notable benefits over other precursors like niacin (NA) and niacinamide (NAM). NA, for instance, may induce uncomfortable flushing, while NAM may inhibit sirtuin at high doses, both undesirable effects.
Because of its unique profile of benefits and low risks, NR has
emerged as a popular choice, especially by its discoverer, biochemist
Charles Brenner, among the NAD+ precursors. In Scientific Reports,
researchers noted:
“Because NR does not cause flushing or inhibit sirtuins and the
genes (NRK1 and NRK2) required for the metabolism of NR to NAD+ are
upregulated in conditions of metabolic stress, NR has a particularly
strong potential as a distinct vitamin B3 to support human wellness
during metabolic stress and aging.”
“Therefore, administration of niacin or niacinamide is unlikely to be widely adopted for maintaining health and function with aging,” researchers wrote in Nature Communications.
Within your body, nicotinamide riboside is converted into NAD+, a helper molecule that exists inside each of your cells and supports many aspects of healthy aging.
Nicotinamide riboside, or niagen, is an alternative form of vitamin
B3, also called niacin.
Like other forms of vitamin B3, nicotinamide riboside is converted by your body into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+), a coenzyme or helper molecule.
Nicotinamide riboside supplements — such as niagen — have quickly become popular because they appear to be especially effective at raising NAD+ levels (Source). Nicotinamide riboside is also found in trace amounts in cows’ milk, yeast and beer (Trusted Source).
Like other forms of vitamin B3, nicotinamide riboside is converted by your body into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+), a coenzyme or helper molecule.
Nicotinamide riboside supplements — such as niagen — have quickly become popular because they appear to be especially effective at raising NAD+ levels (Source). Nicotinamide riboside is also found in trace amounts in cows’ milk, yeast and beer (Trusted Source).
NR used to be considered superior because no NMN transporter — required to get it into cells — had been detected. We now know
there is such a transporter, which gives NMN the advantage as it’s also
a more direct NAD+ precursor.
Most of the NAD+ precursor research is done with NR. However, as you can see from the image above, NMN converts to NAD+ whereas NR must first be converted into NMN before it can be converted into NAD+, so it makes more sense to use NMN for NAD+ augmentation.
Most of the NAD+ precursor research is done with NR. However, as you can see from the image above, NMN converts to NAD+ whereas NR must first be converted into NMN before it can be converted into NAD+, so it makes more sense to use NMN for NAD+ augmentation.
Further, the Interventions Testing Program (ITP) tested NR and didn’t find a life extension effect (Aging Cell 2021).
A study in 2022 suggests that taking 250 mg/day of NMN can significantly increase and sustain the levels of NAD+ in the blood, without adverse side effects.
Related: Best NMN Supplements
Niacin is also a useful supplement to use in increasing NAD+ levels. You just need to limit the dose to about 25 mg, which most is a dose low enough not to cause any flushing. Higher doses are not likely as effective as NMN and exercise in producing NAD+.
A meta-analysis (Zhong 2022) was performed to investigate the effects of nicotinamide
adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) precursor supplementation on glucose
and lipid metabolism in human body. The main research terms of NAD+
precursors were Nicotinamide Riboside (NR), Nicotinamide Mononucleotide
(NMN), Nicotinic Acid (NA), Nicotinamide (NAM).
In this study, a meta-analysis based on currently published clinical
trials with NAD+ precursors showed that supplementation with NAD+
precursors improved TG (TriGlyceride), TC (Total Cholesterol), LDL (Low
Density Lipoprotein), and HDL (High Density Lipoprotein) levels in
humans, but resulted in hyperglycemia, compared with placebo or no
treatment.
As research grows, it is likely to become clearer that NMN and NR may
have differing benefits depending on the part of the body and their
use. Where NMN transporters are found, they could make one more
preferable over the other. NMN has also been found to improve insulin
activity and production which could help to accelerate metabolisms and
make the body more glucose tolerant.
That said, according to David Sinclair in this podcast:
Related:
Patients before profits pic.twitter.com/fw4PZAZiCR
— Not A Number (@myhiddenvalue) April 26, 2025
Naturally Boosting NAD Levels
But there is good news. If you want to remain youthful and enjoy a long and healthy life, then there are ways in which you can naturally enhance the levels of NAD in your body. Continue reading to find out how:
1. Fasting - Fasting is practiced in many religions throughout
the world. In addition to its spiritual benefits, it turns out that
fasting is also beneficial for our health. Fasting, or reducing your
calorie intake is an excellent method for indirectly boosting the body’s
NAD levels. Fasting has been shown to increase the levels of NAD+ and
sirtuins; the proteins which have been found to slow the aging process.
While fasting is effective in increasing NAD+ levels, drastic reduction
in calorie intake or fasting can have a counterproductive effect. The
dangers of chronic undereating include muscle loss, bone density issues
and fatigue.
A safer strategy is temporarily restricting calories with intermittent fasting (IF). There’s still a danger of under-eating, but IF is more about limiting when to eat vs. how much you eat.
There is also some speculation that adopting a low carb-ketogenic diet
may also provide similar positive results.
2. Nicotinamide Riboside Dietary Supplements - Nicotinamide
Riboside (NR) has been discovered in Vitamin B3. No one really
paid attention to this molecule until research showed that our bodies
can use NR to metabolise NAD+! After this discovery, several NR
supplements became available in the markets. Various studies have shown
that NR supplements are beneficial in boosting the levels of NAD+ in the
body.
3. Exercise - Exercise is one of the easiest and most
cost-effective methods for boosting NAD+ levels. When we exercise, our
bodies need energy, which comes from NAD+. Basically, exercise forces
our body muscles to produce more mitochondria, which are the powerhouses
of cells. The increased production of mitochondria results in a natural
boost in NAD+ levels in the body. A
2019 paper in Physiological Reports
found that aerobic and strength exercise increased NAMPT levels in adults
over 55 by 28 and 30 percent respectively.
4. Too Much Sunlight May not be Good - Research has shown that
too much direct sunlight exposure can deplete the body of NAD+ levels.
This is because our body uses NAD+ to repair cells which get damaged as
a result of direct UV ray exposure from the sunlight. In case you feel
that excessive sunlight exposure is inevitable for you, then you should
wear sunblock, sunscreen or sunglasses.
Methylation means adding methyl groups to DNA, proteins, or other molecules. This process influences many biochemical systems and functions in the body. One of these systems is NAD+ production. Healthy methylation helps you recycle NAD+ (i.e., keep levels higher) through the aptly-named “salvage pathway.” (Nature 2020). A fundamental way to support methylation is to ensure you get enough methyl factors like B12, riboflavin, and TMG.
6. Foods which Boost NAD Levels - There are certain foods which
can boost NAD levels in the body. Some of them include:
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- Dairy Milk – research has indicated that cow’s milk is a good source of Riboside Nicotinamide (RN). A litre of fresh cow’s milk contains about 3.9µmol of NAD+. So while you’re enjoying a refreshing glass of milk, you’re actually getting younger and healthier!
- Fish – here’s another reason for you to enjoy fish! some varieties of fish like tuna, salmons and sardines are rich sources of NAD+ for the body.
- Mushrooms – many people like mushrooms and them as a regular food item in their regular diet. But did you know that mushrooms, especially the crimini mushrooms, also help in naturally boosting NAD levels? Yes, that’s true. So, enjoy eating the mushrooms and continue to look and younger and more youthful!
- Yeast – yeast is an ingredient which is used for making bread and other bakery products. Yeast contains Riboside Nicotinamide (RN), which is a precursor of NAD. Here’s another reason for you to enjoy your favorite pastries or buns whenever you visit the bakery! Enjoy your favorite food while boosting NAD levels at the same time. How cool is that!
- Green Vegetables – green vegetables contain all sorts of nutrients in them which are beneficial in a variety of ways. Recently, it has come to light that green vegetables are also a good source of NAD for the body. Some of these vegetables include peas and asparagus.
- Whole Grains – as discussed earlier, Vitamin B3 also contains RN, the precursor for NAD. However, when vegetables, food items or grains are cooked or processed, they lose their nutrition as well as the vitamin source. Therefore, it is recommended that you should also eat raw vegetables and take whole grains instead of processed foods.
- Cut Down on Alcoholic Beverages – NAD is responsible for maintaining the overall metabolic processes of the body. Alcohol tends to interfere with these processes and reduce the efficacy of NAD. Therefore, you should avoid excessive intake of alcoholic drinks since they are also not good for your health.
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Let age be just a number.
The Wellness Company's science-backed Longevity formula maintains youthful cellular function, helping you feel your best no matter the year you were born.
Target the root causes of aging with Liposomal Glutathione – the “master antioxidant," Nicotinamide Riboside (NR), and Resveratrol. This age-defying combination helps your cells clean up “dirty” DNA to increase energy production and reduce inflammation.
The Wellness Company combine these powerful ingredients with probiotics superior absorption. Feel like a younger version of yourself, everyday.
LONGEVITY FORMULA CONTAINS:
- NR (Nicotinamide Riboside) - The best booster of your body’s natural production of NAD+, the key coenzyme required for hundreds of vital cellular processes.
- Liposomal Glutathione - Optimizes the body for healthy detoxification, supports tissue repair, and protects your cells from free radical.
- Resveratrol - A potent polyphenol that combats aging by activating sirtuin proteins to promote heart, cognitive and cellular health.
- Betaine HCl - Promotes healthy digestion
- Probiotics BL21, LRa05 and LC86 - Help your digestive system work more efficiently, supporting muscle, immune and cognitive health.
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