Is NMN or NR Best for Raising NAD+? And Does Taking Either Extend Lifespan?
- Copyright © Nils Osmar. Updated May 15, 2025
- This post is not intended as, and should not be taken as, medical advice.
- See full Medical Disclaimer
NAD+ (short for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) is an important coenzyme in the human body, involved in hundreds of biological processes. They include converting food into energy and maintaining the health of our DNA. It also plays a vital role in cellular energy production, metabolism, and (perhaps most importantly) in DNA repair.
NAD+ levels decline with age, which some studies suggest may contribute to age-related diseases. But does NAD+ extend lifespan? And if so, what’s the most effective way to increase it?
Two Popular Supplements
There’s been a war of sort between the proponents of NR and NMN, over the past few years. The arguments seem endless and circular sometimes, with some folks insisting that NMN is converted into NR (meaning it would be best just to buy NR, and skip that step), and others citing studies showing that NR is converted into NMN, both statements are true.
Both have been studied individually and found to raise NAD+. The increase has been found to be dose dependent, with a larger dose of both being associated with a greater increase in NAD+. See article.
There have, however, been no direct comparative studies to see what is better. So if someone claims to know beyond question that one is superior to the other, it’s possible that a factor might be having a financial stake in convincing people to take the product their advocating for.
Sinclair and Brenner
David Sinclair has been an effective advocate for NMN; Charles Brenner, for NR. Both Sinclair and Brenner have a financial interest in people taking the product they recommend.
Charles Brenner makes money when people take Tru Niagen’s NR.
David Sinclair does not receive a “cut” when supplement companies sell NMN, but a company he is affiliated with stands to profit if it should become available only by prescription.
At this point, NMN is still available as a supplements, so it’s a moot point.
From a 2023 study
Boosting NAD+ levels through biosynthesis precursors has the potential to prevent or alleviate a wide range of diseases such as metabolic and age-related disorders.
Based on their ability to elevate NAD+ levels, nicotinamide riboside (NR) and nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) have been shown to mitigate the physiological decline, diabetes and diabetic neuropathy, protect against hepatic steatosis, decrease various pathological features of Alzheimer’s disease, protect neuronal cells from oxidative stress, and preserve cognition. In addition, they have demonstrated beneficial pharmacological activities in acute renal failure], anti-inflammatory, cardio and vasoprotective actions, telomere lengthening, extend lifespan and promote health in various organisms, from yeasts to mammals…
Does Boosting NAD+ Increase Lifespan?
There is no evidence to suggest that we will live longer if we boost NAD+, regardless of which supplement we’re taking.
This is not to say they’re have no value. NAD+ does have many important functions in the body. See study. As I mentioned earlier, we have high levels when we’re young, which decrease as the aging process kicks in. To me, speaking for myself, it makes sense to boost NAD+ in order to support telomere health (see study) and the integrity of our DNA.
Other Ways of Raising NAD+
NA (nicotinic acid) and NAM (nicotinamide) are both forms of niacin, or vitamin B3. They also work for increasing NAD+ in the body. However, both NA and NAM raise blood glucose, and both have been found to (sometimes) trigger new onset diabetes. See study. I’ll sometimes take a little niacin at night because it promotes better, longer and deeper sleep. But I try not to overdo it because when I take it regularly, my A1C is higher.
Vigorous physical exercise has also been found to raise NAD+.
What I’m doing
I’ve been buying NMN for years; more recently I started buying NR. I’ve tried taking them separately and together. Both give me a slight mental boost. I take them on alternating days.
As an experiment I decided a few months ago to do a test to see whether or not I could tell the difference. I put then in containers with the labels on the bottom so I couldn’t see which I was taking. I then took one in the morning and tried to guess an hour later, based on how I was feeling, which I had taken.
I found that I “feel” a little different depending on which I take. I have more of a sense of an overt increase in my energy when I take NMN. About 80% of the time, my guess as to which I had taken was correct.
This isn’t to say that one is better than the other, but that, at least in my own case, my body is responding somewhat differently to NMN than to NR, enough so that I can tell which I’ve taken.
Should We Take Them Together?
I tried doing so for a while, but the main result was an increase in the amount I was spending on supplements So I’ve gone back to taking them on alternate days. I don’t know of any studies showing a benefit to taking both on the same day.
Not medical advice
This article is not intended as, and should not be taken as, medical advice. I’m not advising that people eat any particular diet or take any particular supplement(s), just reporting on what I’m doing. Supplements, like medications and other interventions, can have side effects; I would encourage people to research both possible benefits and side effects before starting on any supplementation regimen, and consult with a medical professional about any issues which might have a medical component. See full Medical Disclaimer
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More from Nils Osmar
- Anti-Aging Youtube channel Pathways to Longevity
- Anti-Aging Facebook group: Anti-Aging and Life Extension
- Rekindle School classes in Seattle: Rekindl.e School
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- Exploring possible consciousness in Claude.AI and other LLMs: AI Consciousness
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