Nestlé-led clinical study finds that NAD+ boosters could promote health in unexpected ways
- First-time evidence that 14-day supplementation of NR (nicotinamide riboside) and NMN (nicotinamide mononucleotide), comparably increase circulatory NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) concentrations in healthy adults
- NR and NMN can enhance microbial growth and metabolism and are converted, by the microbiota, to nicotinic acid (NA), which may contribute to their NAD+ boosting effects
Research by Nestlé has revealed a dual impact of NAD+ boosters on cellular energy and gut health. The findings indicate that people who take NAD+ supplementation could experience benefits beyond boosting their NAD+ levels by promoting microbial growth and production of healthy metabolites. The paper “The Differential Impact of Three Different NAD+ Boosters on Circulatory NAD and Microbial Metabolism in Humans" was published in Nature Metabolism on January 15, 2026.
“NAD+ is a key co-enzyme that plays a role in keeping the cells in our body functioning properly. It is important for energy production, DNA repair, and certain cellular functions, yet levels naturally decline as we age,” said Stefan Christen, Specialist in Metabolomics at Nestlé R&D and one of the lead researchers on the study. “Therefore, researchers compared three NAD+ precursors NR, NMN, and Nam (nicotinamide) to provide a better understanding of how NAD+ precursors behave in the human body. This is the first comparative clinical study to suggest that NR and NMN supplementation can similarly increase NAD+ levels in healthy adults and may also support gut health.”
The study had three main findings:
- After 14 days of supplementation, NR and NMN increase circulatory NAD+ levels
- Nam causes only short-term changes and doesn’t raise NAD+ levels in the same way as NR and NMN
- NR and NMN interact with gut microbiota, producing nicotinic acid and enhancing microbial activity.
“These findings deepen our understanding of how NAD+ precursors can support healthy aging at the cellular level and pave the way for the development of innovative solutions to support healthy longevity,” said Christen.
In Nestlé Health Science products, NR can be found in Solgar Cellular Nutrition Cellular Energy and Pure Encapsulations NR Longevity. Nam is widely used as vitamin B3.
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About Nestlé Health Science
About Nestlé Health Science Nestlé Health Science, a leader in the science of nutrition, is a globally managed business unit of Nestlé. We are committed to redefining the management of health, offering an extensive portfolio of science-based consumer health, medical nutrition, pharmaceutical therapies, and vitamin and supplement brands. Our extensive research network provides the foundation for products that empower healthier lives through nutrition. Headquartered in Switzerland, we have more than 12,000 employees around the world. www.nestlehealthscience.com
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