Key Takeaways
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For decades, scientists have been uncovering the critical role of NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) in cellular health and longevity. This remarkable molecule powers everything from energy production to DNA repair in every cell of your body, and groundbreaking NAD research continues to reveal its importance for healthy aging.
In this article, we’ll explore the history of NAD+ studies, examine the latest breakthroughs in NAD supplement research, and share how these discoveries transform our approach to health and aging.
What Is NAD and Why Is NAD Research Important?
NAD+ is a critical coenzyme that exists in every cell of your body and supports hundreds of processes. It converts food into cellular energy, maintains DNA integrity, regulates cellular defense systems, and supports cell communication. And what is an NAD supplement? An NAD supplement is a small ingestible capsule containing precursor compounds to help the body produce NAD+. An example of a precursor compound is Niagen®, our patented form of nicotinamide riboside (NR) found in Tru Niagen NAD+ boosters.
Understanding NAD+ research is crucial because this molecule impacts so many aspects of our health. Our NAD+ levels decline during the natural aging process, which can contribute to many age-related health challenges. This decline affects everything from how our cells produce energy to how they repair damaged DNA.
Thanks to decades of research, Tru Niagen has emerged as a groundbreaking solution to address this natural decline with Niagen, the research-backed NAD+ precursor that’s the key ingredient in Tru Niagen. Tru Niagen supports cellular health at its most fundamental level.
Timeline of NAD Research
NAD research has built upon previous findings to gradually show us the importance of this crucial molecule. What began as investigations into beer brewing eventually led to groundbreaking insights about cellular energy production, metabolism, and aging. Let’s take a look at how it all began and where we are now:
The Mid-1800s
Louis Pasteur collaborated with French brewers to study the microscopic forces at work during the brewing process. He identified microbes that could cause the beer to spoil and the critical role that yeast played in alcoholic fermentation. Up until this time, it was believed that fermentation was a result of decomposition. Pasteur disagreed and went on to prove that yeast causes fermentation via the production of alcohol from sugar. This led to Pasteur’s subsequent discovery that microorganisms cause spoilage, just as yeast causes fermentation. The business application of such a revelation was clear.⁽¹⁾
Pasteur’s discovery was quickly applied to the wine and beer industries, utilizing a simple procedure of heating wine to kill microbes. This later became known as “pasteurization.” Through trial and error, Pasteur identified the sweet spot for heating a given liquid to a certain range of temperature for a certain duration that would kill bacteria while maintaining the liquid’s flavor. The groundbreaking process improvement of controlled fermentation coupled with pasteurization resulted in a boom in French beer brewing.
Although he did not know it at the time, Pasteur’s research on yeast would drive NAD+ research and become the basis of NAD+ science today.⁽¹⁾
1906
Arthur Harden and William John Young expanded Louis Pasteur’s discovery of fermentation by cracking open yeast cells and separating the cellular components into two mixtures. One mixture contained the enzymes needed for fermentation, and the other contained several small molecules, which contained something else, too. Harden and Young had unknowingly discovered NAD+! Not only did they discover it, they pioneered new tools for its research.
Harden and Young co-developed a piece of equipment that allowed them to take carbon dioxide measurements of the gases released during fermentation. Up until then, gravimetric measurements had been used, but this pioneering gear measured carbon dioxide volume.⁽²⁾
The history of NAD+ is tied closely to the study of fermentation, so this technological advancement was an important evolutionary step.
1916
A vitamin deficiency called pellagra plagued the nation in the early 1900s. Colloquially known as “the four Ds,” pellagra had characteristic symptoms such as dermatitis, diarrhea, dementia, and—in extreme cases—death in people of all ages.
Eventually, the cause of pellagra was identified as a niacin deficiency, yet it still remains a health threat in certain populations to this day, despite niacin’s widespread availability. At the time, pellagra was an epidemic (affecting 3 million Americans between 1906 and 1940). So severe was the national impact of pellagra, that the U.S. Surgeon General himself, Rupert Blue, assigned Dr. Joseph Goldberger, a physician and epidemiologist, the task of pellagra research.⁽³⁾
Goldberger was able to identify pellagra as a nutritional deficiency. Unbeknownst to him, Goldberger’s discovery would pave future inroads for the first NAD+ booster.
1929
A former art student, Hans von Euler-Chelpin, continued Harden and Young’s work. Euler-Chelpin studied the details of the reactions that happened during yeast fermentation. In fact, he shared the 1929 Nobel Prize in chemistry with the previously mentioned Arthur Harden for their fermentation research. This research led to Euler-Chelpin’s ability to essentially “purify” NAD, and he is credited with uncovering the first insights about NAD+’s chemical shape and properties.
1936
A physicist, Otto Heinrich Warburg, had uncovered that NAD+ was an essential part of yet another crucial chemical reaction: hydride transfer. Hydride transfers happen any time there’s an exchange of a hydrogen atom and its accompanying electrons. Warburg’s research showed that NAD+ accepts a hydrogen atom and its electrons to become NADH.
An interesting note: Warburg lived and worked in Germany and was of partial Jewish descent. At one point, he lost his research position because he criticized the ruling Nazi party, but his work was considered so valuable that a personal order from Hitler’s Chancellery arranged for his reinstatement. Hitler had lost his mother to breast cancer and was therefore passionate about the metabolism and cancer research Warburg was performing at the time.⁽⁴⁾
Without Warburg’s continued contributions, NAD+ research could have taken a very different and much lengthier path.
1938
Conrad Elvehjem, an American biochemist, continued Joseph Goldberger’s work on pellagra. Elvehjem found that niacin, a form of vitamin B3, cured pellagra. Nicotinic acid, also known as niacin, would eventually be used as a vitamin supplement to cure pellagra nationwide. Elvehjem’s discovery would help discover the pathway to boost NAD+ using vitamins.
Interestingly, this discovered niacin deficiency would play a role in the U.S. policy of fortifying bread and flour.⁽⁵⁾ To this day, a bag of flour in the supermarket labeled “enriched” must contain a minimum quantity of nutrients, including the B vitamins thiamin, folic acid, riboflavin, and niacin. The historical importance of such food enrichment cannot be overstated; this international effort took place during World War II as the United States and the United Kingdom tried to bolster the health of their entire populations to better fight and survive a global conflict. U.S. flour mill compliance around the enrichment policy was initially sluggish, so eventually the War Foods Administration decided to outright temporarily ban non-enriched bread, which finally resulted in total adoption of enrichment.
1948
Arthur Kornberg, an American biochemist, combined Euler-Chelpin’s and Elvehjem’s work to understand how your body creates NAD+. He separated NAD+ and recombined it with other isolated components, replicating the creation of NAD+.
Kornberg discovered the first enzyme that builds NAD+ in the body. He also found that the cellular respiration process was strongly enhanced by NAD+.⁽⁶⁾ His work related to NAD+ eventually led to his research on DNA composition.⁽⁷⁾
Kornberg’s oldest son Roger would go on to become a scientist himself, and both father and son would win Nobel prizes in their time. In an interesting twist of fate, Roger would eventually chair the Scientific Advisory Board of ChromaDex, the maker of Tru Niagen, which has partnered in extensive NAD+ precursor research and NAD+ aging research.
1958
Jack Preiss and Philip Handler, scientists who delved deeper into Kornberg's work, published a paper illustrating how niacin is converted into NAD+ in three steps and identified the proteins and enzymes responsible for them.⁽⁸⁾
These steps have been aptly named the Preiss-Handler Pathway.
1963
Paul Mandel of the University of Strasbourg’s Institute of Biochemistry identified a reaction that broke NAD+ into two separate parts: nicotinamide and ADP-ribose.
Mandel's findings helped biochemists understand how essential NAD+ is to fuel cellular energy metabolism.
2004
Dr. Charles Brenner, continuing his predecessors’ work on yeast, discovered another pathway to create NAD+. Brenner discovered nicotinamide riboside (NR), a unique form of vitamin B3 and the active ingredient in Tru Niagen (as patented NIAGEN NR), to be a precursor to NAD+. Later studies demonstrated it’s far more efficient at boosting NAD+ than other forms of vitamin B3.
Brenner has also made contributions to NAD+ metabolism, including developing a yeast strain to convert inexpensive NAD+ precursor vitamins into NR, and demonstrating the effects of oral NR in animal models of fatty liver disease; obesity; type 2 diabetes; heart failure; and neurodegeneration. He also led the first clinical trial of NR, which established safety and oral bioavailability in humans.
Dr. Brenner has been funded by agencies like the March of Dimes and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. He is the chief scientific advisor to Niagen Bioscience, formerly ChromaDex, and continues NAD+ research, exploring the capabilities and applications of this incredibly influential molecule.
2010s
The 2010s marked a period of accelerated discovery in NAD+ research, with scientists making crucial connections between NAD+ and various aspects of health. During this decade, NAD+ supplement research expanded as researchers began exploring how NAD+ levels affect everything from metabolism to brain health.
A breakthrough occurred in 2017 when researchers conducted an open-label study examining how NR affects NAD+ levels in healthy volunteers. This study demonstrated that oral NR supplementation was not only well tolerated but also effectively increased whole blood NAD+ levels by approximately 100%.⁽⁹⁾
Around the same time, further clinical trials investigated NR's effects on metabolism. A 2018 study examined the impact of 12 weeks of NR supplementation on insulin sensitivity and metabolism in obese, insulin-resistant men. While this study didn't show improvements in insulin sensitivity, it did confirm the safety of longer-term NR supplementation at doses of 2000 mg daily, which is important information for those asking themselves, "What are NAD+ supplements, and how safe are they?" ⁽¹⁰⁾
The Latest NAD Research: 2020 to Present
In recent years, NAD+ studies have advanced into exciting new territories, such as brain health and cognition. This latest wave of research is demonstrating NAD+'s role in cellular energy and maintaining cognitive function, potentially protecting against age-related cognitive decline.
A groundbreaking study published in 2024 used advanced MRI techniques to demonstrate that acute NR supplementation increases NAD+ levels in the human brain. Researchers were able to directly measure NAD+ concentrations in the brain, showing an approximate increase of 16% after a single 900 mg dose, compared to baseline.⁽¹¹⁾
Another significant advance came in early 2025 when the results were published from a crossover, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial examining NR's effects on cognitive function and Alzheimer's disease biomarkers. This eight-week study in older adults with subjective cognitive decline and mild cognitive impairment found that a 1000 mg dose of NR led to a reduction in plasma phosphorylated tau 217 (pTau217), a biomarker associated with Alzheimer's disease pathology. In this study, the placebo group saw an increase of 18% in pTau217, while the group supplementing with NR saw a reduction of this marker by 7%.⁽¹²⁾
Complementing these cognitive findings, a 2025 clinical trial investigated how NR affects inflammation and oxidative stress in patients with chronic kidney disease. This pilot, randomized, placebo-controlled trial found that six weeks of NR supplementation (1000 mg daily) improved markers of oxidative stress. These findings suggest NR may have beneficial effects on cellular health parameters beyond the brain.⁽¹³⁾
These recent studies are showing us just how important NAD+ is for so many aspects of our health. The evidence is building that taking NR supplements can actually make a real difference in the health markers that matter as we get older. Scientists are just beginning to connect all the dots, but what they're finding is pretty exciting for anyone interested in staying healthy longer.
NAD Research FAQs
How can you increase NAD+ levels?
There are many ways to increase NAD+ levels. Regular exercise stimulates NAD+ production in your cells, while intermittent fasting can activate sirtuins, proteins that require NAD+ to function. Many foods also contain precursors for NAD+, such as poultry, eggs, and dairy. However, these methods alone may not counteract age-related NAD+ decline.
Supplementation with nicotinamide riboside (NR), found in Tru Niagen, has been clinically proven to increase NAD+ levels effectively. Research shows NR converts to NAD+ more efficiently than other vitamin B3 forms, making it optimal for those seeking tips for aging well.
Recent NAD research has also explored pharma-grade Niagen to boost NAD+ through intravenous and injectable NAD-boosting therapies. These provide direct bloodstream delivery and rapid increases in NAD+ levels but require medical supervision. You can find a wellness clinic near you to receive safe, science-backed NAD injectables from industry-leading doctors.
Is NAD supplementation safe?
Yes, NAD precursor supplementation is safe with properly formulated products. Niagen has been thoroughly tested in clinical studies and received FDA notification as Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS).
However, not all NAD supplements are equivalent. While Niagen has undergone rigorous testing, alternatives may lack comparable research validation. Tru Niagen contains patented Niagen (NR) backed by scientific research.
What is the future of NAD research?
NAD research is expanding into four key areas:
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Targeted therapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases, with promising studies showing NR can increase brain NAD+ levels
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Addressing low-grade chronic inflammation, now termed “inflammaging,” as evidence shows increasing NAD+ levels with NR supplementation can have positive effects
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Personalized supplementation based on individual NAD+ measurements
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Longevity applications that may extend health span by improving mitochondrial function and DNA repair.
These advances are setting the stage for more sophisticated approaches to cellular health and aging.
Wrapping Up: The Future of NAD Research
The path to Tru Niagen began in a distillery and continues today through groundbreaking research across the globe. Niagen Bioscience, formerly known as ChromaDex, is leading the future of NAD+ research. The ChromaDex External Research Program (CERP), the R&D program behind Tru Niagen, partners with hundreds of the world’s leading academic institutions.
What distinguishes Niagen Bioscience in the supplement industry is an unwavering commitment to scientific rigor. Collaborating with prestigious research institutions worldwide ensures that Tru Niagen continues to evolve based on solid evidence.
While their science may seem futuristic, the ethos of our scientists remains the same. By preserving the same trailblazing spirit as their predecessors, our scientists hope to unlock the full potential of NAD+ and push the boundaries of NAD+ aging research.