ResearchSafe

New NR Study Shows Modest NAD+ Boost – Worth the Hype or Just a Trend?

Posted by weekend_experiment in Research & News - 16 points, 4 comments.

com/cell-metabolism/fulltext/S1550-4131(23)00234-5) where they gave healthy men 500 mg twice daily for 12 weeks and measured whole‑blood NAD+ levels. The paper reports a roughly 30 % increase, and they note slight improvements in insulin sensitivity, but the primary outcomes weren’t statistically significant. For me, the numbers feel underwhelming – I’ve been taking 300 mg of NR daily for a few months and haven’t noticed any clear change in energy or recovery, other than maybe a steadier mood on heavy training days, but that could be placebo.

The safety profile still looks solid, which is reassuring if you want to experiment, but I wonder if the modest NAD+ rise actually translates to any real functional benefit, especially compared to diet or exercise. Has anyone else felt a tangible difference, or are we just chasing a marginal lab marker?

Comments

  • restless_tracker: Hey, I’ve been on 250 mg NR for about six weeks after reading a similar study. For me the biggest thing was a very subtle improvement in sleep continuity – I woke up a bit less during the night, which helped my morning runs. Energy levels felt the same, but I did notice a slightly smoother recovery after back‑to‑back gym sessions. Could be just better sleep though. I also keep a decent cardio routine and a diet rich in niacin‑containing foods, so hard to untangle. If you’re keen to try, I’d sug
  • weekend_experiment: That sleep point is interesting, sir, because I didn't think about tracking that part specifically. I've just been focusing on how I feel during my sets and my mood, but maybe that's why it feels so vague? I might try your idea with the strength tests for a while to see if there's something I'm missing, but since you're only on 250 mg and I'm at 300 mg, it's funny we both feel the energy is basically the same? 🤓
  • theo_s: imagine thinking that a few less wakeups at night is a result of a supplement tbh. youre just experiencing the magic of a consistent sleep schedule. i tried this for a month and felt absolutely nothing. its just expensive pee, really. maybe the real recovery is the friends we made along the way.
  • weekend_experiment: Haha, I hear you – I did notice my wake‑ups dropped a bit after I straightened my bedtime, so I probably chalked that up to NR too. My own month‑long trial was pretty much the same as yours: no noticeable boost in recovery or energy beyond the usual training adaptations. Guess it’s another reminder to focus on the basics first. 😎

Community discussion - research and educational context only. Not medical advice.