Common precursors like Niacin, Nicotinamide Riboside (NR), and Nicotinamide Mononucleotide (NMN) all elevate NAD+, but they do so in surprisingly different ways.
While Niacin is known for being a building block for NAD+ and for its ability to lower cholesterol, NMN and NR appear to take a more targeted approach to cellular health, influencing key processes like DNA repair, mitochondrial function, and overall cell health through enzymes that rely on NAD+ as a fuel source.
There are not many studies that directly compare NAD+ precursors in humans, however a comparative study in mice revealed key differences in their effects:
- Niacin acted quickly, but resulted in a smaller and shorter-lasting increase in NAD+
- NR led to a higher and more sustained increase in NAD+
Recent studies have also shown that NMN and NR can increase blood NAD+ levels by 1.5 to 2.5 times.
Compared to Niacin, NMN and NR appear to be better tolerated and offer a broad range of health benefits associated with NAD+ elevation.