NAD+
Longevity & anti-agingMetabolic & weight lossAlso known as: Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, NAD
A cellular coenzyme central to energy and repair, injected to support energy and healthy aging.
2.What it is / mechanism
NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) is a coenzyme every cell uses to turn food into energy and to run repair enzymes. Levels fall with age, which is the idea behind trying to restore it. The catch is that injected NAD+ is broken down and recycled quickly, and it is not clear how much raises levels inside cells. Note that NAD+ is not a peptide. It is included here because it is commonly used and sold next to peptide therapies.s1
3.What the evidence supports
- Limited human dataNAD+ is essential for energy metabolism and cellular repair, and its levels drop with age.s1
The biology is well established. Whether injecting NAD+ meaningfully raises tissue levels in people is less clear.
- Anecdotal onlyBoosts energy, focus, and healthy aging.s1
Most human evidence is for oral precursors like NMN and NR, which are different from injected NAD+. Injectable benefits are largely anecdotal.
- Anecdotal onlyHelps with addiction recovery.s2
Used in some clinics, but not well proven in trials.
4.Dosing
| Route(s) | subcutaneous, intramuscular, intravenous (in a clinic) |
|---|---|
| Typical range | Subcutaneous protocols often start around 20 mg and titrate up to about 50 to 100 mg. Some use a loading phase of 100 to 200 mg daily for a week or two, then maintenance of 50 to 100 mg once or twice weekly. Many clinicians cap subcutaneous dosing around 300 mg per week. |
| Frequency | 1 to 3 times weekly, more often during a loading phase |
| Cycle guidance | Often a short loading phase, then ongoing maintenance. |
| Notes | Start low and go slow. Headache, nausea, and flushing are dose and speed related, and much worse with fast intravenous dosing than with slow dosing. The blood is short and not well characterized in people. Doses are in tens of milligrams, so syringe volumes are larger than for most peptides. |
5.Reconstitution
| Vial sizes | 100 mg, 500 mg |
|---|---|
| Diluent | Often supplied as a ready made solution. If it is a powder, use bacteriostatic or sterile water. |
| Concentration | Example: a 500 mg vial plus 5 mL of water gives 100 mg/mL, so a 100 mg dose is 1 mL, which is 100 units on a U-100 syringe. Because doses are large, draws are bigger than for typical peptides. |
| Notes | Compounded NAD+ is often sold as an aqueous solution that needs no mixing. If yours is a powder, pick a water volume that gives an easy dose. |
Reconstitution calculator
Pick your vial size and how much water you add to see the draw volume and syringe units for a dose. Open the full calculator →
Inputs
Reminder: 1 mg = 1,000 mcg
Total amount stated on the vial, e.g. 5 mg.
How much diluent you draw into the vial.
Target dose per injection, in mcg. 1 mg = 1,000 mcg.
Result
Draw to
0.5 units
= 0.005 mL on your syringe
This is under 1 unit, which is hard to measure accurately. Consider using less water for a more dilute-per-unit draw, or a larger dose.
- Concentration
- 50,000 mcg/mL
- Per unit
- 500 mcg / unit
- Doses per vial
- 400
Educational estimate only. Not medical or dosing advice. Verify every calculation independently before use.
6.Storage & stability
Lyophilized (dry)
| Temp | Freeze for long term storage, or 2 to 8 short term |
|---|---|
| Shelf life | Many months when frozen |
| Notes | NAD+ is light sensitive. Keep it dark. |
Reconstituted
| Temp | 2 to 8 (refrigerated) |
|---|---|
| Shelf life | About 1 to 2 weeks |
| Notes | Protect from light, do not freeze after mixing, and discard if the color changes. |
7.Reported side effects
8.Interactions & stacking risks
- InfoOther longevity or peptide protocols
Often stacked with peptides in longevity routines. There is little formal data on any specific combination.
9.Contraindications / who should avoid
- SeriousActive or recent cancer
NAD+ fuels cell metabolism, which is a theoretical concern with cancer present.
- SeriousPregnancy or breastfeeding
No safety data in pregnancy or breastfeeding.
- WarningSevere liver or kidney disease, or unstable heart disease
Use only under close medical supervision.
10.COA & purity notes
| Common adulterants | underdosed or mislabeled vials, solutions that have degraded from heat or light, wrong concentration versus the label |
|---|---|
| Mislabeling | NAD+ degrades with heat and light, so a fresh product and a recent COA matter. Check that the concentration matches the label. |
| Notes | Compounded and research NAD+ is unregulated. It is a coenzyme, not a peptide. |
11.Sources
- [s1]Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology (2021). NAD+ metabolism and its roles in cellular processes during aging. review
- [s2]Compounding pharmacy clinical guidance (2025). NAD+ injection clinical overview: dosing, routes, and safety. other
Last reviewed 2026-07-08 · status: reviewed