NAD+

What is NAD+

NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) is a coenzyme found in every living cell. Unlike the peptides on this site, NAD+ is a small dinucleotide molecule, not a chain of amino acids. It is one of the most abundant and important molecules in biology, sitting at the center of how cells produce energy and respond to stress.

Cellular NAD+ levels decline steadily with age across many tissues. That observation is what links NAD+ to longevity research and to the wider hallmarks-of-aging framework.

We supply NAD+ as the disodium salt in lyophilized (freeze-dried) form for laboratory use, the same grade used in cell-culture and biochemistry research.

How it works

NAD+ acts as a hydride carrier. In every metabolic cycle that turns nutrients into ATP, it ferries electrons from one reaction to the next. Without NAD+, mitochondria cannot run, and cells cannot generate sustained energy.

Beyond energy metabolism, NAD+ is consumed by three families of enzymes that researchers care about:

• Sirtuins (SIRT1 to SIRT7) are NAD+-dependent deacetylases. They switch on stress-resistance genes, regulate mitochondrial biogenesis, and are commonly described as "longevity enzymes."
• PARPs use NAD+ to repair damaged DNA. Higher DNA damage burns through more NAD+.
• CD38 is an NAD+-consuming enzyme that becomes more active with age and inflammation, a major driver of NAD+ decline.

When NAD+ supply outpaces demand, sirtuins stay active, DNA repair runs smoothly, and mitochondria perform well in laboratory models. When NAD+ falls, the opposite is observed.

Most human research has tested the precursors NMN (nicotinamide mononucleotide) and NR (nicotinamide riboside), which are converted into NAD+ inside cells. Recent meta-analyses of randomized trials in middle-aged and older adults report improvements in muscle and metabolic markers with these precursors. Direct NAD+ is the molecule itself and is used primarily in biochemical and cell-based research where the cofactor is required.

Often studied alongside

In longevity research, NAD+ is frequently grouped with mitochondrial peptides and other "longevity stack" candidates. MOTS-c is a mitochondrial-derived peptide that regulates metabolism and exercise capacity in animal models. SS-31 (Elamipretide) targets the inner mitochondrial membrane and protects cardiolipin in oxidative-stress studies. Epitalon is a short pineal-derived peptide associated with telomerase activation in cell models.

For reconstitution, the standard solvent in published protocols is bacteriostatic or sterile water. The dissolved solution is light-pink to colorless depending on concentration.

Documentation