Form Comparison

Nicotinamide Riboside vs NMN

How nicotinamide riboside and NMN differ in potency, absorption, tolerance, and cost.

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Quick verdict. Both raise blood NAD+ in humans, and NMN may be converted to NR before absorption, so their effects likely converge. NR has the most human pharmacokinetic data, with trials up to 2 g a day and no consistent side effects; NMN has fewer but similar trials. Neither has shown convincing clinical benefit, so choose NR for the better-characterized product, or nicotinamide if cost matters.

Side by Side

Nicotinamide Riboside (NR) Nicotinamide Mononucleotide (NMN)
Absorption Variable Variable
How it is absorbed Raises whole-blood NAD+ in a dose-dependent way in humans. Much of an oral dose is converted to nicotinamide before reaching tissues. Absorbed in the small intestine, possibly after conversion to NR; a dedicated NMN transporter reported in mouse gut is disputed. 250-1,000 mg daily raised blood NAD+ metabolites in human trials.
Typical dose 250-1,000 mg daily 250-1,000 mg daily
Common uses NAD+ support NAD+ support, metabolic health (research)
Side effects None consistent in trials up to 2 g daily. None consistent in short trials.
Cost High High
Also called Niagen, nicotinamide riboside chloride NMN, beta-NMN

When to Choose Nicotinamide Riboside (NR)

Choose nicotinamide riboside when you want the best-characterized NAD+ precursor. The precursor with the most human pharmacokinetic data. Trials in obese men found no improvement in insulin sensitivity.

Nicotinamide Riboside (NR)

The best-characterized precursor. Reliably raises blood NAD+; clinical benefit is unproven.

What to look for: Niagen or nicotinamide riboside chloride, 250-1,000 mg daily, with third-party testing.

Find on iHerb Affiliate link

When to Choose Nicotinamide Mononucleotide (NMN)

Choose NMN when you want the precursor closest to NAD+ and accept the cost. One small trial found improved muscle insulin signaling in prediabetic women; most other endpoints have been null.

Nicotinamide Mononucleotide (NMN)

One small positive metabolic trial and many null endpoints. Expensive for what is known.

What to look for: 250-500 mg per capsule with a certificate of analysis from an independent lab.

Find on iHerb Affiliate link

Products on Titrate

200 of the 214,745 labels in the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database list NMN and NAD+ as an active ingredient (144 on market). 121 are sold as NMN and NAD+ products by name.

Open supplement search

NMN and NAD+ does not have its own search category yet. Each product above links to its full label in the NIH database.

Related

References

Chen AC, Martin AJ, Choy B, et al. A phase 3 randomized trial of nicotinamide for skin-cancer chemoprevention. N Engl J Med. 2015;373(17):1618-1626.

Trammell SA, Schmidt MS, Weidemann BJ, et al. Nicotinamide riboside is uniquely and orally bioavailable in mice and humans. Nat Commun. 2016;7:12948.

Martens CR, Denman BA, Mazzo MR, et al. Chronic nicotinamide riboside supplementation is well-tolerated and elevates NAD+ in healthy middle-aged and older adults. Nat Commun. 2018;9(1):1286.

Dollerup OL, Christensen B, Svart M, et al. A randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial of nicotinamide riboside in obese men: safety, insulin-sensitivity, and lipid-mobilizing effects. Am J Clin Nutr. 2018;108(2):343-353.

Yoshino M, Yoshino J, Kayser BD, et al. Nicotinamide mononucleotide increases muscle insulin sensitivity in prediabetic women. Science. 2021;372(6547):1224-1229.

Pencina KM, Lavu S, Dos Santos M, et al. MIB-626, an oral formulation of a microcrystalline unique polymorph of beta-nicotinamide mononucleotide, increases circulating nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide and its metabolome in middle-aged and older adults. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2023;78(1):90-96.