NAD+
Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide
The coenzyme that powers cellular energy and repair
A coenzyme present in every cell that sits at the center of energy metabolism and DNA repair. NAD+ levels fall steadily with age, and injectable NAD+ is used in longevity research to restore the substrate that mitochondria and the sirtuin repair enzymes depend on. How much you benefit hinges on the genetics of NAD synthesis and salvage.
- Route
- Subcutaneous / IV
- Typical dose
- Research-dependent
- Availability
- Research-only
Key Benefits
Restores a coenzyme that declines with age
Supports mitochondrial energy production
Provides substrate for sirtuin repair enzymes
Supports PARP-mediated DNA repair
Researched for energy, recovery and healthy aging
Mechanism of Action
How NAD+ works
NAD+ fuels the cell's core energy and repair machinery:
- Mitochondrial energy — serves as the electron carrier driving the citric-acid cycle and oxidative phosphorylation that produce ATP.
- Sirtuin activation — sirtuins (SIRT1–7), the longevity-associated repair enzymes, consume NAD+ to do their work; restoring NAD+ raises the ceiling on their activity.
- DNA repair (PARP) — PARP enzymes also consume NAD+ to repair DNA damage, so adequate NAD+ supports genomic maintenance.
- Salvage-pathway dependence — most NAD+ is recycled via the NAMPT-driven salvage pathway, whose genetic efficiency varies between people and shapes the response.
Your Genetics & NAD+
Genetic variants that affect your response
These SNPs determine how effectively NAD+ works for you specifically. A genetic peptide report identifies your variants before you start.
NAMPT is the rate-limiting enzyme that recycles NAD+. Variants that lower NAMPT activity mean a less efficient salvage pathway — these individuals may start from lower NAD+ and respond differently to supplementation.
SIRT1 variants influence how effectively the sirtuin enzymes convert restored NAD+ into downstream longevity and metabolic benefits.
FOXO3 is one of the most replicated human longevity genes and acts downstream of sirtuin signaling. Favorable variants may amplify the benefit of restored NAD+.
The Ala16Val variant sets how efficiently mitochondrial superoxide is cleared. It shapes the oxidative environment in which NAD+-driven energy metabolism operates.
Which variants do you carry?
Upload your DNA data or order a kit to find out.
Evidence & Research
25+
Published studies
Animal studies and in vitro data with promising but limited clinical validation
Sourcing & access
Where to buy NAD+
NAD+ is sold as a research compound, not a licensed medicine, so quality and legal status vary widely by country and vendor. If you're sourcing it, treat independent purity testing as non-negotiable.
- Insist on a recent third-party Certificate of Analysis (COA) for the exact batch — labs like Janoshik verify purity and identity.
- Check the legal status where you live before ordering — it differs from country to country.
- Reconstitute correctly with bacteriostatic water and start at a conservative dose.
Swiss Chems is a US research-chemical supplier that publishes third-party Certificates of Analysis. Sold for research use only — check your local laws.
Before you buy: see whether your DNA actually responds to NAD+, and at what dose. Analyze my DNA — $99 →
Educational information only, not medical advice. Some outbound links are affiliate links (disclosed, at no extra cost to you), and providers we partner with are listed first. Most peptides are not FDA-approved — consult a qualified professional and check your local laws before purchasing.
Common Stacks
NAD+ is commonly combined with:
MOTS-c
Mitochondrial StackEmerging EvidenceMitochondrial Open Reading Frame of the 12S rRNA Type-c
A 16-amino-acid peptide encoded by the mitochondrial genome — one of only a handful of known mitochondrial-derived peptides (MDPs). MOTS-c acts as a retrograde signal from mitochondria to the nucleus, activating AMPK and regulating metabolic homeostasis. It functions as an exercise mimetic, improving insulin sensitivity, fat oxidation, and cellular stress resilience.
3
Gene variants
25+
Studies
Epithalon
Longevity StackEmerging EvidenceEpitalon (Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly)
A synthetic tetrapeptide based on the natural pineal gland peptide epithalamin. Epithalon activates telomerase, the enzyme that maintains telomere length, potentially slowing cellular aging. Discovered by Professor Vladimir Khavinson, it remains one of the most studied anti-aging peptides in gerontology.
3
Gene variants
20+
Studies
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do NAD+ levels matter for aging?
NAD+ is the fuel for both mitochondrial energy production and the sirtuin and PARP enzymes that repair cells and DNA. Levels decline substantially with age, which is thought to contribute to falling energy and slower repair. Restoring NAD+ aims to give those systems their substrate back.
Why does NAD+ response vary between people?
Most NAD+ is recycled through the salvage pathway, gated by the enzyme NAMPT. People with less efficient NAMPT genetics recycle NAD+ more slowly and may start lower, while sirtuin and longevity-gene variants determine how much benefit restored NAD+ produces downstream.
Does genetics affect NAD+ response?
Yes. NAMPT sets salvage-pathway efficiency, SIRT1 determines how well NAD+ is translated into repair activity, FOXO3 shapes the longevity response, and SOD2 sets the oxidative background. A genetic peptide report profiles these for you.
Learn More About NAD+
Your next move
Two ways forward with NAD+.
Not sure it's for you?
Will NAD+ work for your genes — and at what dose?
Your report scores NAD+ against your receptor, CYP and pathway variants — likely responder, non-responder, and a sensible starting dose — in minutes.
Analyze my DNA — $99Already decided?
Get NAD+ from Swiss Chems.
A US research-chemical supplier with third-party Certificates of Analysis. Sold for research use only — check your local laws before ordering.
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