NAD+: A Research Overview
NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) is a coenzyme found widely in nature. It acts as an electron carrier in redox reactions, cycling between NAD+ and NADH, and it is a cofactor or substrate for enzyme families such as the sirtuins and PARPs. It is a small molecule rather than a peptide, so it has no amino-acid sequence.
Chemical identity
| Compound | NAD+ |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, Nadide, Coenzyme I, β-NAD+ |
| Class | Dinucleotide coenzyme (a small molecule, not a peptide) |
| Molecular formula | C21H27N7O14P2 |
| Molecular weight | 663.4 g/mol |
| CAS number | 53-84-9 |
Background
NAD+ is composed of ribosylnicotinamide 5′-diphosphate coupled to adenosine 5′-phosphate by a pyrophosphate linkage. It is also known as nadide, coenzyme I, cozymase I and diphosphopyridine nucleotide.
It is used extensively in glycolysis and the citric acid cycle of cellular respiration, and it is consumed by several enzyme families, including sirtuins, PARPs and NAD+ glycohydrolases such as CD38.
A large body of literature examines how NAD+ levels and NAD+ metabolism change with age in model organisms. Much remains to be learned about the mechanisms involved in humans. The NAD+ supplied here has not been evaluated by the FDA.
What the published literature reports
- Review
Reviews NAD+ as a coenzyme for redox reactions central to energy metabolism, and as a cofactor or substrate for enzymes involved in DNA repair, chromatin regulation and other cellular processes. Notes that tissue NAD+ levels are reported to decline with age in several model organisms, and that much remains unknown about the effects of restoring them.
Covarrubias AJ et al., Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol, 2021 PubMed - Review
Reviews how NAD+ metabolism links cellular energy status to signaling and gene regulation, including the enzyme families that consume NAD+ (sirtuins, PARPs and cyclic ADP-ribose synthases).
Cantó C, Menzies KJ, Auwerx J, Cell Metab, 2015 PubMed - Review
Review article on NAD+ in aging, metabolism and neurodegeneration.
Verdin E, Science, 2015;350:1208–1213 PubMed
How to read this literature
The work cited above spans review. Findings from cell culture or animal models, and review articles that summarise them, do not establish how a compound behaves in other systems. Each citation links to the original record so you can read it directly.
Summaries describe what each cited paper reports in its own model system. They are not claims about the effects of this product.
For laboratory research use only. Not for human or veterinary use. See our Research Use Only page.