NAD+, NMN, AND NR / THREE NAMES
How Do NAD+, NMN, and NR Differ?
NAD+ is ready for cell work. NMN can become NAD+. NR must change into NMN along the way.
What each bottle name means inside the body
NAD+, NMN, and NR are three different substances. NAD+ is ready for work inside cells. NMN can change into NAD+, while NR comes from a vitamin and becomes NMN first. Plain NAD+ cannot enter most cells easily, so pill research more often tried NMN and NR.
The bottle name tells you which findings are relevant.
What makes NAD+, NMN, and NR different pills
A review describes NAD+ as bulky and electrically charged [8]. Most cells cannot bring the whole substance through their outer wall [7]. Swallowing it may not raise cell levels much.
NMN and NR provide smaller starting material, and each can become NAD+ after needed changes. The body also saves nicotinamide, a vitamin part left when NAD+ breaks apart [5]. That saved part can help build fresh NAD+. NR first becomes NMN, and then NMN becomes NAD+. Researchers confirmed this order in 2004 [6].
A plain NAD+ pill is not an NMN pill.
What NMN changed in adults and in mice
NMN is one change away from NAD+. One study ran for 60 days. People got 300, 600, or 900 mg/day. Each amount raised blood NAD+, and people walked farther. At 600 mg/day, the blood, walking, and safety results looked best together. Researchers found no safety problem at any amount [3].
Another trial gave 250 mg/day for 10 weeks. Women past menopause had early blood-sugar trouble. Their muscles answered insulin better. Insulin clears sugar from blood. The long-term sugar reading did not change, nor did weight, fat, or muscle [1]. In mice, long-term NMN slowed weight gain linked to age. The NAD supplement rules and findings cover the unsettled US label.
What NR changed in adults and in mice
More people have taken NR in studies than NMN, and some NR work lasted longer. Adults with excess weight got 100, 300, or 1000 mg/day for 8 weeks. Their blood rises were 22%, 51%, and 142%, in that order. The NR and placebo groups reported similar side effects. The placebo had the same appearance and no NR. No flushing occurred, and bad cholesterol stayed level [4].
The body makes NMN from NR before making NAD+. Researchers proved that order in 2004 [6]. One mouse study gave NR before loud noise. The mice kept more nerve links used for hearing, and their hearing came back more fully [14].
The hearing result was in mice, not people.
What differs when NMN and NR become NAD+
Both NMN and NR raised blood NAD+ in people. The tested amounts caused few problems [3][4]. NR must become NMN before the next change makes NAD+ [6]. NR has been tried in more people and over more time. One report lists blood rises as 22%/51%/142% [4]. Those marks match its low, middle, and high amounts. One NMN study favored 600 mg/day because blood, walking, and safety results looked best together [3].
In mice, gut bacteria changed some swallowed NR before it crossed the gut wall [12]. This tells researchers where part of digestion occurs. It doesn't prove that NR or NMN helps people more.
Neither smaller substance is plain NAD+.
What vitamin forms provide for making NAD+
NAD+ isn't a vitamin. The body can start with several vitamin forms. They include niacin, the vitamin form nicotinamide, and NR [8]. Nicotinamide supplies parts for new NAD+. NR becomes NMN first [6]. Niacin follows other steps [5].
The vitamin forms provide parts. The body assembles NAD+.