What Is NAD+? Coenzyme Research Guide
An overview of NAD+ — a central cellular coenzyme — covering its role in energy metabolism, why it is studied in ageing research, and its research-use-only status in the UK.
7 min read · Published 2026-06-23
What Is NAD+?
NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) is a coenzyme found in all living cells — a dinucleotide rather than a peptide. It is central to redox reactions and cellular energy metabolism, cycling between its oxidised (NAD+) and reduced (NADH) forms.
Research use only. This material is supplied for in-vitro laboratory research. It is not a medicine and is not for human or veterinary consumption, administration, or therapeutic use.
Why NAD+ Is Studied
NAD+ is a substrate for enzymes including the sirtuins and PARPs, which links it to research on DNA repair, mitochondrial function, circadian biology and ageing. Cellular NAD+ levels are reported to decline with age, which has made NAD+ and its precursors a focus of metabolic and longevity research.
Evidence & Regulatory Status
Much of the cellular research is well established, but clinical outcomes for NAD+ administration remain an area of active study. NAD+ supplied as a research material is not an approved medicine in the UK and is for laboratory use only. (Note: NAD+ is a coenzyme, not a peptide.)
Research Handling & Quality
As a lyophilised (freeze-dried) peptide it is typically stored frozen and reconstituted with bacteriostatic water for in-vitro work — see our reconstitution guide and storage guide. Identity and purity should be verified against a batch-matched Certificate of Analysis (COA) with HPLC and mass-spectrometry data. View nad-plus product details and COA.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is NAD+ a peptide?
No — NAD+ is a dinucleotide coenzyme, not a peptide. It is grouped with research compounds for metabolic and ageing studies.
Why is NAD+ studied in ageing research?
Because it is a substrate for sirtuins and DNA-repair enzymes, and cellular levels are reported to fall with age.
Is NAD+ approved for human use?
Research-grade NAD+ is supplied for laboratory use only and is not an approved medicine in the UK.
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