▶ NAD+ · SUBTOPIC · SAFETY PROFILE
NAD+ Safety Profile
For Laboratory Research Use Only. This page summarises observed adverse events and regulatory status reported in the peer- reviewed literature. It is not medical advice and does not recommend any human use of NAD+.
OBSERVED ADVERSE EVENTS IN LITERATURE
The following adverse events have been observed in trials or animal studies of NAD+. Severity, frequency, and attribution depend on the source publication.
- Injection-site flushing (subcutaneous)
- Nausea / chest pressure (IV, dose-dependent)
- Headache reported in IV protocols
DRUG INTERACTIONS
The following interactions are reported in or theorised from the published mechanism for NAD+.
- Methyl-donor depletion theoretical with chronic high-dose precursor use
CONTRAINDICATIONS REPORTED IN LITERATURE
Contraindications recorded for NAD+ in the published record:
- Active malignancy (theoretical, due to NAD+-PARP role in cancer-cell DNA repair)
- Pregnancy/lactation (unstudied)
FDA REGULATORY STATUS
Not FDA-approved as a drug. NAD+ precursors NR and NMN have been subject to FDA enforcement actions in 2022–2024 regarding their classification as dietary supplements vs investigational drugs. Exogenous NAD+ salt remains a chemistry reagent under standard laboratory-use framing.
WADA REGULATORY STATUS
Not currently listed on the WADA Prohibited List (2026).
SAFETY Q+A FROM LITERATURE
▶ Is NAD+ FDA-approved?
No. NAD+ is not FDA-approved as a drug. The NAD+ precursors NR and NMN have been the subject of FDA enforcement actions regarding their classification as dietary supplements vs investigational drugs. Exogenous NAD+ salt is sold as a chemistry reagent for laboratory use.
▶ Is NAD+ banned in sports?
Not currently listed on the WADA Prohibited List as of 2026.
CITED LITERATURE
The safety statements above are drawn from the following peer-reviewed sources. Refer to the originals for adverse- event tables, attribution, and full context.
- Yoshino J, Baur JA, Imai S. NAD+ Intermediates: The Biology and Therapeutic Potential of NMN and NR. Cell Metab 2018. PMID 29249689. link
- Imai S, Guarente L. NAD+ and sirtuins in aging and disease. Trends Cell Biol 2014. PMID 24786309. link
- Johnson S, Imai S. NAD+ biosynthesis, aging, and disease. F1000Res 2018. PMID 29744033. link
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▶ LAST UPDATED · 2026-05-19