Last reviewed October 26, 2026 by the Cellovi team.
The short answer
NMN is the building block your cells turn into NAD+, with a fast-growing set of human trials behind it: 250 to 900 mg a day raised blood NAD+ within weeks. NAD+ is the coenzyme itself, and research on taking it by mouth is newer and moving quickly. Cellovi NMN gives 500 mg in one morning capsule; Cellovi NAD+ pairs NAD+ with quercetin and resveratrol, plant polyphenols also found in onions, apples and grapes. We grade both Frontier: promising human research, growing fast.*
What is NAD+?
NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) is a coenzyme every cell uses to turn food into energy. It also helps with DNA repair and other upkeep inside the cell. That is why it sits at the center of so much healthy-aging research (Covarrubias et al., 2021).
NAD+ levels fall with age in several human tissues. Brain imaging finds levels 10 to 20% lower between about age 20 and 60. A study of liver samples found about 30% less over age 60 (Peluso et al., 2021).
What do human studies of NMN show?
NMN (nicotinamide mononucleotide) is one step away from NAD+. Randomized, placebo-controlled trials consistently find that it raises NAD+ in the blood, and some also look at walking and exercise:
| Study | Who | Daily dose and length | What changed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yi et al., 2023 | 80 healthy adults, average age 49 | 300, 600 or 900 mg for 60 days | Blood NAD+ rose at every dose, most at 600 and 900 mg. Six-minute walking distance improved. |
| Igarashi et al., 2022 | 42 men aged 65 and over | 250 mg for 12 weeks | Blood NAD+ about twice placebo. Walking speed and grip strength improved on some measures. |
| Igarashi et al., 2026 | 62 healthy adults aged 65 and over | 1,250 mg for 24 weeks | Blood NAD+ about 3.6 times higher after 24 weeks, and the dose was generally well tolerated. |
| Okabe et al., 2022 | 30 healthy adults aged 20 to 65 | 250 mg for 12 weeks | Blood NAD+ higher at weeks 4, 8 and 12, and back to baseline 4 weeks after stopping. |
| Liao et al., 2021 | 48 recreational runners aged 27 to 50 | 300, 600 or 1,200 mg for 6 weeks, alongside training | Endurance at the ventilatory threshold improved more at 600 and 1,200 mg than with training alone. |
NMN has also been well tolerated in short trials: 1,250 mg a day for 4 weeks caused no adverse events linked to NMN (Fukamizu et al., 2022). A 2026 review pooled the safety data from 10 randomized trials, 383 adults taking 250 to 2,000 mg a day for 2 to 24 weeks: side effects and liver enzymes were no higher than with placebo (Yang et al., 2026).
That is why NMN carries our Frontier grade: the effect on NAD+ is clear, and new trials arrive every year.
What NMN does most consistently
Across these trials, the most consistent result is a rise in NAD+ in the blood, at 250 mg a day and at 1,250 mg a day. A 2026 network meta-analysis of 27 studies of NAD+ building blocks also found that NMN improved aerobic endurance and quality-of-life scores (Gao et al., 2026).
The first randomized trial of NMN in people was published in Science in 2021 (Yoshino et al.). It studied 25 women with prediabetes, so we cite it for history rather than for claims; the trials in the table are in healthy adults.
What about taking NAD+ itself?
NAD+ is a larger molecule than NMN, and research on taking it by mouth is newer.
For oral NAD+, the newest human research is encouraging. A 2026 randomized, placebo-controlled trial, published in the peer-reviewed journal GeroScience, found that a specific oral NAD+ formula raised NAD+ inside blood cells by 53% compared with placebo within 6 days, in healthy adults aged 45 to 75 (Kornilov et al., 2026).
Cellovi NAD+ adds quercetin and resveratrol for their own antioxidant support.*
Is NMN allowed in US supplements?
Yes. In 2022 the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said NMN could not be sold as a supplement. In September 2025, after a citizen petition from the Natural Products Association, the FDA reversed that view. It stated that NMN "is not excluded from the definition of dietary supplement" because it was sold as one before it was studied as a drug (FDA response, docket FDA-2023-P-0872).
How to choose
| If you want | Choose | How to take it |
|---|---|---|
| The option with the most human data | Cellovi NMN, 500 mg | 1 capsule each morning |
| NAD+ itself, with quercetin and resveratrol | Cellovi NAD+ | 2 capsules daily, as on the label |
| Both | The Cell Duo: Cellovi NMN and Cellovi NAD+ together, save $10 | NMN in the morning, NAD+ at midday |
| The whole energy routine | Cellular Energy Protocol | NMN, CoQ10 and resveratrol, morning to evening |
You can take one or both. If you take both, take NMN in the morning and NAD+ at midday. Give any routine at least 60 days, every day. If you are pregnant or nursing, take medication or manage a health condition, talk to your doctor first.
Common questions
Should I take NMN and NAD+ together?
You can take one or both. Cellovi NMN is the option with the most human data; Cellovi NAD+ pairs NAD+ with quercetin and resveratrol. If you take both, take NMN in the morning and NAD+ at midday, or get both together in The Cell Duo and save $10. If you take medication, check with your doctor first.
How long does NMN take to work?
In trials, blood NAD+ rose within weeks. In one study it was higher at weeks 4, 8 and 12, then back to baseline 4 weeks after stopping, so give any routine at least 60 days, every day.*
How much NMN do studies use?
Trials used 250 to 1,250 mg a day for up to 24 weeks, and a 2026 review of 10 trials found side effects no higher than with placebo at 250 to 2,000 mg a day. Cellovi NMN gives 500 mg in one morning capsule.
Does the time of day matter?
Morning fits most routines, and it is when most people take it. One trial has compared times of day: 108 adults aged 65 and over took 250 mg of NMN or a placebo for 12 weeks, in the morning or in the evening. The evening group showed the largest changes on a chair-stand test and in daytime drowsiness (Kim et al., 2022). Choose the time you can keep every day.
Sources
- Covarrubias AJ et al. Review of NAD+ metabolism in ageing. Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology, 2021.
- Peluso A et al. Review of age-related NAD+ decline in human tissues. Nutrients, 2021.
- Yi L et al. Randomized, placebo-controlled, dose-ranging NMN trial in healthy middle-aged adults. GeroScience, 2023.
- Igarashi M et al. Randomized, placebo-controlled NMN trial in healthy older men. npj Aging, 2022.
- Igarashi M et al. 24-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 1,250 mg/day NMN in older adults. npj Aging, 2026.
- Okabe K et al. Randomized, placebo-controlled NMN trial in healthy adults. Frontiers in Nutrition, 2022.
- Liao B et al. Randomized, placebo-controlled NMN trial in recreational runners. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 2021.
- Fukamizu Y et al. Safety trial of 1,250 mg/day NMN in healthy adults. Scientific Reports, 2022.
- Yang W et al. Systematic review and meta-analysis of oral NMN safety in adults, 15 randomized trials. Nutrients, 2026.
- Kim M et al. Randomized, placebo-controlled trial of morning or evening NMN in older adults. Nutrients, 2022.
- Yoshino M et al. First randomized trial of NMN in people, in women with prediabetes. Science, 2021.
- Kornilov SA et al. Randomized, placebo-controlled trial of oral NAD+ in healthy adults aged 45 to 75. GeroScience, 2026.
- US Food and Drug Administration. Response to citizen petition on NMN, docket FDA-2023-P-0872, September 2025.
- Gao et al. Network meta-analysis of NAD+ precursors in adults, 27 studies. Frontiers in Nutrition, 2026.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.