NAD+: research, legal status and who sells it

What it is

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) is a coenzyme involved in energy production, DNA repair, calcium signaling and gene expression [9]. It is not a peptide, but peptide vendors commonly list it.

Research status

Most human research uses oral precursors such as nicotinamide riboside (NR) and nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) [10]. A 2026 systematic review of 33 human intervention studies found that these precursors reliably raise NAD-related metabolites and were generally well tolerated, but that effects on functional, metabolic and vascular outcomes were heterogeneous and often null [10]. The same review found no eligible outcome trials of intravenous or intramuscular NAD+ itself for anti-aging or wellness [10]. A 2026 narrative review described the human evidence on intravenous NAD+ as sparse, made up mainly of small uncontrolled studies, with reported nausea, cramping, flushing and chest discomfort and no long-term safety data [11]. It also noted that large human datasets indicate whole-blood NAD+ does not decline with healthy aging as such [11]. An earlier systematic review of 10 small trials found NADH and precursor supplements well tolerated and reported improvements in some measures, such as anxiety and quality of life [9].

Regulatory status

NAD+ is not an FDA-approved drug [1]. FDA lists NAD and NADH in Category 1 (under evaluation) for pharmacy compounding [2]. No NAD+ medicine is authorized in the UK, the EU or Canada [3][4][6]. It is not named in Australia’s Poisons Standard [7] or on WADA’s 2026 Prohibited List, but intravenous infusions or injections of more than 100 mL in 12 hours are banned at all times (method M2.2), except in hospital treatment, surgery or diagnostic tests [8].

Quality and testing considerations

Category 1 status applies to state-licensed pharmacies and physicians compounding under federal conditions, which include using bulk ingredients from FDA-registered manufacturers with a valid certificate of analysis [12][2]. It does not apply to vials sold by research-chemical vendors [12], whose sterility and endotoxin levels are unknown unless tested.

Where it’s sold

NAD+ is sold as oral supplements and, by peptide vendors, as vials; the tables below track vendor listings.