Nicotinamide riboside is a form of vitamin B3 that can be converted to nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+), an essential compound involved in energy production and other important cellular functions. Research suggests that as we age, the levels of NAD+ in our brains decrease. In initial studies, nicotinamide riboside treatment increased levels of NAD+ in the blood. However, no studies have tested whether nicotinamide riboside can improve cognitive function or prevent age-related cognitive decline. Nicotinamide riboside supplements are generally recognized as safe.
No clinical trials have tested whether nicotinamide riboside can improve cognitive function or prevent age-related cognitive decline. Our search identified:
There have not been any clinical trials that have probed whether nicotinamide riboside improves cognitive function or prevents age-related cognitive decline. In a small clinical study of healthy older adults, nicotinamide riboside treatment did not alter biological markers of Alzheimer’s disease or metabolic function [1]. An observational study found that older adults have lower levels of an essential compound, NAD+, in the brain than younger adults [2; 3]. NAD+ plays an important role in cellular metabolism and DNA repair. Nicotinamide riboside treatment can increase levels of NAD+ in the blood [4], but whether it also increases brain levels of NAD+ or exerts benefits on cognition remains to be confirmed.
In laboratory models of Alzheimer’s disease, nicotinamide riboside treatment prevented cognitive deficits, reduced production of pathological proteins, and prevented brain cell death [5; 6]. In older mammals, nicotinamide riboside may also contribute to the growth and development of neural tissue and neural stem cells [7]. Laboratory studies have shown that boosting NAD+ levels using nicotinamide riboside or other methods [6; 8; 9; 10] may protect the brain and improve age-related disorders such as metabolic disease and diabetes, both of which are risk factors for neurological diseases [11; 12; 13].
In a clinical trial of Alzheimer’s disease patients, a combination treatment that included nicotinamide riboside along with other compounds improved cognitive function compared to before the treatment, though patients receiving placebo also showed improvement [14]. Because the intervention included multiple compounds, it is not possible to pinpoint the specific contribution of nicotinamide riboside. Clinical trials testing the effects of nicotinamide riboside in Alzheimer’s patients are currently ongoing.
Nicotinamide riboside is generally recognized as safe in the US and may be added to vitamin waters, protein shakes, nutrition bars, and other products [15]. The European Food Safety Authority Panel on Nutrition, Novel Foods and Allergens reported that nicotinamide riboside is safe up to 300 mg daily for healthy adults, and up to 230 mg daily for pregnant and lactating women [16]. In the largest randomized controlled trial to date including 140 healthy overweight adults, nicotinamide treatment (100, 300, or 1,000 mg daily) for 8 weeks did not lead to significant differences in side effects when compared to placebo [4]. Side effects included nausea, muscle pain, and sore back.
There are a few theoretical concerns with artificially raising NAD+ levels. Normal NAD+ levels appear to fluctuate naturally throughout the day, so artificially increasing them may disrupt healthy circadian signaling [17]. Additionally, depleting NAD+ levels has been proposed as a treatment for cancer, inflammation, and cardiovascular disease, and one study suggests that NAD+ may accelerate the breakdown of bones [18; 19; 20]. But there is currently no evidence to substantiate these risks with nicotinamide riboside supplementation.
NOTE: This is not a comprehensive safety evaluation or complete list of potentially harmful drug interactions. It is important to discuss safety issues with your physician before taking any new supplement or medication.
Nicotinamide riboside supplements are available in capsule form. These products often contain 250-300 mg of nicotinamide riboside per serving. Nicotinamide riboside is also naturally found in some foods (e.g., milk) but in very low quantities.
Full scientific report (PDF) on Cognitive Vitality Reports