NAD+ dosage and protocol
Last reviewed Oct 7, 2026. Editorial policy
Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide - essential coenzyme for cellular energy production and DNA repair
- Vial size: 500 mg
- Reconstitution: 3 mL bacteriostatic water
- Concentration: 166.67 mg/mL
- Administration: subcutaneous
Research areas
- Anti-Aging
- Cellular Energy
- DNA Repair
- Neuroprotection
- Metabolic Health
Quick start
- Reconstitute: Add 3.0 mL bacteriostatic water → 166.7 mg/mL concentration
- Typical daily range: 50–100 mg once daily subcutaneously (gradual titration from lower doses)
- Easy measuring: At 166.7 mg/mL, 1 unit = 0.01 mL = 1.67 mg on a U-100 insulin syringe
- Storage: Lyophilized at room temperature; after reconstitution, refrigerate at 2–8°C (35.6–46.4°F) for up to 30 days; protect from light and avoid freeze–thaw cycles
Dosing protocol
| Phase | Dose | Frequency | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | 50 mg | Once daily | 30 units (0.30 mL) |
| Week 2 | 75 mg | Once daily | 45 units (0.45 mL) |
| Weeks 3–8 | 100 mg | Once daily | 60 units (0.60 mL) |
| Weeks 9–12 | 100 mg | Once daily | 60 units (0.60 mL) |
| Weeks 13–16 | 100 mg | Once daily | 60 units (0.60 mL) |
How it works
NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) is a coenzyme present in every living cell. It shuttles electrons in the reactions that convert nutrients into ATP, including glycolysis, the citric acid cycle and the mitochondrial electron transport chain. It is also consumed as a substrate by sirtuins (enzymes involved in metabolic regulation and stress responses), PARPs (which repair DNA damage) and CD38 (an immune enzyme). Tissue NAD+ levels decline with age in rodents and in some human tissues, partly due to rising CD38 activity, which has driven interest in restoring it. In mouse studies, raising NAD+ with precursors such as nicotinamide riboside (NR) or nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) improved mitochondrial function, insulin sensitivity, muscle and vascular measures in older animals. Human trials of oral precursors have reliably raised blood NAD+ levels, but effects on clinical outcomes have been modest or inconsistent so far. Direct NAD+ injection is less studied. NAD+ is a large molecule that does not easily cross cell membranes, and outside cells it is largely broken down into smaller precursors that cells then take up. Small human studies of intravenous NAD+ have measured blood levels and tolerability, but controlled evidence for benefits from subcutaneous NAD+ is very limited.
Units chart for a 500 mg vial
| Water added | Strength | 1 unit = | 50 mcg | 75 mcg | 100 mcg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 mL | 500 mg/mL | 5000 mcg | 0 units | 0 units | 0 units |
| 2 mL | 250 mg/mL | 2500 mcg | 0 units | 0 units | 0 units |
| 3 mL | 166.67 mg/mL | 1666.7 mcg | 0 units | 0 units | 0.1 units |
Units on a U-100 insulin syringe (100 units = 1 mL).
Pages for each vial size and water volume
Reconstitution steps
- Draw 3.0 mL bacteriostatic water with a sterile syringe
- Inject slowly down the vial wall; avoid foaming
- Gently swirl/roll until dissolved (do not shake)
- Label with reconstitution date and refrigerate at 2–8°C, protected from light; use within 30 days
Storage
Evidence: Common practice. What vendors and users usually do. No published stability testing supports a specific number.
- Powder or unopened: Not a peptide. Vendors usually say to refrigerate the powder.
- Mixed or in use: Refrigerator. No tested beyond-use data found.
- Use within: no tested number
- Light: Keep it away from light.
Most reconstituted peptides are kept in the refrigerator (2–8 °C) and used within about 28 days. That is a convention, not tested data: the 28 days comes from the USP <797> limit for opened multiple-dose containers, which is about sterility, not about whether the peptide stays intact.
Sources: USP General Chapter <797> Pharmaceutical Compounding: Sterile Preparations
Store reconstituted NAD+ in refrigerator at 2-8°C. Use within 30 days of reconstitution. Store powder at room temperature.
Important notes
- NAD+ is for research purposes only
- May cause flushing or warmth during administration
- Start with lower doses to assess tolerance
- Can be administered subcutaneously or intravenously (IV requires medical supervision)
- Some users report nausea - taking with food may help
Supplies
- Bacteriostatic water
- Insulin syringes
- Alcohol swabs
- Sterile vials