NMN supplements typically show noticeable effects, such as increased energy and focus, within a few days to weeks, while long-term benefits like improved metabolism and anti-aging effects may take months.
Nicotinamide Riboside Benefits: What You Need to Know
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If you’re interested in wellness topics related to healthy aging, anti-aging, metabolism, or cellular health, you may have stumbled upon a molecule called nicotinamide riboside.
In this article, you will learn all about nicotinamide riboside (NR), from potential health benefits to cellular energy production and cognitive function.
What is Nicotinamide Riboside?
Nicotinamide riboside is a natural compound and a special form of vitamin B3 that has an impressive potential to support metabolism, cellular health, mitochondrial function, and overall wellness.
It serves as a precursor to nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, also known as NAD, which is a critical molecule responsible for energy production in our cells.
NR is not the only NAD precursor. Other precursors include nicotinic acid and nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN). However, nicotinamide riboside stands out because of its more efficient absorption capabilities and reportedly has fewer side effects.
As a result, people seeking to increase their NAD+ levels favor nicotinamide riboside supplementation over other alternatives with lower bioavailability.
Top NR Benefits
Improved Cellular Energy Production
As mentioned before, NR helps boost NAD+ levels, which plays an essential role in converting food into cellular fuel. In order for mitochondria to make cellular energy that fuels your body, foods must be broken down to their smallest components – sugars, fats, and amino acids.
Since NAD+ levels drop as we age, the process becomes slower and slower. To prevent that, you could take NR supplements to help maintain higher NAD+ levels and maintain your cellular energy production.
Enhanced Longevity and Healthy Aging
Animal studies have shown that supporting NAD+ production with supplementation could slow down several processes related to aging.
However, it’s important to note that we’re talking about healthy aging, not anti-aging. As of now, there hasn’t been any magical inventions that could reverse the natural process of growing old.
Also, you should keep in mind that nutritional supplements such as NR won’t magically fix your wrinkles or energy levels if you don’t maintain a healthy lifestyle in general.
When combined with a healthy diet and physical activity, NR supplementation could help you age well, maintain focus, and control metabolism better.
Support for Brain Health and Cognitive Function
NAD+ levels and sirtuin proteins support cognitive function and promote better neuroplasticity, which allows your brain to adapt to new environments.
Since nicotinamide riboside naturally increases NAD+ levels in your body, it’s safe to say that it supports and promotes better brain health.
Is Nicotinamide Riboside Safe?
Safety is a key factor in any choice of supplementation. Thankfully, research shows that NR is generally safe and has been given the GRAS (Generally Regarded as Safe) status.
Common NR Side Effects
Most people who experience side effects only face mild issues such as nausea or digestive problems. While serious side effects could happen, they are very rare and are more likely to occur with higher doses than recommended.
Who Should Avoid Nicotinamide Riboside Supplementation?
It’s recommended to consult your doctor if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, have any liver conditions, or take medications.
While nicotinamide riboside supplementation is safe for most people, you should seek out a medical professional’s opinion if you have any metabolic disorders or any health conditions.
Safety of Daily Use
As mentioned above, daily use seems to be safe. However, long-term effects are still being studied and researched, which means that you should stick to recommended dosage and avoid excessive use.
Comparison Between NR, NMN, and NAD
It may be confusing to differentiate between nicotinamide riboside (NR), nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). After this section, you will understand how they compare and what’s the difference between all of them.
Nicotinamide Riboside (NR)
It’s a unique form of vitamin B3 that is a highly bioavailable precursor to NAD. Once you take NR, your body converts it into NAD which is the main protagonist behind all the benefits you’ve read before.
In essence, NR is the raw material that enables your body to produce NAD naturally. Why not just take NAD directly? NAD is not as good at being absorbed by cells due to the size of the molecule, so it’s a lot more efficient to supplement your body with NR and allow it to produce NAD on its own.
Nicotinamide Mononucleotide (NMN)
Yet another precursor to NAD, nicotinamide mononucleotide offers similar benefits to NR, but it’s not quite the same. NMN is a slightly larger molecule which, supposedly, makes it a bit less efficient regarding absorption.
NMN requires some additional steps to enter the cells, but research shows it can be just as effective as NR. To further separate the two, NMN seems to be a more attractive subject for anti-aging studies instead of solely focusing on healthy aging.
All in all, NR has been studied longer, which likely makes it the more established and trustworthy option (1).
Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide (NAD)
NAD is a molecule that’s present in every cell and it plays a crucial role in energy production, DNA repair, cellular health, and overall healthy aging. It’s essential for maintaining proper metabolic function and ensuring your cells operate at their full efficiency.
However, NAD levels naturally decline with age, and the precursors such as NR and NMN help keep the levels higher to ensure good energy levels and cellular health.
How to Choose the Right Nicotinamide Riboside Supplement?
Now you know what NR is, how it works and what benefits it brings. If you decided it’s something that your body would benefit from, here’s a short guide how to choose the right supplementation:
- Look for trusted brands. Make sure the brand you choose continuously tests the products for purity and potency.
- Check the dosage. Supplements may come in different doses. Safe doses range from 100mg to 2000mg per day. A practical starting dose could be 500mg.
- Track how you feel. If you’re feeling side effects often, make sure to consult your doctor about what may be causing it.
For a high-quality option, check out Pure Nicotinamide Riboside (NR) from our store. If you’re wondering why go with us, here are the reasons:
- We ensure our product quality during third-party testing for purity and label claims.
- We source our products from Effepharm, a leader in science-backed ingredients.
- We strictly follow USP and FDA guidelines.
- Highest purity on the market – 99.7%, third-party verified..Non-GMO, vegan-friendly supplements.
Conclusion
Nicotinamide riboside, a special form of vitamin B3, offers promising benefits regarding healthy aging. It increases NAD+ levels, which then boosts cellular energy production, supports your brain health, and promotes healthy aging.
While generally deemed safe, it’s recommended to consult your doctor before starting a new supplemental regime.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can NR help with weight loss?
NR may boost metabolism by supporting mitochondrial function, but it’s not a weight-loss supplement. To lose weight, you should maintain a healthy diet, active lifestyle, and follow a simple “calories in vs calories out” routine.
What foods contain nicotinamide riboside?
NR is usually found in traces of milk and yeast, but you would need to drink and eat enormous amounts of these foods to get the required dosage of nicotinamide riboside.
Is nicotinamide riboside anti-inflammatory?
Some anti-inflammatory effects have been noticed in studies, but more research is required to verify it as a fact.
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