NAD Dosage

NAD or (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) dosage depends on how you take it. 

For example, for oral supplements, the NAD dose is around 100-1000 mg per day. For IV infusions, the dose can range from 500 to 1500 mg per session. For subcutaneous injection, the dose is typically around 20-100 mg, administered in a cycled regimen (several weeks on and several weeks off). For an NAD nasal spray, which is another non-invasive method that helps deliver the compounds directly to the bloodstream, one spray typically delivers 10-25 mg of NAD, and it can be sprayed multiple times a day.

People can also take NAD supplements or precursor compounds like nicotinamide riboside and nicotinamide mononucleotide to replenish their NAD+ pool in the body, as it's an important coenzyme for the cells, involved in things from energy production, gene expression, DNA repair, and much more. 

As we get older, our NAD levels naturally decline, so maintaining healthy levels is essential for feeling and looking our best.

How much NAD you should take is a personal decision — it depends on your wellness goals and your baseline NAD levels (which you can test for). However, there isn't a daily recommended dose (like you would find with certain vitamins) as NAD is still a fairly new supplement, and the current dosage windows are only based on early research and user experience.

If you're just getting started adding NAD+ into your supplement stack, this guide might give you a good starting point, but it shouldn't replace advice from your healthcare professional.

Quick Look: How Much NAD+ Per Day?

Out of these methods of supplementing NAD, the most accessible is oral supplements, as they don't require lengthy, expensive appointments like IV infusions or additional equipment such as needles or bacteriostatic water to dilute the compound for subcutaneous injections.

NAD Precursors & Dosage

Rather than taking NAD supplements directly, some people take NAD precursors like nicotinamide riboside and nicotinamide mononucleotide to support their NAD+ pool. 

One of the arguments for this is that NAD is a large molecule that's not as easily absorbed in the body, so taking smaller compounds and allowing the body to convert them once they're absorbed might actually raise be more efficient in terms of how much NAD+ you get — but there's still no definitive answer to which method works best, so what's the difference in dosages if you're taking an NAD precursor?

Nicotinamide Riboside (NR) Dosage

The most common way to use NR is through oral supplementation, such as pills, capsules, and tinctures. The dosages depend on the person, but here's a rough NR dosage guide, based on health goals and experience with NAD+ boosters.

Nicotinamide Mononucleotide (NMN) Dosage

NMN is another popular NAD+ precursor found in capsule, powder, or sublingual drop format. Unlike NR, which requires two steps to become NAD+, NMN only needs one conversion step.

While NMN has been available in the past as a dietary supplement, it's not currently classified as a dietary supplement in the United States, due to its investigation as a potential pharmaceutical drug. Its regulatory status is still in a grey area, and while availability is more limited, NMN is still accessible through some online vendors.

As with NR, NMN dosage depends on the person and their health goals. Here’s a general NMN dosage guide based on current user practices and early research:

Factors To Consider When Dosing NAD

As we've mentioned before, dosing NAD is a highly personal matter. Some factors to consider include:

• Age

• Activity level

• Diet

• Sleep and stress

• Health goals

• Supplement stacks

• Methylation support

• Medication

• Genetics

If you're new to NAD+ boosters, it’s a good idea to start with a lower dose and gradually increase your dose based on how you feel.

Researchers have found that our natural NAD+ stores get lower as we get older, which is why older adults may benefit from higher or more consistent NAD supplementation. Activity level is also a top consideration, as people who are very active in regular high-intensity workouts may burn through more NAD quickly due to their body's increased metabolic demand.

Your goals matter, too. Low to moderate doses are often used for general wellness and daily energy support. In contrast, higher doses may be chosen by those focused on healthy aging, brain support, or physical recovery.

One often overlooked factor is methylation. Taking high doses of NAD+ boosters can use up your body's supply of methyl groups, which are nutrients needed for other functions like detox and brain health. People regularly taking larger doses of NMN or NR often support their methylation pathways with nutrients like TMG, methylated B12, and folate.

How Do You Find The Ideal NAD Dosage?

There really isn't a magic number that will suit everyone's NAD needs. Finding the right NAD dose will depend on your health goals, lifestyle, and how your body responds to the supplementation.

But since the body already makes NAD+ naturally, and is very efficient at recycling it, you don't need to worry too much about overdoing it. And taking more isn't necessarily going to give you better results. Just keep in mind that the goal isn't to overload the system, but you want to support NAD+ levels naturally and consistently.

You can take NAD tests to figure out your levels or speak with your healthcare provider for a better overall insight into your health. Typically, you'll want to start with lower doses of oral NAD supplementation (as this is the most accessible and reliable dose at around 100-300 mg daily and pay attention to how you respond to this amount over the next few days. If you feel well and want to increase your dosage, do so gradually and monitor your response.