NAD+: Research Reference

NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) is a coenzyme, not a peptide: two nucleotides, one carrying nicotinamide and one carrying adenine, joined through a pyrophosphate bridge. It is found in all living cells, where it carries electrons in redox reactions and is consumed by enzymes such as the sirtuins, and research vials contain it as a lyophilised powder.

This reference collects what a laboratory needs to know about NAD+ as a material: how its structure behaves in the vial, what it dissolves in, how it is handled at the bench and what to do when an order arrives. Each section below has its own page. Because NAD+ is not a peptide, the chemistry differs from the peptide references in this series, while the bench habits are much the same; the distinction is explained in NAD+ is not a peptide.

Molecular reference

Name	NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, oxidised form)
Also known as	Nadide, beta-NAD, coenzyme I
Class	Dinucleotide coenzyme
Structure	Ribosylnicotinamide 5′-diphosphate coupled to adenosine 5′-phosphate by a pyrophosphate linkage
Molecular formula	C21H27N7O14P2
Molecular weight	663.4 g/mol
CAS number	53-84-9

Formula, molecular weight, CAS number, synonyms and the structural description are from PubChem (CID 5892).

Three features of that structure explain most of its behaviour. The nicotinamide ring is attached to its ribose sugar by a single bond to a positively charged ring nitrogen, and that bond is the one hydrolysis breaks, releasing nicotinamide and ADP-ribose. The oxidised form is sensitive to alkali rather than acid: NAD+ undergoes base-catalysed degradation at high pH, the reverse of NADH (Wolfe et al., Molecules, 2024). And the molecule is very polar, with two phosphate groups and four ribose hydroxyls, so it dissolves readily in water and, as a dry solid, takes up moisture readily; PubChem’s record describes it as a highly hygroscopic white solid.

What it is studied for

NAD+ serves two roles in cells. It is a coenzyme for enzymes that run reduction and oxidation reactions, carrying electrons from one reaction to another, and it is a co-substrate consumed by other enzymes, notably the sirtuins and the poly(ADP-ribose) polymerases (Verdin, Science, 2015). A later review adds CD38 to that list and describes how NAD+ influences metabolic pathways, DNA repair, chromatin remodelling, cellular senescence and immune cell function (Covarrubias et al., Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology, 2021).

Much of the research interest comes from the finding that NAD+ levels decline with age in several model organisms, including rodents and humans (Covarrubias et al., 2021). Animal work restoring NAD+ levels in old or diseased animals is reviewed in Rajman et al., Cell Metabolism, 2018. The same reviews note how much remains unknown about NAD+ in human ageing biology. Our summary of the human research is in NAD+ restoration: what the research shows.

Stability

NAD+ does not degrade the way peptides do. Its main route in solution is hydrolysis at the nicotinamide-ribose bond, which alkali and warmth speed up, and what it is dissolved in matters. The NAD+ stability page covers that route, pH, buffers, light and what visible changes mean.

Solubility

NAD+ is very soluble in water, so it dissolves readily in bacteriostatic water, and the slightly acidic pH of that water suits it. The NAD+ solubility guide explains why and why alkaline diluents work against it.

Handling

Bench practice for NAD+ is about keeping the hygroscopic powder dry until it is mixed, and the solution cold, clean and labelled after. The NAD+ handling page lists the steps and the common mistakes.

On arrival

What a sealed vial should look like, why it travels without an ice pack and where it goes first are on the NAD+ on-arrival page.

Storage and reconstitution

Storage before and after mixing is on how long NAD+ lasts. Water volumes and the concentration table for a 500 mg vial are on how much bacteriostatic water for a NAD+ 500 mg vial.

FAQ

Short answers to the questions researchers ask most about storing, mixing and handling NAD+ are on the NAD+ FAQ.

Where to get it

Vistara Labs supplies NAD+ 500 mg as a lyophilised vial for laboratory research, shipped within Canada by Canada Post Xpresspost. A ready-mixed NAD+ Nasal Spray is also available, and NAD+ is part of the Cognitive Clarity Spray Stack. Certificates are on our lab reports page.