NAD supplements in Canada: NAD+, NMN and NR explained

Most NAD supplements don't contain NAD+ itself. They contain NMN or NR, forms related to vitamin B3 that your body uses to make NAD+, the coenzyme your cells rely on for energy.

What is NAD+?

NAD+ stands for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide. It's a coenzyme found in every living cell, and your body uses it in hundreds of reactions, including turning the food you eat into usable energy. It works alongside its partner form, NADH, passing electrons back and forth during energy metabolism.

Your body makes NAD+ from several building blocks, including vitamin B3 (niacin and nicotinamide) from food and the amino acid tryptophan. NAD+ levels tend to fall with age in some tissues, which is why many people add an NAD+ precursor to their healthy-aging routine, or take one to support their everyday energy metabolism.

NAD+, NMN, NR and niacin compared

So, is NAD just vitamin B3? Not quite. NR and NMN are related to vitamin B3 and the body can use them to make NAD+, but they're distinct ingredients with their own research.

NMN or NR?

Both are precursors your body uses to make NAD+. Here's how the two we're asked about most compare.

More NAD supplements on our shelves

These are the other NMN products in our supplement aisle. All are capsules.

Prefer not to swallow capsules? Younited NMN Complex is a powder you stir into water, with NMN, betaine and D-ribose.

Younited WellnessNMN Complex powderNMN with betaine and D-ribose in a 105 g tub that mixes into water.Shop →

Reading an NAD label in five steps

1. Find the NPN. An eight-digit NPN on the label shows the product is licensed for sale in Canada. You can look it up in the Licensed Natural Health Products Database (linked at the end).
2. Read the licensed claim. The "Recommended use" section tells you what the product is licensed for. One NMN label on our shelf, for example, says it "helps to support the body's ability to metabolize nutrients."
3. Check the ingredient and amount. Look for the exact ingredient (NMN, NR chloride or NR) and how much is in each capsule or scoop. Compare per serving, not per bottle.
4. Look at the extras. Combination products add things like resveratrol, quercetin, betaine or D-ribose. Each one is another thing to check against your medications.
5. Read the cautions. Licensed products list who should talk to a healthcare practitioner before use, and any known side effects.

Some brands also publish independent testing for identity and purity. If that matters to you, ask the brand, or ask us what we know.

What the research is looking at

Human trials of NR and NMN have found that they raise NAD+ levels in the blood and are generally well tolerated. Researchers are now looking at what those higher levels mean for cellular energy, muscle and metabolism as we age. A 2023 review of NAD+-boosting supplements in humans called the early results encouraging and called for larger, longer trials.

The best NAD supplement is the form and amount that suit you, with an NPN on the label, taken consistently.

Sleep, regular movement and a varied diet with B-vitamin-rich foods (fish, poultry, legumes, whole grains and dairy) all support your normal energy metabolism too.

Our Bedford clinic's naturopathic doctors can review your health history and medications and talk through whether an NAD supplement makes sense for you. We direct bill most insurers.

Questions we get a lot

Is NAD+ legal in Canada?

Yes. NMN and NR supplements with an NPN are licensed natural health products and sold legally. NAD+ injections and IV therapy are a different thing: clinical treatments rather than over-the-counter supplements, which should only be given by a qualified, regulated practitioner.

Is NMN legal in Canada?

Yes. A number of NMN products are licensed as natural health products in Canada. Look for the NPN on the label of the one you're considering.

Are NAD supplements worth it?

Many people take them as part of a healthy-aging or energy routine. They reliably raise NAD+ levels in the blood; how much difference you notice varies from person to person.

Is NAD like Ozempic?

No. NAD supplements aren't drugs, they work in a completely different way, and they aren't licensed for weight loss.

What's the best NAD supplement in Canada?

There isn't a single best one. Compare the form (NMN or NR), the amount per serving, any added ingredients and the NPN. We're happy to help you compare in store.

NMN and NR supplements are in the supplement aisle at both stores: 486 Starboard Drive in Bedford and 590 Portland Street in Dartmouth, open seven days. Building a simple daily routine? Our men's multivitamin guide and omega-3 label guide are good next reads. In HRM, order by 11 am with Luminate Express for same-day delivery, or choose pickup. Anywhere else in Canada, orders over $80 ship free.

Sources: Licensed Natural Health Products Database; 2023 review of NAD+-boosting supplements in humans. This article is general information, not medical advice.