Tru Niagen is a cellular health supplement that some consumers use to support longevity. The brand claims to have “40+ owned and licensed patents” and “200+ preclinical studies,” and suggests that taking their supplement increases levels of a crucial coenzyme called NAD+.
But is Tru Niagen proven to work in research studies? Do increased levels of NAD+ actually lead to better health or increased longevity? Does Tru Niagen contain any potentially unhealthy additive ingredients? And how do real users rate and describe the effects of the supplement?
In this article we’ll answer all of these questions and more as we analyze the clinical studies on Tru Niagen to give our take on whether the supplement is likely to be effective or if it’s a waste of money.
We’ll also review whether increasing NAD+ has health benefits, assess the ingredients in Tru Niagen and feature real, unsponsored Tru Niagen user reviews.
Is Tru Niagen Proven to Work?
Tru Niagen has been studied in various research trials published in legitimate, peer-reviewed medical and scientific journals.
A clinical trial published in the Scientific Reports journal found that Tru Niagen significantly increased blood levels of NAD+, by up to 142% when taken at a 1,000 milligram (mg) dose.
A 2018 clinical trial found that Tru Niagen significantly improved NAD+ levels, but did not improve insulin sensitivity or blood sugar metabolism in obese men with insulin resistance.
A medical review on Tru Niagen published in the Nutrients journal reports that its active ingredient was granted Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) status by the FDA, indicating its long-term safety.
So it seems clear from the available research that Tru Niagen is relatively safe for long-term use, and increases NAD+ levels in the body.
But does increasing NAD+ levels actually improve health or longevity? We’ll review in the next section.
Does Increasing NAD+ Improve Health?
NAD+, short for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, is a chemical compound found in every cell of the body. Its metabolism is associated with energy production, and its levels decrease with age.
A medical review published in the Experimental Gerontology journal evaluated the effects of increasing NAD+ levels on age-related diseases. The study authors analyzed data from 147 clinical trials.
The researchers found that “NAD+...had a favourable outcome on several age-related disorders associated with the accumulation of chronic oxidative stress, inflammation and impaired mitochondrial function” including muscular degeneration, brain injury and age-related skin damage.
A 2022 clinical trial tested the effects on NAD+ to prevent cognitive decline. The researchers concluded that “the findings are mostly positive,” but because most of the studies were in animals, they suggested it’s too early to conclusively state that increasing NAD+ can reduce cognitive decline with age.
The active ingredient in Tru Niagen, which is proven to increase NAD+ levels, was shown to increase healthspan but not lifespan in an animal study. This means that it increased the percentage of the mouse’s life that it was healthy.
Overall, we consider NAD+ to be a promising therapy for a number of age-related diseases. However, there doesn’t appear to be enough human trials to prove it effective for any specific health condition.
But how do real users rate and describe the effects of Tru Niagen supplementation? We’ll review in the next section.
Real, Unsponsored Tru Niagen User Reviews
A YouTube creator named “Claudia Glows” shares her experience using Tru Niagen for a year:
Another YouTube creator named “Life & DIY” has one of the most interesting videos on the topic that we’ve encountered. She took an NAD+-boosting supplement similar to Tru Niagen and actually got biological aging testing done to see if this type of supplement reversed her biological age:
Does Tru Niagen Cause Side Effects?
The first clinical trial on Tru Niagen that we cited in the clinical review section reported no more side effects on the supplement than on placebo pills.
There were four minor side effects associated with Tru Niagen use in the second clinical trial: itching, sweating, bloating and changes in bowel habits.
The medical review reported no serious adverse effects.
Based on the available research, and given the product’s FDA GRAS status, we consider Tru Niagen unlikely to cause side effects.
The brand’s website claims that there are no side effects associated with use of the supplement.
Where to Buy Tru Niagen for the Best Price
Tru Niagen is sold at a variety of online retailers. The serving sizes vary so here is a standardized price comparison for the 300 mg version in terms of price-per-capsule, at the time of publishing this article:
Walmart: $1.58 (link)
Brand website: $1.33 (link)
Amazon: $1.25 (link to official Amazon listing)
The best price on Amazon for the full-potency (300 mg) version of the supplement is almost 20% cheaper than on Walmart.
Does Tru Niagen Cause Cancer?
Consumers are curious about whether Tru Niagen can increase the risk of cancer, because some clinical trials have investigated the relationship between artificially elevated NAD+ levels and cancer risk.
A medical review published in the Frontiers in Oncology journal reports that “increased NAD levels…fuel cancer cells.”
This does not suggest that increasing NAD+ levels causes cancer, but that an NAD+ precursor supplement like Tru Niagen may be inadvisable for patients already diagnosed with cancer.
We would strongly recommend that consumers speak with a doctor before taking any supplement if they have cancer or at an increased risk for cancer.
Nicotinamide (the active ingredient in Tru Niagen) supplementation may prevent cancer based on early research. A medical review published in the Biomolecules journal reports the following: “Accumulating evidence suggests that [nicotinamide] plays a role in cancer prevention and therapy.”
We can’t find any evidence that Tru Niagen causes cancer, but again we would recommend that patients with cancer speak to their doctor before taking any dietary supplement, because certain supplements that may be beneficial for healthy individuals may be inadvisable for those with cancer.
Tru Niagen Ingredient Analysis
The ingredients in Tru Niagen are shown above.
Nicotinamide riboside chloride is the only active ingredient, at a dose of 300 mg. This is the active ingredient that was studied as a NAD+ precursor, and the 300 mg dose is effective based on the clinical trials on this compound.
There are no questionable inactive ingredients in this formulation. The filler ingredients are safe and non-toxic.
While there isn’t enough evidence for us to recommend this category of supplement, for consumers intent on purchasing an NAD+ precursor, this product seems like a good one to choose based on its clean formulation.
Research Review on NAD+ and Aging
For readers that want a more extensive and thorough dive into the research on NAD+ and aging, this video from the “FoundMyFitness” channel run by researcher Dr. Rhonda Patrick is one of the most comprehensive reviews. It covers the research, the effective dosage and the benefits and risks of increasing NAD+ levels through supplementation:
Pros and Cons of Tru Niagen
Here are the pros and cons of Tru Niagen as a brand in our opinion:
Pros:
- High-quality manufacturer
- Clinically proven to increase NAD+ levels
- GRAS status from FDA
- No unhealthy additive ingredients
- May reduce age-related disease burden
Cons:
- Longevity benefits don’t appear to be proven in humans
- Expensive
- Unclear specific health benefits
