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 “300+ published scientific 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 improve longevity and health? Does Tru Niagen contain any unhealthy additives? 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 or not the supplement is likely to be effective for overall health and longevity.
We’ll also review whether increasing NAD+ has health benefits, analyze the ingredients in Tru Niagen, and feature real customer reviews.
Is Tru Niagen Proven to Work?
Tru Niagen has been studied in various clinical trials published in peer-reviewed journals, which is the gold standard for product research.
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 should be relatively safe for long-term use, and increases NAD+ levels in the body.
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.
Real People Try Tru Niagen
A YouTube creator named Claudia Glows shared her experience using Tru Niagen for a year:
A YouTube creator named Mark Freedom explains why he takes Tru Niagen:
Does Tru Niagen Cause Side Effects?
The first clinical trial that we cited in the clinical review section reported no more side effects in participants taking Tru Niagen than those taking 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 to be unlikely to cause side effects.
The brand’s website claims that there are no side effects associated with use of the supplement.
Where to Get the Best Price
Tru Niagen is sold at a variety of online retailers.
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 updating this article:
Walmart: $1.51 (free shipping, link)
Brand website: $1.33 (free shipping, link)
Amazon: $1.25 (free shipping, 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 at Walmart.
Does Tru Niagen Cause Cancer?
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 prove that increasing NAD+ levels causes cancer, but suggests 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 are 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.”
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 chemical compound that's clinically proven to be an NAD+ precursor, and the 300 mg dose is within the effective range.
There are no questionable inactive ingredients in this formulation. The filler ingredients should be 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 who 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 existing research, the effective dosing range, and the benefits and risks of increasing NAD+ levels through supplementation:
Tru Niagen Pros and Cons
Here are the pros and cons of Tru Niagen 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
- May increase longevity
- Free shipping from brand's website
Cons:
- Longevity benefits don’t appear to be proven yet in humans
- Expensive
- Unclear specific health benefits
