Nat Metab. 2026 May 14. doi: 10.1038/s42255-026-01537-5. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) levels in blood and tissues are widely proposed to decline with age, yet evidence in human blood is inconsistent. Using a rigorously validated ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry system that accounts for real-world analytical variability, we quantify NAD+ across seven independent human cohorts. We find that whole-blood NAD+ levels remain remarkably stable with age and across lifestyle interventions, but change in response to nicotinamide riboside supplementation, as expected. Our results challenge the utility of blood NAD+ levels as a biomarker of ageing or lifestyle factors.
PMID:42135539 | DOI:10.1038/s42255-026-01537-5