The NAD+ Protocol Guide — NMN vs NR & Threshold Doses That Actually Move Levels
NAD+ Protocol · Research-Anchored
The NAD+ Protocol Guide — NMN, NR & the Doses That Actually Work
Cellular NAD+ declines 50% between ages 30 and 60. This guide is the threshold-dose framework for restoring it — Sinclair, Imai, Brenner research with the supplement tier that meets the trial targets. Free PDF.
Why NAD+ matters
NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) is the central coenzyme for energy metabolism, DNA repair, and sirtuin-mediated longevity signaling. Cellular NAD+ levels decline roughly 50% between ages 30 and 60 across virtually every tissue measured. Most age-associated dysfunctions — mitochondrial decline, DNA damage, immune senescence, insulin resistance — track with the NAD+ decline curve.
The therapeutic question: can NAD+ precursor supplementation restore levels and slow age-associated decline? Current human clinical trials show NMN and NR reliably raise blood NAD+ 50-60% at therapeutic doses, with measurable benefits to muscle function, cardiovascular markers, and sleep architecture.
The threshold-dose problem
The single most-overlooked variable in NAD+ supplementation is dose. Most consumer products contain 100-150mg per capsule — significantly below the doses used in successful clinical trials. The label-dose feel-good adults often see no measurable NAD+ change.
| Dose tier | Daily mg | Expected NAD+ change |
|---|---|---|
| Sub-therapeutic | 50-150mg | Minimal measurable change |
| Trial lower bound | 250mg | ~30-40% blood NAD+ increase |
| Trial mid range | 500-600mg | ~50-60% increase |
| High dose | 900-1,000mg | ~60-70%, diminishing returns |
Going deeper
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The NMN-Resveratrol Stack — Sinclair & Bryan Johnson Protocol
7 reasons the pairing matters · clinical data + dose framework
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NMN vs NR — Which Precursor Actually Works
Side-by-side comparison + dose recommendations
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The Longevity Vault — Cellular Powerhouse + 14 more protocols ($97)
Full ebook on NAD+ protocol implementation, plus the complete library
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Every claim is anchored to peer-reviewed literature — not influencer opinion, not personal anecdote.