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Article: NMR vs NR

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NMR vs NR

NMR vs NR



NMN vs NR — What’s the difference (and why we prefer NMN)

Summary: NMN and NR are vitamin B3 precursors that raise NAD⁺ in humans. We prefer NMN today because it sits one step closer to NAD⁺ in the pathway, recent human trials are accumulating quickly, and it’s easier to keep stable under typical storage.

Who this helps: If you are deciding which precursor to use for steadier daytime energy and recovery, this guide gives you a clear, high-quality path forward.

Last updated: November 2025 • Reading time: ~7 minutes

Why this matters


NAD⁺ levels decline with age. Both NMN and NR can raise circulating NAD⁺ markers in humans, but they are not identical in pathway position, clinical momentum, or real-world stability. Making the right choice up front saves you guesswork. 

H2: The pathway, simply
Your body makes most of its NAD⁺ by recycling what it already has. Think of it as a daily reuse loop. In that loop, NR is first turned into NMN, and NMN is then turned into NAD⁺. Because NMN is already the step right before NAD⁺, using NMN means you skip the NR step. Animal studies also suggest the gut can transport NMN efficiently¹; how this maps to humans is still being clarified. The takeaway is simple: both feed the same route, with NMN closer in the sequence.



What human studies say

Human trials for both NR and NMN report increases in circulating NAD⁺ metabolites²⁴⁵. In the last few years, NMN has added randomized trials with functional signals in defined populations, such as insulin-sensitivity measures and walking-distance or quality-of-life readouts²³. Datasets are not identical, but momentum today leans toward NMN.

Stability in real life

NR chloride can degrade to nicotinamide under heat, moisture, and neutral/alkaline conditions⁶⁷. NMN is chemically more robust under typical dry, room-temperature conditions, which makes maintaining label potency simpler through shipping and storage.

 Buyer’s checklist
 • Evidence and dose that match human studies.
 • Identity and purity with a lot-level COA for identity, purity, heavy metals, and microbes, plus screens to rule out excess nicotinamide.
 • Stability and packaging with a moisture-barrier bottle or pouch, desiccant, light protection, and a sensible shelf-life rationale.
 • Regulatory and transparency with GMP manufacturing, compliant labelling and claims, and real customer support.
 • Personal fit using morning dosing, starting low, checking energy, sleep, and GI comfort, and reassessing at eight to twelve weeks, ideally with a repeat NAD⁺ test.

Where VITALIZE fits
 Lifestyle is the base. VITALIZE keeps you sufficient when production runs lean. It is an AM routine built on this model: NMN to build, apigenin to help temper age-related NAD⁺ breakdown, and TMG to support methylation so recycling keeps up. It is stimulant-free and designed to complement sleep, movement, and nutrition.

Next steps

Read next: NAD⁺ 101 — The molecule behind cellular energy.
 Explore: NAD⁺ Blood Test Guide — How to baseline and track your progress.
 When you want a simple morning plan: VITALIZE — AM NAD⁺ support designed for daily life.

References 

  1. Grozio A. Nature Metabolism 2019 — Slc12a8 as an NMN transporter (mouse intestine). PubMed

  2.  Yoshino M. Science 2021 — NMN improved muscle insulin sensitivity/signaling (RCT). Science

  3.  Yi L. GeroScience 2022 — Multicenter NMN RCT: NAD⁺ markers, 6-minute walk, QoL. PubMed Central

  4.  Martens CR. Nat Commun 2018 — NR raised NAD⁺ in older adults. Nature

  5.  Elhassan YS. Cell Reports 2019 — NR increased muscle NAD⁺ metabolome in aged humans. Cell

  6.  Campbell MTD. Food & Nutrition Research 2019 — NRCl degradation to nicotinamide under certain conditions. PubMed Central

  7.  Schabert G. Molecules 2021 — NR salt stability across pH/temperature (degradation to NAM noted). PubMed Central


 NMN vs NR — What’s the difference (and why we prefer NMN)
 NMN and NR both raise NAD⁺. See pathway differences, human 


Is NMN more effective than NR?

Both raise NAD⁺ in humans. We lean NMN because it skips a step in the salvage pathway and has current trial momentum. There is no head-to-head randomized trial showing one is superior.

What is the “salvage” route?  
   It’s your cells’ recycling loop for NAD⁺. When NAD⁺ is used during normal metabolism,     it breaks into by-products your cells can turn back into NAD⁺. That recycling is the main     way adults keep NAD⁺ topped up day to day
How does the body naturally produce NAD⁺?

There are three routes. The main one is recycling (the salvage loop) that rebuilds NAD⁺ from everyday by-products. The others are slower: one starts from tryptophan (an amino acid) and another from niacin (nicotinic acid). In real life, the recycling loop does most of the work.

I Is NR or NMN closer to the natural way of doing things?

Both are normal intermediates used by the body. NR naturally becomes NMN in the recycling loop, and NMN is the last stop before NAD⁺. That’s why we prefer NMN: it sits one step closer to the finish line.

What do experts like David Sinclair use?

David Sinclair has publicly said he takes NMN (and resveratrol).