If you are comparing NAD+ supplements, NMN and NR are likely the two you keep coming back to. They are the most widely studied precursor options available, and the question of which performs better is a reasonable one. 

The evidence suggests the difference between them is smaller than most product comparisons imply. More importantly, both share a limitation that is worth understanding before making a decision.  

Nuchido TIME+ was developed to address what precursor supplements leave unresolved. 

Chemical structures of NMN

What Are NAD+ Precursors?

The body cannot absorb NAD+ directly. It is too large a molecule to cross the cell membrane, and oral NAD+ is broken down in the gut before reaching the bloodstream. The body must produce NAD+ internally, using smaller molecules called precursors as building blocks. 

NMN (nicotinamide mononucleotide), NR (nicotinamide riboside) and NAM (nicotinamide) are all  forms of vitamin B3 that cells can use to produce NAD+. Supplementing with them provides more of this raw material with the aim of supporting NAD+ production. Learn more about how NAD+ works. 

The Structural Difference Between NMN and NR

NMN and NR are closely related. NR sits one step earlier in the conversion pathway, meaning it must first be converted to NMN before the cell can use it to make NAD+. NMN is slightly larger than NR, which led to early questions about how well it could enter cells directly.

The Transporter Problem

For NMN to enter cells directly, it requires a specific transporter protein called Slc12a8. A 2019 study published in Nature Metabolism confirmed this transporter in the mouse small intestine and pancreas, with more moderate expression in the liver and fat tissue. Its expression varies across cell types and individuals, meaning NMN's ability to enter cells directly is not consistent across the body. 

NR enters cells via a different set of nucleoside transporters and does not face the same barrier. However, current evidence suggests that a significant proportion of both NMN and NR is converted to nicotinamide (NAM) in the liver before reaching peripheral tissues. For much of the body, both supplements appear to deliver the same molecule regardless of which form was taken. 

This does not mean precursor supplements have no effect. It does suggest the practical difference between NMN and NR is less meaningful than the marketing around each tends to indicate. Unlike NMN or NR, NAM freely crosses cell membranes without a transporter, making it more bioavailable. 

The Deeper Problem: Neither Addresses NAMPT Decline or CD38

This is the more significant issue for anyone researching NAD+ supplementation seriously. 

The body does not primarily obtain NAD+ from external sources. It recycles it. The main production route is the salvage pathway, and its central enzyme is NAMPT (nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase). NAMPT converts the precursor NAM, the end product of NAD+ breakdown and the molecule that both NMN and NR largely become, back into fresh NAD+. 

From your 20s, NAMPT activity naturally declines with age. This has been observed across multiple tissues, including human skeletal muscle. This is a key driver of age-related NAD+ decline. When NAMPT is underperforming, the cell's ability to recycle NAD+ is reduced, and providing more precursor material does not restore that. It is similar to supplying more ingredients when the production process itself has slowed. 

The other issue is CD38, the enzyme found on the surface of immune cells that breaks down NAD+. CD38 is the largest consumer of NAD+, and levels of CD38 increase with age. Without inhibiting it, any increase in NAD+ will be rapidly depleted before reaching beneficial pathways.  

NMN and NR work around these problems rather than addressing it. They add raw material, but the recycling mechanism remains compromised. Read more about NAD+ decline and the salvage pathway. 

What a More Complete Approach Looks Like

Rather than asking which precursor to take, a more useful question is how to support the cell's NAD+ production system more fully. 

Nuchido TIME+ uses a whole-system approach that targets the root causes of NAD+ decline: 

  • Activating NAMPT: Sophora Japonica extract (providing quercetin and rutin) and R-alpha lipoic acid Increase NAMPT activity, helping restore the salvage pathway's ability to produce and recycle NAD+ 
  • Reducing NAD+ consumption: green tea extract (EGCG) and parsley leaf extract (apigenin) inhibit the inflammatory pathways that degrade NAD+ (CD38), directing more of what is produced toward cellular repair and energy 
  • Supplying the right precursor: nicotinamide (NAM), the precursor naturally preferred by the salvage pathway, is included in a readily bioavailable form 

Nuchido TIME+ is the only NAD+ supplement clinically proven in a human trial to restore the body's natural NAD+ production rather than temporarily raising precursor levels. View our clinical evidence. 

NMN vs NR: What's the Difference?

Nuchido TIME+

NMN/NR

Clinically proven, multi-ingredient formula

Single-ingredient only

Boosts natural NAD+ production

Doesn’t restore NAD+ production

Prevents NAD+ depletion

Doesn’t lower NAD+ demand

Optimises your NAD+ pathways

Increases stress on NAD+ pathways

 

Precursors aren’t enough, you need to fix the root causes of NAD+ decline. 

NMN vs NR vs Nuchido TIME+: A Summary

  • NMN: requires the Slc12a8 transporter to enter cells directly; much of it converts to NAM in the liver. Does not address NAMPT decline or CD38. 
  • NR: enters cells via nucleoside transporters; also largely converts to NAM before reaching peripheral tissues. Does not address NAMPT decline or CD38. 
  • Nuchido TIME+: activates NAMPT, reduces inflammatory NAD+ consumption, and supplies NAM as a precursor. Clinically proven to increase NAD+ levels and restore natural production. Explore the full ingredients.

Testimonials

"Loving your Nuchido TIME+ supplement. Only been a few months but feeling a noticeable difference in increased energy. Great complement to a healthy lifestyle and diet."
@ejtoner
"Nuchido TIME+ gave me a second chance at reclaiming my social life and health. A truly amazing product!"
@joshwafigaroa
"I am a fitness instructor, just turned 50, constantly active and this product has helped me so much with muscle recovery, fatigue and overall health. A great investment in my health and wellbeing."
Joanne Neale
"This has been life changing for me and my perimenopausal symptoms. It’s actually mind blowing. Thank you so much for developing this!"
Susan Wintoniw

    THE TIMES+

    Read our blogs to understand how aging affects cellular energy, muscle fatigue and repair.

      FAQs

      Is NMN or NR better for raising NAD+ levels?

      Both can support NAD+ levels, but current evidence suggests much of each converts to nicotinamide in the liver before reaching cells. The practical difference between them appears to be small. Neither addresses the decline in NAMPT, the enzyme responsible for recycling NAD+ inside cells, or address CD38 which wastes large quantities of NAD+.

      Why does NAMPT matter for NAD+ supplementation?

      NAMPT drives the salvage pathway, which is how cells recycle and replenish their NAD+. As NAMPT activity declines with age, the cell's ability to maintain NAD+ levels is compromised regardless of how much precursor material is available. Supporting NAMPT is what distinguishes a whole-system approach from a precursor-only one.

      Can I take NMN or NR alongside Nuchido TIME+?

      Nuchido TIME+ already contains nicotinamide, the precursor naturally preferred by the salvage pathway. Adding NMN or NR is unlikely to provide additional benefit. Once the salvage pathway is functioning more effectively, additional precursor material is generally not the limiting factor. 

      Please also note that taking additional vitamin B3 derivatives, such as NR or NMN, alongside Nuchido (which contains NAM) may increase your total intake and could lead to exceeding recommended daily limits. 

      What makes Nuchido TIME+ different from other NAD+ supplements?

      Most NAD+ supplements supply precursors without addressing the decline in cellular recycling capacity. Nuchido TIME+ activates NAMPT, reduces inflammatory NAD+ consumption, and supplies the right precursor in bioavailable form. It is the only product clinically proven in a human trial to restore the body's natural NAD+ production pathway. Learn more on our NAD+ supplements page.

      Are there side effects from NMN or NR supplements?

      Both are generally considered well tolerated in studies to date, but there is data suggesting they can cause methylation issues and in advertently promote inflammation because they do not restore the cells NAD+ production pathway. As with any supplement, reviewing the available evidence and consulting a healthcare professional where relevant is advisable.