NAD / NAD+

NAD is a coenzyme involved in cellular energy metabolism, not a peptide. Labels such as NJ500 and NJ1000 do not establish the chemical form or verify what a product contains.

Identity unclearResearch added: 29 October 2026

Check the identity first.

Do not describe NJ500 or NJ1000 as peptides without a verified ingredient panel.

Why the interest?

NAD and NAD+ are coenzymes, not peptides. NJ500 and NJ1000 do not confirm an ingredient.

Cellular energy

Claims you may come across

Reported benefits, not product promises

More energy and support for cellular metabolism.
Healthy ageing and physical performance.

Personal stories are anecdotal. They cannot show whether a product caused a change, how often it happens or what the risks are.

How much is backed up?

Studies of specified NAD+ precursors cannot be transferred to an NJ-labelled product. A rise in a blood NAD measure is not proof of an anti-ageing or performance benefit.

Research context: Yi et al. (2022): beta-NMN supplementation in healthy middle-aged adults

What NAD studies measured

NAD is a coenzyme, a helper molecule that cells use in energy metabolism. NAD+ is its oxidised form. Neither is a peptide. NJ500 and NJ1000 do not identify a chemical form, formulation or ingredient. Research on NAD+ precursors such as NMN, nicotinamide and nicotinic acid cannot be assumed to apply to an ambiguously labelled product.

2021: no improvement in muscle function

In a randomised, double-blind crossover trial, 14 older adults with impaired physical function received a mixture of NAD+ precursors or control for 32 days. The researchers found no significant improvement in muscle NAD+ levels, how mitochondria used oxygen, or cycling efficiency. This tested specific oral precursor ingredients, not NAD itself or an NJ-labelled product.

Connell et al., Journal of Nutrition (2021): NAD+-precursor supplementation does not affect mitochondrial or skeletal muscle function in physically compromised older adults

2022: NMN raised blood NAD in a controlled trial

A multicentre randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in healthy middle-aged adults found that oral beta-NMN increased blood NAD concentrations over 60 days. That biochemical change is not the same as proving a health, performance or anti-ageing outcome, and it does not verify what NJ500 or NJ1000 contains.

Yi et al., GeroScience (2022): The efficacy and safety of beta-nicotinamide mononucleotide supplementation in healthy middle-aged adults

What this tells us

First establish the exact ingredient and regulated product status. Do not translate precursor research into a claim about an unidentified NAD or NAD+ label.

What’s being studied?

Cellular energy metabolism

Research topics are not a promise of benefits.

What we know

NAD-related molecules have established roles in cell metabolism.

What we don’t know

The codes do not state the chemical form, amount, route, manufacturer or whether the product contains what it claims.

Risks worth understanding.

Misidentification or an unexpected chemical form
Unknown strength
Injection-related contamination risk

This is not a complete list of risks or a personal safety assessment.

Already have a product?

Keep its packaging and ingredient information. Check the formulation, instructions and supplies together. An unidentified product cannot be made safe by an online dose calculation.

Before mixing: checks & supplies

Context matters.

Unapproved injectable products are covered by Medsafe’s quality, safety and legality warning.

“Research purposes only” is not a legal exemption or a safety guarantee. This guide is for research and educational purposes only and does not recommend taking this substance.

Read Medsafe’s warning

Common questions

The things you might be wondering.

Are NJ500 and NJ1000 peptides?

Not if they mean NAD or NAD+, which are coenzymes rather than peptides.

What do the numbers mean?

They cannot be interpreted reliably without the original manufacturer information.

Is there a safe dose I can use?

There is no universal safe dose for an unidentified product. Discuss any treatment with a clinician and a confirmed regulated product.

Read it at the source.

Keep the conversation going

Two perspectives on the wider peptide conversation. These episodes provide context; they do not identify or validate a product with this label. Pick a thumbnail to watch here.

Huberman Lab · 7 October 2024

Peptide & Hormone Therapies with Dr Craig Koniver

Andrew Huberman and Dr Craig Koniver talk through peptides, hormone therapies and the interest in them for health and performance. The conversation covers GLP-1 medicines, BPC-157 and growth-hormone-related peptides, along with sourcing and safety. Use it to get familiar with the conversation, then check the studies in our guides before drawing conclusions.

Play loads the YouTube player. Podcast discussion is context, not medical advice.

Episode & transcript

Huberman Lab · 1 June 2026

Peptide Science & Safety with Dr Abud Bakri

Why are peptides getting so much attention? Dr Abud Bakri joins Andrew Huberman to discuss BPC-157, GHK-Cu, melanotan and GLP-1 medicines. They explore what is being studied, why product sourcing matters and where animal findings still need to be tested in humans.