Peptide Trail Guide

NAD+

Longevity Research compound (not approved for human use)

Coenzyme (dinucleotide) · also known as Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, NAD

For reference only — not medical advice. Figures are commonly reported values compiled from published sources and may be wrong or out of date. Many compounds listed are not approved for human use. Talk to a licensed clinician before using any compound.

NAD+ takes part in hundreds of redox reactions and is also consumed by sirtuins, PARPs, and CD38. Because its levels fall with age, it has become a headline target in aging research, mostly via precursor supplements. Direct NAD+ is also given by clinics as a slow intravenous infusion.

Commonly reported dosing by vial size

Frequency: Once daily (community-reported), subcutaneous · Half-life: Not well characterized for subcutaneous use

Vial size (3 sizes)

100 mg vial + 1 mL → 100 mg per mL

Diluent: bacteriostatic water (as commonly reported)

Volume shown keeps the same concentration as the 500 mg vial; no specific figure was found for this size.

Commonly reported reconstitution steps

  1. Vials are usually brought to room temperature (about 15-20 minutes) first.
  2. 1 mL of bacteriostatic water is added slowly down the inside wall of the 100 mg vial.
  3. The vial is swirled gently until clear, not shaken.
  4. This gives 100 mg/mL. Mixed vials are typically labeled with the date and refrigerated.

Commonly reported dosing

PhaseDoseVolumeU-100 units
Starting50 mg0.5 mL50
Standard75 mg0.75 mL75
Higher100 mg1 mL100
Open in calculator (100 mg + 1 mL)

500 mg vial + 3 mL → 166.67 mg per mL

Diluent: bacteriostatic water (as commonly reported)

The 500 mg vial is commonly reconstituted with 3 mL.

Commonly reported reconstitution steps

  1. Vials are usually brought to room temperature (about 15-20 minutes) first.
  2. 3 mL of bacteriostatic water is added slowly down the inside wall of the 500 mg vial.
  3. The vial is swirled gently until clear, not shaken.
  4. This gives 166.67 mg/mL. Mixed vials are typically labeled with the date and refrigerated.

Commonly reported dosing

PhaseDoseVolumeU-100 units
Starting50 mg0.3 mL30
Standard75 mg0.45 mL45
Higher100 mg0.6 mL60
Open in calculator (500 mg + 3 mL)

1000 mg vial + 3 mL → 333.33 mg per mL

Diluent: bacteriostatic water (as commonly reported)

The 1000 mg vial is commonly reconstituted with 3 mL.

Commonly reported reconstitution steps

  1. Vials are usually brought to room temperature (about 15-20 minutes) first.
  2. 3 mL of bacteriostatic water is added slowly down the inside wall of the 1000 mg vial.
  3. The vial is swirled gently until clear, not shaken.
  4. This gives 333.33 mg/mL. Mixed vials are typically labeled with the date and refrigerated.

Commonly reported dosing

PhaseDoseVolumeU-100 units
Starting50 mg0.15 mL15
Standard75 mg0.225 mL22.5
Higher100 mg0.3 mL30
Open in calculator (1000 mg + 3 mL)

Storage

Before mixing: Sealed vials are commonly stored refrigerated (2-8 °C) and protected from light.

After mixing: Reconstituted solution is commonly kept refrigerated (2-8 °C) and protected from light.

Commonly used within 28 days of mixing.

How it works

As a cofactor it carries electrons in energy metabolism and serves as a substrate for sirtuin deacylases and DNA-repair enzymes, linking cellular energy status to stress resistance and gene regulation.

Researched for

  • Studied through precursors such as nicotinamide riboside for effects on NAD+ levels in human blood.
  • Examined in small clinic-based reports of intravenous NAD+ infusion tolerability.
  • Investigated in animal aging, metabolic, and neurodegeneration models.

Notes

  • Published human work with direct NAD+ is mostly slow intravenous infusion at roughly 500-750 mg; no study establishes the subcutaneous schedule shown, which is community-reported.
  • Subcutaneous administration is often reported as uncomfortable at higher concentrations.
  • Not FDA-approved as a finished drug; available as a compounded preparation. Sterility and endotoxin quality of compounded injectables is a recognised concern.

Sources

Last reviewed 2026-10-06.

Related

SS-31

Mitochondria-targeted tetrapeptide (cardiolipin-binding)

SS-31 (elamipretide) is a small peptide that concentrates in mitochondria and has been tested in several mitochondrial disease trials.

50 mg vial · Once daily, subcutaneous (the highest reported amounts are split into two injections)

5-Amino-1MQ

NNMT inhibitor (small molecule)

5-Amino-1MQ is a small, cell-permeable molecule studied as a selective inhibitor of the enzyme NNMT (nicotinamide N-methyltransferase).

10 mg vial · Once or twice daily, subcutaneous or oral

MOTS-c

Mitochondrial-derived peptide

MOTS-c is a 16-amino-acid peptide encoded in mitochondrial DNA that has been studied as a regulator of metabolism.

10 mg vial · Once daily, subcutaneous (community-reported)

FOXO4-DRI

D-retro-inverso senolytic peptide

FOXO4-DRI is an engineered peptide that interferes with the FOXO4-p53 interaction and is studied for clearing senescent cells in animals.

10 mg vial · Once daily (community-reported), subcutaneous

Humanin

Mitochondrial-derived peptide

Humanin is a short peptide encoded within mitochondrial DNA and studied for cell-protective and metabolic roles in aging.

10 mg vial · Twice weekly (community-reported), subcutaneous

Glutathione

Endogenous antioxidant tripeptide (Glu-Cys-Gly)

Glutathione is the body's main intracellular antioxidant, a three-amino-acid peptide studied in many redox and detoxification contexts.

1500 mg vial · Once daily or every other day, subcutaneous