NR vs NMN: Why Most NAD Supplements Don't Actually Work

Two out of three NAD supplements on the market deliver less than 90% of what's on the label. Aron Erickson, VP of R&D at Niagen Bioscience, has tested them. NAD+ is involved in over 400 cellular reactions, and levels decline with age — but not all NAD precursors are created equal. In this episode of TESTED: Inside the Formula, Dr. Jordan Glenn sits down with Aron Erickson, who has spent 12 years at Niagen Bioscience developing and validating the nicotinamide riboside ingredient known as Niagen. Aron breaks down the core science of why NR and NMN work differently at the cellular level, why taking NAD directly doesn't meaningfully raise your NAD levels, and what TRU Niagen found when they tested competitor products across the NAD precursor market. Spoiler: the results weren't good for consumers. Beyond the science, this episode gets into what it actually takes to build a trustworthy ingredient from scratch: 60+ patents covering synthesis and crystal morphology, over 300 research partnerships with independent universities, a new USP monograph for nicotinamide riboside, and a third-party TESTED by SuppCo certification that Aron says gives their team confidence precisely because they know what most other products can't prove. If you take any NAD supplement or are considering one, this is the episode to watch before you buy. In this episode: Why NR enters the cell directly but NMN has to be broken down first The clinical data showing NR raises NAD levels 50-100% in adults aged 40-60 TRU Niagen's competitive testing program: 65% of NAD products don't meet label claims What a USP monograph for nicotinamide riboside actually means for the market Why TRU Niagen supplies Niagen free to 300+ independent research institutions Health span vs. lifespan: what the next decade of NAD science is building toward ✅ TESTED by SuppCo Certification: https://supp.co/tested 🔬 Check TRU Niagen's TrustScore: https://supp.co/brands/tru-niagen 🔔 Subscribe for more episodes of TESTED: Inside the Formula, where we go behind the label with the scientists actually building these products. ──── TESTED by SuppCo is an independent verification program that anonymously purchases supplements through normal retail channels and sends them to accredited labs, where active ingredients are tested for identity and potency against label claims. Only products that meet or exceed 95% of their label claims earn the certification. Brands pay to participate and this post is sponsored as part of the program. Results cannot be influenced and are published transparently pass or fail. #NicotinamideRiboside #NADSupplement #TRUNiagen #NRvNMN #SupplementTesting #HealthyAging #TESTEDbySuppCo #SupplementTransparency #NADPlus #LabelAccuracy