Blood NAD and glutathione measured across health, disease and aging
A standardized workflow measured NAD, NADH, NADP, NADPH, GSH and GSSG from one whole-blood sample; in healthy people aged 18–70 these metabolites were normally distributed and unchanged with aging, while high-dose nicotinic acid raised blood NAD 4–6-fold. [1]
Automatic summary · not editorially reviewed
The key findings
A standardized workflow of enzymatic cycling assays quantitatively measures NAD, NADH, NADP, NADPH, GSH and GSSG from a single whole-blood sample. [1]
In blood of a healthy population aged 18–70 years, these metabolites followed a normal distribution and remained unchanged during aging. [1]
High-dose nicotinic acid, a B3 vitamin, resulted in a 4–6-fold increase of blood NAD in healthy individuals. [1]
The source at a glance
- Study type / format
- Abstract of a study using a standardized whole-blood measurement workflow
- Population / context
- A healthy population aged 18–70 years, plus people with different degenerative diseases including cancers, as described in the abstract.
- Summary based on
- Study abstract
- Original publication
- August 17, 2026
Standardized whole-blood assay for six redox metabolites
The abstract reports a standardized workflow of enzymatic cycling assays that quantitatively measures NAD, NADH, NADP, NADPH, GSH and GSSG from a single whole-blood sample. The authors note that neither healthy human values nor levels in NAD-booster-treated or disease-affected people had been established in humans. This is an abstract; the full text was not reviewed.
Supporting source [1]
Healthy 18–70 group: normal distribution, no aging change
In the blood of a healthy population aged 18–70 years, the measured metabolites followed a normal distribution and remained unchanged during aging. Separately, high-dose nicotinic acid, a B3 vitamin, produced a 4–6-fold increase of blood NAD in healthy individuals. The authors say this suggests a need for personalized dosing and follow-up in treatment and drug trials. These are group-level observations, not personal dosing guidance.
Supporting source [1]
Disease-linked redox fingerprints and profiling potential
The data also indicate disease-dependent "redox fingerprints" of NAD and glutathione forms in different degenerative diseases, including cancers. The authors describe redox profiling as potentially indicating probable pathology and as a possible measure of treatment response. The abstract does not report which specific diseases, how many participants, or how the disease groups were compared, so these associations are not evidence of cause or of a clinical benefit.
Supporting source [1]
How to interpret this
Abstract only; the full text was not reviewed. The abstract does not report sample sizes, the specific diseases studied, how disease groups were compared, or follow-up duration. The disease-related redox fingerprints are associations, not evidence of cause or clinical benefit.
Based on the study abstract; the full paper, tables and supplementary data were not reviewed.
Source & supporting passages
Euro L, Haimilahti K, Jansson S, Forsström S, Buzkova J, Suomalainen A. · europepmc.org · August 17, 2026