NMN / NR Open-Label Self-Trial
An eight-week structured self-trial of an NAD+ precursor with objective sleep and HRV tracking. Animal evidence is strong; human RCT data is mixed. Treat subjective effects with caution — placebo is large.
An eight-week open-label self-trial of an NAD+ precursor (NMN or NR) with objective tracking of sleep quality and training recovery — animal evidence is strong, human RCT data is mixed, and expectation bias is high, so structured tracking is essential to distinguish real effect from placebo.
Protocol
- Duration: 8 weeks continuous.
- Frequency: daily, taken with the first meal of the day (food improves absorption for most formulations).
- Dose: Follow the product label — no universally established human dose exists. Do not self-escalate beyond label guidance without clinician input.
- Tracking (required to make the trial meaningful):
- Sleep: use a wearable or a daily sleep-quality score (1–10) logged each morning.
- Recovery: HRV morning reading (7-day rolling average) or a subjective recovery score.
- Optional: baseline and week-8 whole-blood NAD+ test if your lab offers it — the only objective confirmation of uptake.
- Wash-out and assess: After 8 weeks, stop for 2 weeks and track the same metrics. If numbers and subjective scores return toward baseline, that is weak evidence of real effect; if nothing changes in either direction, the effect was likely negligible or placebo.
- Brand quality varies widely. Third-party-tested products are the minimum standard. NMN and NR are in a crowded, under-regulated category — purity certificates matter more than marketing claims.
What you get
- Possible NAD+ elevation. Both NMN and NR raise whole-blood NAD+ in human trials, though the magnitude and tissue distribution vary by person.
- Possible recovery improvement. Some human trials report improved sleep quality and reduced fatigue at the 8-week mark; others show no significant effect versus placebo.
- A self-experiment baseline. Running a structured protocol with objective tracking gives you personal data instead of relying on marketing claims or anecdote.
Contraindications
- Active cancer — NAD+ supports cellular energy metabolism; consult your oncologist before using NAD+ precursors.
- Pregnancy — insufficient safety data; avoid.
- Interacting medications — check with a pharmacist; some medications affect NAD+ pathways (e.g. certain chemotherapy agents, niacin-based therapies).
Evidence level
Low. Animal models show robust NAD+ restoration and lifespan extension; short-duration human RCTs show NAD+ blood elevation but inconsistent functional outcomes (sleep, energy, cognition). No long-term human safety data exists. The low rating reflects the gap between compelling animal data and the current state of human trial evidence. Treat subjective improvements with scepticism — the placebo effect is large in this category.
Related protocols
Sources
AgeGen never invents studies and never recommends prescription drugs by brand. Biohacks are experiments, not prescriptions — honour the contraindications and talk to a clinician if a condition above applies to you.
