Top Dietary Sources of NAD+ and Its Precursors
What Is NAD+ and Why It Matters
It is important to distinguish between NAD+ and its precursors. NAD+ itself is not directly available in significant amounts from food sources .
However, we can obtain NAD+ precursors through our diet. These precursors are then used by our bodies to synthesize NAD+.
Key Dietary Sources of NAD+ Precursors
NMN and NR are two such precursors found in various foods. The sources indicate that both NMN and NR are present in cow's milk, with bovine milk being a particularly rich source of NR. This means that NMN, a supplement that we believe in here at The Well Theory, is naturally part of the food supply.
NMN is also found in vegetables like broccoli, cucumber, cabbage, edamame, and avocado, with edamame and avocado having the highest measured amounts. Smaller quantities of NMN have also been detected in seafood and raw meats.
NR in Dairy Products
One study found that treating milk with heat and acid or alkali, a common method to measure niacin content, can hydrolyze NMN and NR into niacin (NA). This suggests that previous measurements of niacin in food might have inadvertently included NMN and NR, potentially underestimating their true dietary presence.
Other Common NAD+ Precursors
10 relatively common foods in which you can find NAD+ are:
Fish
Dairy milk
Pork
Beef
Turkey
Mushrooms
Yeast
Asparagus
Peas
The sources point out that research on dietary sources of NMN and NR is still limited, and more investigation is needed to determine the best food sources and their actual content of these precursors. This is particularly true for NMN and NR content in plants.
Why Supplementation May Still Be Necessary
While the sources emphasize the potential of NMN and NR in foods, they also acknowledge the presence of other NAD+ precursors in our diet, such as tryptophan, NAM, and NA, obtained either directly or as metabolites from NAD+ digestion.
The sources consistently highlight that exploring food sources of NMN and NR, along with their bioavailability and impact on NAD+ levels, represents a promising area for future research in nutrition and food science.
At The Well Theory, we advocate for obtaining as many nutrients as possible from diet alone while recognizing this is impossible for most people. Therefore, we create high quality supplements to fill the gaps.
In summary, while NMN and NR, precursors to NAD+, are found in foods like milk, vegetables, and meat, more research is needed to understand their dietary abundance and bioavailability.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dr. Meredith Warner is the creator of Well Theory and The Healing Sole. She is a board-certified Orthopedic Surgeon and Air Force Veteran.
She is on a mission to disrupt traditional medicine practices and promote betterment physically, spiritually and mentally to many more people. She advocates for wellness and functional health over big pharma so more people can age vibrantly with more function and less pain.
At Well Theory, Our surgeon-designed products are FDA Registered and formulated to help people:
- Manage the symptoms of musculoskeletal pain
- Recover vibrantly from orthopedic related surgeries
- Fill the gaps in our daily diets
- Manage pain associated with inflammation