Association between blood nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide levels and blood laboratory parameters at baseline and after nicotinamide mononucleotide supplementation in middle-aged healthy individuals: post hoc analysis of a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial
Ajla H Kuerec et al. · GeroScience · 2026
Evidence type: Secondary human analysisInterpretive weight: LimitedResearch area: NAD and laboratory associations
DesignPost-hoc analysis of the randomized double-blind Yi et al. dose-ranging trial
PopulationHealthy middle-aged adults from the parent 80-person trial
Sample80 participants
InterventionParent trial: placebo or NMN 300, 600, or 900 mg/day for 60 days
EndpointsBaseline blood NAD associations with hematology, inflammatory, lipid and liver measures; Associations between NMN-induced NAD change and blood laboratory parameters
What the publication reported
This paper re-analyzed laboratory data from the same 80-person Yi NMN trial to ask whether baseline NAD levels and NMN-related NAD changes were statistically associated with common blood measurements.
Higher baseline NAD showed associations with several inflammatory, lipid and liver-related measures. Increases in NAD during the trial were associated with changes in red-blood-cell and hemoglobin-related parameters and uric acid.
These associations do not prove that NAD caused the laboratory differences and should not be interpreted as independent evidence of clinical benefit.
Key findings
Higher baseline NAD was associated with several inflammatory, lipid and liver laboratory measures.
NMN-induced NAD increases were associated with changes in hemoglobin, red blood cells and related indices.
Uric acid also showed an association with NAD change.
The paper analyzes the same participant cohort as Yi 2023 and is not an independent trial.
What it cannot establish
Post-hoc observational association analysis within a randomized trial.
Associations do not establish causality.
Multiple laboratory relationships were examined.
Not an independent participant cohort.
Commercial affiliations from the parent trial remain relevant.
HealthspanX claim boundary: The reported associations do not establish that raising NAD improves oxygen delivery, inflammation, lipids, liver health or any clinical outcome.
