Comparison
Nicotinamide Riboside vs Urolithin A
Side-by-side of Nicotinamide Riboside and Urolithin A. Every row below is pulled from the compound schema and will update as our data grows. For deeper reads, follow through to each compound page.
Nicotinamide Riboside
Nicotinamide riboside (NR) is the most-studied NAD+ precursor in humans. Sold as Niagen by Chromadex; raises plasma NAD+ 30-60% at 250-1,000 mg/day.
Urolithin A
Urolithin A supplement guide: pomegranate-derived metabolite, 500-1000 mg Mitopure dosing, mitophagy and muscle endurance evidence.
Effects at a glance
Nicotinamide Riboside
- •Most-studied NAD+ precursor in human trials; the original Niagen formulation by Chromadex
- •Plasma NAD+ rises 30-60% at 250-1,000 mg/day across multiple human PK trials
- •Martens 2018 reported reduced BP and arterial stiffness at 500 mg/day for 6 weeks
- •Dollerup 2018 found no insulin sensitivity change despite plasma NAD+ rise
- •Tissue NAD+ rise inconsistent; hard clinical endpoints not yet measured
- •Larger human safety database than NMN; comparable mechanistic effects
Urolithin A
- •Gut-microbiome-derived metabolite of pomegranate and walnut ellagitannins
- •Roughly 40% of adults are 'urolithin producers' from dietary intake; ~60% are non-producers
- •Ryu 2016 (Nature Medicine) reported lifespan extension in C. elegans and muscle benefits in aged rodents
- •Andreux 2019 first-in-human trial (n=60) established safety and mitochondrial gene-expression upregulation
- •Singh 2022 (n=66, 4 months, 1000 mg/day) reported improved muscle endurance in older adults
- •Most human trial portfolio is Amazentis-funded; independent replication is thin
Side-by-side
| Attribute | Nicotinamide Riboside | Urolithin A |
|---|---|---|
| Category | supplement | supplement |
| Also known as | NR, Niagen, nicotinamide riboside chloride | UA, Mitopure, ellagitannin metabolite |
| Half-life (hr) ↗ | 8 | 17 |
| Typical dose (mg) ↗ | 500 | 500 |
| Dosing frequency | daily, typically morning | daily, morning with food |
| Routes | oral | oral |
| Onset (hr) | 1 | 2 |
| Peak (hr) | 4 | 4 |
| Molecular weight | 255.25 | 228.2 |
| Molecular formula | C11H15N2O5 | C13H8O4 |
| Mechanism | NAD+ precursor via salvage pathway. Phosphorylated to NMN by nicotinamide riboside kinase (NRK), then converted to NAD+. Substrate for sirtuins, PARPs, and CD38. | Induces mitophagy via potentiation of PINK1/Parkin signaling, leading to selective degradation of damaged mitochondria. Secondary anti-inflammatory effects via NF-kB modulation. |
| Legal status | OTC dietary supplement | OTC dietary supplement (US GRAS 2018; EFSA Novel Food 2021) |
| WADA status | allowed | allowed |
| DEA / Rx | OTC supplement | OTC supplement (not scheduled) |
| Pregnancy | Insufficient data at supplement doses | Insufficient data; not routinely recommended |
| CAS | 1341-23-7 | 1143-70-0 |
| PubChem CID | 439924 | 5488186 |
| Wikidata | Q3343054 | Q27101321 |
Safety profile
Nicotinamide Riboside
Common side effects
- mild GI upset (rare)
- headache (rare)
Contraindications
- pregnancy / lactation (insufficient data)
- active cancer (theoretical, no contraindicating data)
Interactions
- pterostilbene: complementary sirtuin pathway (Basis combination)(minor)
- TMG (trimethylglycine): methylation support during high NAD+ precursor dosing(minor)
Urolithin A
Common side effects
- mild GI upset (rare)
- soft stools (rare)
Contraindications
- pregnancy and lactation (insufficient data)
- active chemotherapy (consult oncology)
Interactions
- chemotherapy agents: theoretical interaction with mitochondrial-targeting agents; consult oncologist(moderate)
Which Should You Take?
Nicotinamide Riboside and Urolithin A score evenly on the criteria we weight (goal breadth, legal accessibility, evidence depth). The conditionals below should drive the decision more than any aggregate score.
- → If your priority is energy and stamina, pick Nicotinamide Riboside.
- → If your priority is metabolic health and glucose control, pick Nicotinamide Riboside.
- → If your priority is muscle hypertrophy, pick Urolithin A.
- → If your priority is mitochondrial function, pick Urolithin A.
Default choice: either is defensible. Nicotinamide Riboside edges out on goal breadth + legal accessibility; Urolithin A is the right call if your priority sits in the goals listed above.
This verdict is generated from each compound's schema (goals, legal status, evidence outcomes, dosing route). It updates automatically as our compound data evolves; the deeper read sits on each individual compound page.
Common questions
What is the difference between Nicotinamide Riboside and Urolithin A?
Nicotinamide Riboside and Urolithin A differ in category (supplement vs supplement), mechanism, and typical dosing. See the side-by-side table for full details.
Which has a longer half-life, Nicotinamide Riboside or Urolithin A?
Nicotinamide Riboside half-life is 8 hours; Urolithin A half-life is 17 hours.
Can you stack Nicotinamide Riboside with Urolithin A?
Stack compatibility depends on mechanism overlap, legal status, and individual response. Check each compound page for specific interactions and contraindications before combining.
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