Comparison
NMN vs Testosterone
Side-by-side of NMN and Testosterone. 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.
NMN
NMN supplements are oral nicotinamide mononucleotide capsules sold for longevity, energy, and metabolic health. They raise plasma NAD+ 30-90% at 250-1000.
Testosterone
Testosterone replacement therapy for hypogonadism: TRAVERSE 2023 cardiovascular data, cypionate dosing, body composition gains, Schedule III status.
Effects at a glance
NMN
- •Plasma NAD+ rises 30-90% at 250-1000 mg/day across human PK studies
- •Tissue NAD+ rise is inconsistent across human trials (Yoshino 2021, Igarashi 2022)
- •No human trials measure hard endpoints (mortality, CV events, cancer); evidence is biomarker-only
- •Most trials cluster at 250-500 mg/day; dose-response above 250 mg/day is poorly characterized
- •FDA position contested; widely sold as supplement but with regulatory uncertainty
- •Marketing claims for fertility and longevity outrun the human trial evidence substantially
Testosterone
- •Primary androgen; FDA approved for hypogonadism with confirmed deficiency and symptoms
- •Testosterone Trials (2016) showed sexual function and bone density improvements in older hypogonadal men
- •TRAVERSE 2023 (n=5,246) found non-inferiority on MACE versus placebo, with higher AF and PE rates
- •Schedule III controlled substance in US; WADA banned in sport
- •Aromatizes to estradiol; converts to DHT via 5-alpha reductase; both metabolites matter clinically
- •Erythrocytosis (HCT above 54%) affects 5 to 25% of users and is the most common dose-limiting effect
Side-by-side
| Attribute | NMN | Testosterone |
|---|---|---|
| Category | supplement | hormone |
| Also known as | nicotinamide mononucleotide, beta-NMN | TRT, testosterone replacement therapy, testosterone cypionate, testosterone enanthate, Androgel, Testim |
| Half-life (hr) ↗ | 4 | 192 |
| Typical dose (mg) ↗ | 250 | 150 |
| Dosing frequency | 1x daily, often morning | weekly to twice-weekly (cypionate/enanthate IM or SC); daily (topical, oral); every 3 to 6 months (pellet) |
| Routes | oral, sublingual | intramuscular, subcutaneous, topical, buccal, subcutaneous (pellet), oral |
| Onset (hr) | 1 | 24 |
| Peak (hr) | 3 | 72 |
| Molecular weight | 334.22 | 288.42 |
| Molecular formula | C11H15N2O8P | C19H28O2 |
| Mechanism | Direct precursor in the NAD+ salvage pathway; converted to NAD+ by NMNAT enzymes in essentially every tissue. Raised NAD+ supports sirtuin and PARP enzyme activity. | Androgen receptor agonist driving anabolic gene transcription in muscle, bone, brain, and androgen-sensitive tissue. Aromatized to estradiol and 5-alpha-reduced to DHT, both with distinct downstream effects. |
| Legal status | Contested in US (FDA position 2022); widely sold as supplement; broadly available in EU, UK, Asia | Schedule III controlled substance (US); WADA banned |
| WADA status | allowed | banned |
| DEA / Rx | Not scheduled | Schedule III |
| Pregnancy | Insufficient data; precautionary avoidance | Category X; contraindicated in pregnancy (virilizing effect on female fetus) |
| CAS | 1094-61-7 | 58-22-0 |
| PubChem CID | 14180 | 6013 |
| Wikidata | Q418972 | Q150726 |
Safety profile
NMN
Common side effects
- mild GI upset (rare)
- occasional headache
- flushing (rare)
Contraindications
- pregnancy and lactation (precautionary, no data)
- active cancer (theoretical concern, not evidence-based)
Interactions
- metformin: no clinically significant interaction documented; both modulate metabolism through different mechanisms(minor)
- chemotherapy agents: theoretical concern about supporting cancer cell proliferation; coordinate with oncology team(moderate)
- CD38 inhibitors: would amplify NMN-induced NAD+ rise; not clinically relevant for most users(minor)
Testosterone
Common side effects
- erythrocytosis
- acne
- oily skin
- fluid retention
- increased body hair
- fertility suppression
- injection-site reactions
Contraindications
- active prostate cancer
- active breast cancer
- untreated severe sleep apnea
- untreated severe BPH
- uncontrolled heart failure
- polycythemia at baseline
Interactions
- warfarin: may potentiate anticoagulant effect; monitor INR(moderate)
- insulin: may improve insulin sensitivity; monitor glucose in diabetics(moderate)
- 5-alpha reductase inhibitors (finasteride): blocks DHT conversion; reduces some androgen effects(moderate)
- aromatase inhibitors (anastrozole): lowers estradiol; risk of over-suppression(moderate)
Which Should You Take?
NMN comes out ahead for most readers on the criteria we weight: 3 catalogued goals, Contested in US (FDA position 2022); widely sold as supplement; broadly available in EU, UK, Asia, oral dosing, with a Tier-A outcome catalogued. Testosterone is the right call when one of the conditionals below applies.
- → If your priority is healthspan extension, pick NMN.
- → If your priority is energy and stamina, pick NMN.
- → If your priority is hormonal optimization, pick Testosterone.
- → If your priority is sexual function, pick Testosterone.
Edge case: Testosterone is contraindicated in pregnancy; NMN is the safer pick if that applies.
Default choice: NMN. Wider use case, a Tier-A evidence outcome catalogued, and broader goal coverage. Reach for Testosterone only if your priority sits squarely in the goals it owns 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 NMN and Testosterone?
NMN and Testosterone differ in category (supplement vs hormone), mechanism, and typical dosing. See the side-by-side table for full details.
Which has a longer half-life, NMN or Testosterone?
NMN half-life is 4 hours; Testosterone half-life is 192 hours.
Can you stack NMN with Testosterone?
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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