Comparison
NMN vs Vitamin D3 + K2
Side-by-side of NMN and Vitamin D3 + K2. 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.
Vitamin D3 + K2
Vitamin D3 K2 supplement profile: cholecalciferol at 1000-4000 IU/day corrects deficiency, MK-7 directs calcium to bone, away from arteries.
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
Vitamin D3 + K2
- •Reduces non-vertebral fractures 10-20% in older adults at 800 IU/day or above when combined with calcium
- •VITAL trial showed neutral results on primary CV and cancer endpoints at 2000 IU/day over 5 years
- •Vitamin D supplementation reduces respiratory infection incidence ~10-20% in deficient populations
- •K2 MK-7 has 72-hour plasma half-life vs 1-2 hours for MK-4; once-daily dosing is sufficient
- •Synergy hypothesis is largely preclinical; dedicated combination RCTs are limited
- •Daily dosing outperforms bolus dosing for immune and infection outcomes
Side-by-side
| Attribute | NMN | Vitamin D3 + K2 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | supplement | supplement |
| Also known as | nicotinamide mononucleotide, beta-NMN | cholecalciferol + menaquinone, D3/K2, vitamin D3 with MK-7 |
| Half-life (hr) ↗ | 4 | 360 |
| Typical dose (mg) ↗ | 250 | 0.05 |
| Dosing frequency | 1x daily, often morning | daily with a fat-containing meal |
| Routes | oral, sublingual | oral |
| Onset (hr) | 1 | 24 |
| Peak (hr) | 3 | 168 |
| Molecular weight | 334.22 | 384.64 |
| Molecular formula | C11H15N2O8P | C27H44O (D3); C46H64O2 (MK-7) |
| 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. | D3 converts to calcidiol then calcitriol, activating the vitamin D receptor (VDR) to increase intestinal calcium absorption and modulate immune and bone gene transcription. K2 carboxylates osteocalcin and matrix Gla protein, directing calcium toward bone and inhibiting vascular calcification. |
| Legal status | Contested in US (FDA position 2022); widely sold as supplement; broadly available in EU, UK, Asia | Dietary supplement (global) |
| WADA status | allowed | allowed |
| DEA / Rx | Not scheduled | Not scheduled |
| Pregnancy | Insufficient data; precautionary avoidance | Recommended at standard doses for fetal bone development; consult clinician at higher doses |
| CAS | 1094-61-7 | 67-97-0 |
| PubChem CID | 14180 | 5280795 |
| Wikidata | Q418972 | Q139347 |
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)
Vitamin D3 + K2
Common side effects
- GI upset at high doses
- headache (rare)
- hypercalcemia (only at sustained very high D3 doses)
Contraindications
- hypercalcemia
- sarcoidosis
- active hyperparathyroidism
- warfarin therapy (K2 component requires stable intake)
Interactions
- warfarin: K2 component can affect anticoagulation; maintain stable intake and inform anticoagulation clinic(moderate)
- thiazide diuretics: additive calcium retention; hypercalcemia risk with high-dose D3(moderate)
- digoxin and calcium channel blockers: additive effects from D3-induced hypercalcemia(moderate)
- glucocorticoids: reduced vitamin D efficacy and bone effects(moderate)
- cholestyramine and orlistat: bind fat-soluble vitamins; separate dosing by 2 to 4 hours(moderate)
Which Should You Take?
Vitamin D3 + K2 comes out ahead for most readers on the criteria we weight: 3 catalogued goals, OTC dietary supplement, oral dosing, with a Tier-A outcome catalogued. NMN is the right call when one of the conditionals below applies.
- → If your priority is energy and stamina, pick NMN.
- → If your priority is metabolic health and glucose control, pick NMN.
- → If your priority is bone density, pick Vitamin D3 + K2.
- → If your priority is cardiovascular health, pick Vitamin D3 + K2.
Edge case: If you want to avoid Contested in US (FDA position 2022); widely sold as supplement; broadly available in EU, UK, Asia, Vitamin D3 + K2 is the more accessible choice.
Default choice: Vitamin D3 + K2. Lower friction to source, a Tier-A evidence outcome catalogued, and broader goal coverage. Reach for NMN 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 Vitamin D3 + K2?
NMN and Vitamin D3 + K2 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, NMN or Vitamin D3 + K2?
NMN half-life is 4 hours; Vitamin D3 + K2 half-life is 360 hours.
Can you stack NMN with Vitamin D3 + K2?
Stack compatibility depends on mechanism overlap, legal status, and individual response. Check each compound page for specific interactions and contraindications before combining.
Go deeper