NAD+ Comprehensive Panel
The US BioTek NAD Profile is a specialized lab test designed to measure key markers of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) metabolism in the body. It quantifies levels of NAD+ (the active form), NADH (its reduced form), NADP, NADPH, Nicotinamide (NAM), Nicotinic Acid (NA), and calculates the NAD+/NADH and NAD/NADPH ratios. This test uses advanced liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) for precise analysis, typically performed on dried blood spot or urine card samples. Results are delivered within about 14 business days through a provider portal, making it a convenient and reliable option for assessing cellular energy status.
The profile provides a snapshot of NAD+ availability and its related metabolites, which are critical coenzymes involved in energy production, mitochondrial function, DNA repair, and cellular signaling. NAD+ levels naturally decline with age or stress, impacting overall vitality, metabolism, and resilience to oxidative damage.
Why Someone Should Use this Lab Test
- Optimize Energy and Mitochondrial Health: NAD+ is a linchpin in ATP production—the body’s energy currency. Low levels can lead to fatigue, poor recovery, or metabolic sluggishness. This test helps identify deficiencies, guiding interventions like NAD+ precursors (e.g., NMN, NR) or peptides like 5-Amino-1MQ to boost energy at the cellular level.
- Track Aging and Cellular Repair: NAD+ powers sirtuins and PARP enzymes, which regulate aging and DNA repair. Testing reveals if NAD+ depletion is accelerating age-related decline, allowing targeted supplementation to support longevity and resilience.
- Assess Metabolic Balance: The NAD+/NADH ratio reflects redox status—how well your cells manage energy and oxidative stress. Imbalances can signal metabolic issues tied to conditions like diabetes or chronic fatigue, making this test valuable for fine-tuning health strategies.
- Support Antioxidant Defenses: NADPH, measured in the profile, fuels glutathione recycling, a key antioxidant. Low levels might indicate vulnerability to oxidative damage, especially relevant for users of peptides like Glutathione or SS-31, which combat mitochondrial stress.
- Personalize Peptide Protocols: For those using energy-enhancing peptides (e.g., NAD+, MOTS-c, 5-Amino-1MQ), this test confirms whether these interventions effectively raise NAD+ levels and improve mitochondrial function, ensuring you’re getting the intended benefits.
- Proactive Health Insight: Even without symptoms, NAD+ depletion can silently undermine vitality. This test offers a proactive way to monitor a foundational biomarker, empowering users to adjust lifestyle, diet, or supplementation before issues arise.
Who Should Consider It?
- Individuals feeling fatigued or “burned out” despite rest.
- Those using NAD+-boosting therapies or peptides to validate efficacy.
- People interested in anti-aging or metabolic optimization.
- Anyone with chronic conditions linked to mitochondrial dysfunction (e.g., fibromyalgia, neurodegenerative diseases).
What’s Included:
1. NAD+ (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide, Oxidized Form)
- Why It’s Important: NAD+ is a cornerstone coenzyme in energy metabolism, facilitating ATP production in mitochondria via the electron transport chain. It also activates sirtuins (longevity proteins) and PARP enzymes (DNA repair), making it essential for cellular repair, aging, and resilience. Low NAD+ levels are linked to fatigue, mitochondrial dysfunction, and accelerated aging—common concerns for those seeking energy enhancement. Measuring NAD+ confirms whether supplementation (e.g., NAD+ precursors or 5-Amino-1MQ) effectively boosts levels, ensuring the intended benefits are achieved without depletion.
2. NAD/NADH Ratio
- Why It’s Important: This ratio reflects the balance between the oxidized (NAD+) and reduced (NADH) forms of NAD, indicating cellular redox state. NAD+ accepts electrons during glycolysis and the Krebs cycle, converting to NADH, which then donates electrons for ATP synthesis. A high ratio (more NAD+) favors energy production and repair, while a low ratio (more NADH) can signal mitochondrial inefficiency or oxidative stress. For peptide users, this metric ensures energy pathways are optimized and not stalled, directly impacting stamina and recovery.
3. NAD/NADP Index
- Why It’s Important: The NAD/NADP Index compares total NAD (NAD+ + NADH) to NADP (NADP+ + NADPH), offering a broad view of energy versus biosynthetic capacity. NAD drives ATP production, while NADP supports biosynthesis (e.g., fatty acids, nucleotides) and antioxidant defenses via NADPH. An imbalance could indicate whether energy peptides are skewing resources toward energy at the expense of repair or vice versa. This helps users fine-tune protocols for balanced cellular function, especially with compounds like NAD+ or Glutathione.
4. NAD/NADPH Ratio
- Why It’s Important: This ratio compares NAD (energy-focused) to NADPH (antioxidant-focused), highlighting the trade-off between ATP production and oxidative stress protection. NADPH regenerates glutathione, a key antioxidant boosted by Glutathione supplementation and supported by SS-31’s mitochondrial protection. A low ratio might mean insufficient antioxidant capacity, risking cellular damage despite high energy output. Monitoring this ensures peptides enhance energy without leaving cells vulnerable to ROS (reactive oxygen species).
5. NADH (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide, Reduced Form)
- Why It’s Important: NADH is the electron-rich form of NAD+, generated during metabolism and used to produce ATP in mitochondria. High levels can indicate robust energy substrate availability, but excessive NADH with low NAD+ suggests a bottleneck in the electron transport chain, leading to fatigue or oxidative stress. For users of MOTS-c or SS-31, which optimize mitochondrial function, tracking NADH ensures energy production keeps pace with cellular demand, avoiding metabolic sluggishness.
6. NADP (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide Phosphate, Oxidized Form)
- Why It’s Important: NADP+ is a precursor to NADPH, playing a role in biosynthetic pathways (e.g., lipid synthesis) and maintaining redox balance. It accepts electrons to become NADPH, which powers antioxidant systems. Low NADP+ could limit NADPH production, weakening defenses against oxidative stress—a concern for those using Lipo-C or Glutathione to combat ROS. Measuring NADP+ ensures the precursor pool supports these protective processes alongside energy gains.
7. NADPH (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide Phosphate, Reduced Form)
- Why It’s Important: NADPH is the reduced, active form of NADP, critical for regenerating glutathione and other antioxidants, as well as supporting biosynthesis. It protects mitochondria and cells from oxidative damage, a key target of SS-31 and Glutathione. Low NADPH levels could undermine these peptides’ benefits, leaving cells exposed to ROS despite enhanced energy. Testing NADPH confirms antioxidant capacity keeps up with the metabolic boost from peptides like NAD+ or 5-Amino-1MQ.
8. Nicotinamide (NAM)
- Why It’s Important: Nicotinamide is a precursor to NAD+ (via the salvage pathway) and a breakdown product of NAD+ metabolism. High levels might indicate excessive NAD+ turnover or inefficient recycling, potentially reducing available NAD+ for energy and repair. For users supplementing with NAD+ precursors (e.g., NMN, NR) or 5-Amino-1MQ (which boosts NAD+ via NNMT inhibition), monitoring NAM ensures the body isn’t just flushing out precursors instead of converting them, optimizing supplementation efficacy.
9. Nicotinic Acid (NA)
- Why It’s Important: Nicotinic Acid (vitamin B3) is another NAD+ precursor (via the Preiss-Handler pathway), distinct from Nicotinamide. It’s less commonly supplemented but can influence NAD+ synthesis and lipid metabolism. Measuring NA helps assess whether dietary or supplemental intake contributes to NAD+ pools effectively, especially if users rely on broad B3 sources. It also flags potential overabundance, which could lead to side effects like flushing, ensuring balance in energy-focused protocols.
