What are the key points in brief?
- NAD+ and NADH are permitted as an ingredient in dietary supplements. In other foods they count as an unauthorized novel ingredient1.
- According to the Verbraucherzentrale, there are no authorized health claims for NAD+ and NADH1.
- NR chloride has been authorized as a novel food since 20202.
- For NMN, a positive EFSA safety assessment has existed since 2026. Whether NMN is authorized is shown by the Union list of novel foods3,4.
What applies to NAD+ and NADH?
According to the Verbraucherzentrale (a German consumer advice organization), NAD+ and NADH are permitted as ingredients in dietary supplements. Under the EU novel food catalogue, they are not novel only there. In all other foods they count as an unauthorized novel ingredient1.
According to the Verbraucherzentrale, there are no authorized health claims for NAD+ and NADH. Statements about diseases are prohibited for dietary supplements1.
What applies to NR?
Nicotinamide riboside chloride has been authorized in the EU as a novel food since January 20202. The basis was an EFSA opinion. EFSA assessed NR chloride as safe for healthy adults, with restrictions for pregnant and breastfeeding women5.
For further uses, such as meal replacements and drink powders, EFSA in 2021 did not regard safety as established6.
What applies to NMN?
As of January 2026, the Verbraucherzentrale listed NMN as a novel ingredient that may be used neither in dietary supplements nor in other foods1.
In 2026, EFSA assessed beta-NMN as safe for adults, excluding pregnant and breastfeeding women3. A safety assessment alone is not yet an authorization. The European Commission decides on inclusion in the Union list4. The Union list of novel foods shows the current status7.
What does an authorization say about the effect?
An authorization as a novel food rests on an assessment of safety5,3. It does not assess a health benefit. For anti-aging and wellness, the clinical efficacy of NAD+ precursors is regarded as not established8.
This page gives the legal position in general terms. It is no substitute for legal advice.
Which sources does this page rely on?
- Verbraucherzentrale (2026). NAD und NMN in Nahrungsergänzungsmitteln? As of 16 January 2026, in German. www.verbraucherzentrale.de/faq/nad-und-nmn-in-nahrungsergaenzungsmitteln-38606
The page explains the legal situation of NAD and NMN in food supplements. It is consumer information from the German consumer advice centre. As of January 2026, there were no authorised health claims, and NMN was not permitted in foods.
- European Commission (2020). Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/16 of 10 January 2020 authorising the placing on the market of nicotinamide riboside chloride as a novel food under Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 of the European Parliament and of the Council and amending Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2470. Official Journal of the European Union. eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2020/16/oj
The implementing regulation authorises the placing on the market of nicotinamide riboside chloride as a novel food. It is a legal act of the European Commission of 10 January 2020. It added the substance to the Union list.
- EFSA Panel on Nutrition, Novel Foods and Food Allergens (NDA) et al. (2026). Safety of beta‐nicotinamide mononucleotide (β‐NMN) pursuant the regulation (EU) 2015/2283 and the bioavailability of nicotinamide from this source in the context of Directive 2002/46/EC. EFSA Journal. DOI: 10.2903/j.efsa.2026.10007
The opinion assesses whether synthetically produced β-NMN is safe as a novel food in food supplements. It is a scientific assessment by the European Food Safety Authority. EFSA considered it safe under the proposed conditions for adults, excluding pregnant and breastfeeding women.
- European Parliament and Council of the European Union (2015). Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2015 on novel foods, amending Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council and repealing Regulation (EC) No 258/97 of the European Parliament and of the Council and Commission Regulation (EC) No 1852/2001. Official Journal of the European Union. eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2015/2283/oj
The regulation sets out how novel foods are authorised in the EU. It is a legal act of the European Union. Under it, such a food may only be placed on the market once it is included in the Union list kept by the Commission.
- EFSA Panel on Nutrition, Novel Foods and Food Allergens (NDA) et al. (2019). Safety of nicotinamide riboside chloride as a novel food pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 and bioavailability of nicotinamide from this source, in the context of Directive 2002/46/EC. EFSA Journal. DOI: 10.2903/j.efsa.2019.5775
The opinion assesses whether nicotinamide riboside chloride is safe as a novel food in food supplements. It is a scientific assessment by the European Food Safety Authority. EFSA considered it safe for healthy adults under the proposed conditions and, for pregnant and breastfeeding women, only in a smaller amount.
- EFSA Panel on Nutrition, Novel Foods and Food Allergens (NDA) et al. (2021). Extension of use of nicotinamide riboside chloride as a novel food pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283. EFSA Journal. DOI: 10.2903/j.efsa.2021.6843
The opinion examines whether nicotinamide riboside chloride can be used in further food categories. It is a scientific assessment by the European Food Safety Authority. EFSA found safety not established for meal replacements and drink mixes for the general population and considered use in certain special foods for adults safe.
- European Commission (2017). Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2470 of 20 December 2017 establishing the Union list of novel foods in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 of the European Parliament and of the Council on novel foods. Official Journal of the European Union. eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2017/2470/oj
The implementing regulation establishes the Union list of authorised novel foods. It is a legal act of the European Commission that is amended on an ongoing basis. The current consolidated version applies.
- Gallagher C, Emmanuel OO (2026). NAD⁺ supplementation for anti-aging and wellness: A PRISMA-guided systematic review of preclinical and clinical evidence. Ageing Research Reviews. DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2026.103057
The review asks what studies on NAD+ products show for ageing and well-being. It systematically assesses 113 studies, 33 of them in humans. NR and NMN may raise NAD levels and appear well tolerated, while a clinical benefit remains open, and suitable trials of NAD+ infusions were lacking.