NMN and NAD+: what the TGA now allows, and what the trials found

NAD+ is a molecule every cell uses to turn food into energy, and its levels fall with age. NMN, nicotinamide mononucleotide, is one of the building blocks the body uses to make it. The idea behind NMN and NAD supplements, capsules and IV drips is that topping up NAD+ slows ageing. Australians search for NMN 22,200 times a month.

What the TGA says

The Therapeutic Goods Administration's product alert, last updated on 3 February 2026, sets out the rules.

• NMN was added to the list of permissible ingredients for listed medicines on 10 December 2025. A listed medicine containing it must be taken by mouth, at no more than 500 mg a day, for 12 weeks or less, by adults only, and not in pregnancy or breastfeeding. Until 10 December 2027 only one sponsor, or companies it authorises, may use it.
• NAD, NAD+ and NADH are not approved as ingredients in listed medicines. Products claiming to contain them, without an AUST number on the label, may be unapproved goods or supplied illegally.

Look for an AUST L or AUST R number on the label. Its absence is a warning sign.

What the trials found

• A 2024 meta-analysis in Current Diabetes Reports pooled randomised trials, mostly in fairly healthy adults taking 250 to 2,000 mg a day for short periods. NMN made no significant difference to fasting glucose, insulin, HbA1c, insulin resistance or cholesterol.
• A 2025 meta-analysis in Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition reached the same view on the clinically relevant outcomes, and its authors wrote that the benefits of NMN "may" be exaggerated.
• A 2026 systematic review in Ageing Research Reviews found clear effects in animals, but concluded that clinical effectiveness for anti-ageing or wellness remains inconclusive.

Yes, but

Trials have been short and small; longer studies may yet find something. IV NAD drips sold by clinics are outside the TGA's listing pathway for NMN altogether.

When to talk to your GP

Before taking any anti-ageing supplement with other medicines, and before paying for an IV infusion.

Sources

1. NAD, NAD+, NADH or NMN medicines sold in Australia, TGA (published 7 April 2025, updated 3 February 2026)
2. Effects of nicotinamide mononucleotide on glucose and lipid metabolism in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis, Curr Diab Rep, 2024
3. Efficacy of oral nicotinamide mononucleotide supplementation on glucose and lipid metabolism, Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr, 2025
4. NAD+ supplementation for anti-aging and wellness: a PRISMA-guided systematic review, Ageing Res Rev, 2026

Checked 3 October 2026. Spotted something out of date? Tell us via the about page.

General information, not medical advice. Check with your GP first, especially if you are pregnant, have a heart condition or take medication.