Liposomal NAD+: What the Evidence Shows About Absorption
Does liposomal NAD+ absorb better? What peer-reviewed studies measured, where human data is missing, and how it compares with IV, injection and nasal NAD+.
By Juan Montes
Updated October 19, 2026 · 5 min read
PrescribedRX is a telehealth platform; prescriptions are written by licensed clinicians and filled by licensed partner pharmacies.
Short answer: Liposomal NAD+ is NAD+, the cell coenzyme covered in our NAD+ molecule explainer, packed inside fat-based vesicles. No published, peer-reviewed human study has measured how much oral liposomal NAD+ is absorbed, so there is no published human evidence on whether it absorbs better than regular NAD+. The peer-reviewed liposomal NAD+ study cited here is laboratory work: in human cells and skin samples, a liposomal formulation raised NAD+ inside one cell type but not another, and increased skin penetration by 30% compared with plain NAD+ (Ministrini et al., 2025). Human pharmacokinetic data do exist for IV NAD+ and for oral nicotinamide riboside, but those are different products.
Below is what each cited study measured, and where the gaps are.
What is liposomal NAD+?
NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, listed in PubChem as nadide) is a coenzyme found in cells (PubChem). Liposomes are “sphere-shaped vesicles consisting of one or more phospholipid bilayers,” first described in the mid-1960s and used as a way to deliver active molecules (Akbarzadeh et al., 2013). “Liposomal NAD+” is NAD+ packaged inside these fat-based vesicles.
Is there human absorption data for liposomal NAD+?
No published human study has measured it. Peer-reviewed research on liposomal forms of NAD+, NADH, NMN and nicotinamide consists of laboratory and animal studies. None of it measured blood or cell NAD+ levels in people after swallowing liposomal NAD+.
Some company press releases and product announcements describe human results for specific liposomal NAD+ products. Those results are not available as peer-reviewed papers, so they are not reported here.
What did the lab study of liposomal NAD+ find?
A 2025 study compared a liposomal NAD+ formulation with NAD+ alone in two kinds of human cells grown in the lab, primary aortic endothelial cells (blood vessel lining) and primary epidermal keratinocytes (skin cells), plus skin samples tested outside the body (Ministrini et al., Curr Issues Mol Biol 2025). The authors reported:
- Intracellular NAD+ content and cell survival rose with the liposomal formulation in the endothelial cells, but not in the keratinocytes (Ministrini 2025).
- Skin penetration of NAD+ in the skin samples was 30% higher with the liposomal formulation than with NAD+ alone (Ministrini 2025).
- The authors describe these as “in vitro findings” (Ministrini 2025).
This study did not give liposomal NAD+ to people by mouth, so it does not show how much is absorbed from the gut. The paper’s conflict-of-interest statement says two authors were employed by Sovida Solutions Limited and one is a consultant to that company (Ministrini 2025).
What absorption data exist for other forms of NAD+?
Human pharmacokinetic studies exist for NAD+ given by IV and for an oral NAD+ precursor. They are listed here for context only. None of them tested liposomal NAD+, and the rows differ in design, dose and what was measured.
| Form | Study | Who | What was reported |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liposomal NAD+ (lab) | Ministrini 2025 | Human cells and skin samples, no people dosed | Cell NAD+ up in endothelial cells, not keratinocytes; skin penetration up 30% |
| IV NAD+ | Grant 2019 | Small human pilot, 6-hour infusion at 3 μmol per minute | No change in plasma NAD+ or its metabolites until after 2 hours; NAD+ and methylnicotinamide found in urine at 6 hours |
| Oral nicotinamide riboside (a precursor, not NAD+) | Trammell 2016 | One person in a pilot, then a clinical trial of single doses | Blood NAD+ rose as much as 2.7-fold after one dose in the single person; 100, 300 and 1,000 mg doses gave dose-dependent increases in the blood NAD+ metabolome |
IV NAD+
In a 2019 pilot, a 6-hour IV infusion produced no change in plasma NAD+ or its metabolites until after 2 hours. The authors wrote that at that infusion rate NAD+ “is rapidly and completely removed from the plasma for at least the first 2 h” (Grant et al., 2019). The author affiliations include NAD+ Research Inc. and Springfield Wellness Center. Prices for IV NAD+ at clinics are covered on our NAD IV therapy cost page.
Oral nicotinamide riboside
Nicotinamide riboside (NR) is an NAD+ precursor, not NAD+ itself. A 2016 study reported that one oral dose raised blood NAD+ as much as 2.7-fold in a single person, and that single doses of 100, 300 and 1,000 mg produced dose-dependent increases in the blood NAD+ metabolome in a clinical trial. The paper’s conflict-of-interest statement names ChromaDex, the NR supplier, as the sponsor of the clinical study, with several authors holding stock or roles there (Trammell et al., Nat Commun 2016). Our NMN vs NAD+ comparison covers the precursor trials in more detail.
What does a 2026 review say?
A 2026 systematic review of 33 human intervention studies published from January 2010 to October 2025 reported that oral NR and NMN “consistently demonstrated biochemical target engagement,” while effects on functional and other health outcomes were “heterogeneous and often null or endpoint-specific.” It found no eligible outcome trials of IV or intramuscular NAD+ for anti-aging or wellness, and concluded that clinical effectiveness “remains inconclusive.” The abstract does not mention liposomal NAD+ (Gallagher and Emmanuel, 2026).
Liposomal NAD+ vs injections and nasal spray at a glance
| Oral liposomal NAD+ | Compounded NAD+ injection or nasal spray | |
|---|---|---|
| Peer-reviewed human absorption data for that form | None published | None of the human studies cited on this page tested subcutaneous or nasal NAD+; the cited human NAD+ pharmacokinetic study used IV infusion |
| Prescription needed through PrescribedRX? | Not offered through PrescribedRX | Yes; a licensed provider decides whether it is appropriate for you |
Our guide to NAD+ IV vs injection vs nasal spray compares the prescription routes, and our NAD+ side effects page covers reported reactions. Talk to a licensed provider about your health history and any medicines you take.
NAD+ offered through PrescribedRX
PrescribedRX does not offer liposomal NAD+. Two NAD+ products are offered through PrescribedRX, both compounded. Compounded medications are prepared by licensed pharmacies and are not FDA-approved.
| Product | Form as listed | 3 month plan | Monthly plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| NAD+ Injection 200mg/mL 6ml | Subcutaneous injection · Provider-dosed | 3 month plan $412 · $137/mo · Billed every 3 months. Cancel anytime. | Monthly plan $169 a month |
| NAD+ Nasal Spray 200mg/mL 6ml | Nasal spray · No needles | 3 month plan $412 · $137/mo · Billed every 3 months. Cancel anytime. | Monthly plan $169 a month |
A licensed provider decides whether it is appropriate for you and sets the dose. See all longevity treatments, or check your eligibility. Availability varies by state.
Related reading: NAD+ supplements vs injections
Sources
- Akbarzadeh A, Rezaei-Sadabady R, Davaran S, et al. Liposome: classification, preparation, and applications. Nanoscale Res Lett. 2013;8(1):102. PubMed. Accessed Oct 2026.
- National Library of Medicine. PubChem Compound Summary: Nadide (NAD+), CID 5892. PubChem. Accessed Oct 2026.
- Ministrini S, Liberale L, Erle HE, et al. A Liposomal Formulation Enhances the Anti-Senescence Properties of Nicotinamide Adenine-Dinucleotide (NAD+) in Endothelial Cells and Keratinocytes. Curr Issues Mol Biol. 2025;47(9):722. PubMed. Accessed Oct 2026.
- Grant R, Berg J, Mestayer R, et al. A Pilot Study Investigating Changes in the Human Plasma and Urine NAD+ Metabolome During a 6 Hour Intravenous Infusion of NAD. Front Aging Neurosci. 2019;11:257. PubMed. Accessed Oct 2026.
- Trammell SA, Schmidt MS, Weidemann BJ, et al. Nicotinamide riboside is uniquely and orally bioavailable in mice and humans. Nat Commun. 2016;7:12948. PubMed. Accessed Oct 2026.
- Gallagher C, Emmanuel OO. NAD+ supplementation for anti-aging and wellness: a PRISMA-guided systematic review of preclinical and clinical evidence. Ageing Res Rev. 2026;116:103057. PubMed. Accessed Oct 2026.
This article is for general information. It is not medical advice and it is not a recommendation for any particular treatment. Whether a treatment is appropriate for you is a decision for a licensed clinician who has reviewed your health history and current medications.
About the author
Juan MontesJuan Montes writes and reviews PrescribedRX's clinical content, covering testosterone replacement therapy, men's sexual health, weight management and hair loss. He trained as a Professional Nurse at the Colombian Red Cross in Cali, Colombia, and has worked in healthcare since 2011, roughly six of those years in direct emergency and critical care nursing. He served as Head Nurse in Emergency…
More from Juan →This article is for information only and is not medical advice. Treatment is prescribed solely at the discretion of a licensed provider following a clinical evaluation.
