Nicotinamide Riboside for Cats

How NR helps cells make NAD+, and what to look for in a supplement for your cat

By La Petite Labs Editorial 15 min read

Woman cuddling an orange-and-white cat and a silver tabby while holding a Hollywood Elixir box
Hollywood Elixir® Daily longevity system · adult & senior cats Starting at $63/month 

Nicotinamide riboside, or NR, is a vitamin B3-related compound cells can use to make NAD+. NAD+ helps cells turn nutrients from food into usable energy and takes part in cellular maintenance. That connection explains why an ingredient called NR appears in products described as providing “NAD+ support.”

The label makes the choice more concrete. Hollywood Elixir, for example, lists 60 mg of NR within a 2.5 g sachet containing several ingredients. Understanding the precursor, the amount and the whole formula helps you see what a product would add to your cat’s routine.

Cells can convert NR into NMN, then use NMN to make NAD+. These are connected steps involving distinct molecules. 1 Human studies show that taking NR can raise NAD+ in blood cells, although a separate study in older men did not find improved mitochondrial energy production in muscle. 2 4

The research reviewed for this guide does not establish a feline NR dose or a demonstrated improvement in cats’ health or lifespan. It does explain the ingredient’s biological purpose. For a product decision, look at the actual NR ingredient, the whole formula and the serving intended for your cat—not the broad NAD+ claim alone.

How NR Becomes NAD+

NR enters a pathway cells use to make NAD+. An enzyme called NR kinase adds a phosphate group to NR, turning it into nicotinamide mononucleotide, or NMN. Another enzyme uses NMN to make NAD+. The sequence is NR → NMN → NAD+. 1

NAD+ then takes part in the reactions cells use to obtain energy and maintain themselves. The pathway explains NR’s purpose as a precursor: it supplies material for making another molecule. It does not mean that every swallowed molecule reaches every tissue unchanged. The NAD+ for cats guide explains the wider biology, including how NAD+ helps cells use food.

Woman kneeling with two long-haired tabby cats while holding a Hollywood Elixir box beside a food bowl

NR, NMN, NAM and NAD+: Which Is Which?

The names are close enough to be confusing. Nicotinamide riboside is NR. Nicotinamide mononucleotide is NMN, the compound formed in the next step of the pathway above. Nicotinamide is NAM, which cells can recycle into NAD+ through another route. NAD+ is the coenzyme these pathways help produce. 1

An ingredient list may contain one of these compounds or several. “NAD+ support” does not identify which one is present. Read the full name before comparing amounts: a stated amount of NAM is not a stated amount of NR, and evidence for one compound does not automatically describe another.

Woman exercising beside a tabby cat, with a Hollywood Elixir box and food bowl on a small table

What NR Chloride and Niagen Mean

NR chloride is a particular salt form of nicotinamide riboside used in supplementation research. Niagen is a branded NR chloride ingredient. 5 Another preparation, NR-E, is also NR chloride, made by a different manufacturer and studied in rats. 3 These names identify the material supplied; they are not additional steps between NR and NAD+.

A finished product can contain an NR ingredient together with other compounds, flavorings and serving instructions. An ingredient brand therefore tells you one part of the product’s identity. The rest of the label tells you what your cat would actually receive.

Orange-and-white cat reaching toward a woman holding a Hollywood Elixir box while sitting in a chair

What Happens After NR Is Swallowed?

The route through digestion is more complicated than the NR → NMN → NAD+ pathway inside a cell. In its 2019 assessment of NR chloride, EFSA concluded that it was likely to be absorbed mainly as nicotinamide after breakdown in the gut. Nicotinamide can then supply material for NAD+ synthesis. 13

The assessment drew on several species, including humans, but not cats. Oral NR can contribute to NAD+ metabolism without every molecule traveling intact from the food bowl to a distant tissue.

Gray-haired man holding a Hollywood Elixir box while two cats rest beside him in an armchair

Human Studies: Blood Cells and Muscle

In a 2016 experiment, 12 people took different single doses of NR on separate occasions. Researchers measured NAD-related compounds in peripheral blood mononuclear cells—a group of immune cells in the blood. NAD+ increased after NR. This showed the precursor producing a measurable biochemical response after people swallowed it. 2

A 2019 study looked inside muscle. Twelve older men took NR or placebo for three weeks in a crossover trial, receiving both treatments in separate periods. NR increased a related compound called NAAD, but muscle NAD+ itself did not rise significantly. Tests of mitochondrial energy production did not improve. 4

Together, the results show why “NAD+ increased” needs a location. An increase in blood cells and a change in muscle metabolites are different observations; neither measured an improvement in a cat’s daily activity.

Cells can turn NR into NMN, then use NMN to make NAD+.

Has NR Been Tested in Cats?

Our primary-source search for this guide did not identify a published oral NR supplementation trial in cats. A feline heart-disease study did measure changes in related metabolism, including lower serum nicotinamide in preclinical disease groups, but it did not administer NR. 6

The NAD+ cat overview explains that finding. It is a reason to investigate feline metabolism, rather than a tested NR treatment or a serving recommendation.

Tabby cat looking up at a Hollywood Elixir sachet held above it, with the product box on a small table

NR and the Vitamin B3 Already in Cat Food

Cats rely on dietary niacin because they use tryptophan inefficiently as a source of this vitamin. 7 A food labeled complete and balanced is intended to provide the required nutrients for its stated life stage. 8

An additional NR ingredient serves a different purpose from meeting those basic food requirements. Do not assume an NR powder makes an incomplete homemade recipe nutritionally complete.

Hand gently petting an orange-and-white cat beside a food bowl and Hollywood Elixir box

The Amount of NR Is Different From the Scoop Weight

Hollywood Elixir’s Supplement Facts lists 60 mg of NR per 2.5 g sachet. Those numbers describe different things: 2.5 g is the weight of the whole powder, while 60 mg is the listed amount of NR within it. The rest of the sachet includes the other ingredients.

For any formula, separate the amount of NR from the total serving weight, then read the directions for your cat. If a label gives only a total blend weight, that number cannot reveal the individual NR amount. The Hollywood Elixir ingredient and Supplement Facts page lets you examine the formula on this same per-sachet basis.

Man holding a Hollywood Elixir box beside a black cat, an orange tabby and a food bowl

What the Safety Studies Found

An eight-week trial enrolled 140 otherwise healthy overweight adults and compared NR chloride with placebo. The incidence and severity of adverse events were similar across groups, and no serious adverse events were reported. ChromaDex, the ingredient maker, funded the study. 5

A separate study gave synthetic NR chloride, called NR-E, to Sprague-Dawley rats for 90 days, with a further recovery arm. The researchers reported no deaths or tissue changes attributed to treatment. Males in the highest-dose group nevertheless had lower body weight than controls near the end of the study. 3

These are findings for particular preparations and exposures. They do not establish a feline serving or long-term tolerability in cats. The NAD technical appendix provides the closer study-by-study reading.

Your Cat’s Health Belongs in the Serving Decision

Use directions that actually apply to cats. A human or dog product can contain NR while differing in the rest of its formula and the amount intended for its user. The sources reviewed here do not establish a general NR dose for cats, so converting a human or rat dose by body weight alone cannot create one.

For a cat receiving medicines or a therapeutic diet, bring the complete formula and its directions to the veterinarian who knows the care plan. Feline senior-care guidance treats diet, supplements, medicines and changes at home as part of the history to review. 12 That gives the discussion a specific starting point: what this product would add to what your cat already receives.

Hollywood Elixir lists 60 mg of NR in a 2.5 g sachet. The sachet weight includes the whole formula.

Silver tabby sitting beside a food bowl and a Hollywood Elixir box held in a person's hand

DVM Voice: Clinical Vignette of a Common Pattern in Senior Cat Aging

Case provided by JoAnna Pendergrass, DVM

Sasha, a 12-year-old cat, was brought in after her owner noticed increased thirst and urination, lethargy, vomiting, and a generally unkempt appearance. Examination showed weight loss, elevated blood pressure, and reduced vitality.

Diagnostic testing revealed elevated kidney markers, poorly concentrated urine, and protein loss in the urine — findings consistent with chronic kidney disease, one of the most common chronic conditions in senior cats.

Her care required a kidney-focused diet, blood pressure management, targeted supplementation, medication support, and regular monitoring — a necessary plan, but one started after clinical signs were already visible.

Clinical takeaway: Sasha’s case reflects why senior-cat wellness should begin before obvious decline. Earlier monitoring, body-condition tracking, hydration awareness, antioxidant support, and daily cellular resilience may help support quality of life as cats age.

Single-case vignette. Not generalizable. Veterinary diagnosis and monitoring are essential for increased thirst, urination, vomiting, lethargy, weight loss, or suspected kidney disease.

Explore Hollywood Elixir Research →
Woman holding a Hollywood Elixir box toward a brown cat perched on the back of a sofa

Why a Formula Might Pair NR With Other Ingredients

NR, glutathione and CoQ10 have different biological jobs. NR supplies material for making NAD+. 1 Reduced glutathione helps the enzyme glutathione peroxidase break down hydrogen peroxide, part of cellular antioxidant defenses. 9 CoQ10 carries electrons within mitochondria in the process that helps produce ATP, a molecule that powers much of a cell’s work. 10

Those roles explain why the ingredients can appear together in a formula concerned with energy metabolism and cellular maintenance. They do not establish that combining them produces a greater clinical benefit in cats.

Woman leaning toward a fluffy orange cat beside a Hollywood Elixir box and green food bowl

Where Hollywood Elixir Fits

Hollywood Elixir is La Petite Labs’ daily longevity powder for adult cats and dogs. It combines NR with reduced glutathione, CoQ10 and other antioxidant ingredients in sachets.

For someone considering those ingredients together, the product puts them in one formulation. NR is its NAD+ precursor; the other ingredients broaden the formula beyond NR alone. The Hollywood Elixir product information provides the current formulation and serving guidance. The research described here supplies ingredient background; it did not test the finished Hollywood Elixir formula. Our Hollywood Elixir research library brings together the broader material behind the formulation.

Tabby cat licking its nose beside a food bowl and Hollywood Elixir box

Compare the Whole Formula With What You Already Use

The comparison becomes concrete when you place the labels side by side. If a current supplement already lists CoQ10, a formula containing CoQ10 adds another source of it. The same applies to glutathione or another NAD-related ingredient. Different product names can conceal that overlap.

Write down the amount actually given from each product, keeping an individual ingredient amount separate from the total blend weight. A combined powder may simplify the routine, but replacing an existing product needs the same comparison as adding one. Do not change a prescribed treatment because another product shares an ingredient or a broad wellness claim.

Storing NR and Mixing It With Food

NR chloride can gradually break down into nicotinamide and ribose during storage. EFSA reviewed stability data for a specified NR chloride ingredient; those data do not set a storage time for a different blend mixed into cat food. 13

Follow the finished product’s storage and administration instructions. Before mixing several meals ahead, check whether its directions cover that use. A shelf-life date on unopened powder does not answer how long to keep a prepared meal.

Make Sure the Serving Is Actually Eaten

If the product’s directions allow mixing with food, a small portion can help you see whether your cat eats it before you offer the rest of the meal. Powder left in the bowl is part of the serving your cat has not taken.

If the mixture is refused, offer familiar food without it. Contact your veterinarian promptly if your cat is not eating; Cornell’s feline guidance treats appetite loss as a problem to investigate. 11 Getting the supplement in should not cost your cat the meal.

Tabby cat sitting at a table with a food bowl and Hollywood Elixir box

What Testing Information Can Tell You

A testing claim becomes useful when it names what was tested. Ingredient identity, ingredient amount and contaminants are different measurements. A certificate for an NR raw material also describes a different sample from the finished blend in a sachet.

When information is available, match the product, lot, test date and results to the product being considered. If the statement says only “tested,” ask what that covers. Testing can answer questions about the material supplied; it is not a study of whether cats benefit from taking it. Our quality and testing standards explain La Petite Labs’ approach to manufacturing and product documentation.

Woman cuddling a silver tabby and a cream-colored cat while holding a Hollywood Elixir box

Keep One Useful Record

Write the product name, start date and amount actually consumed on one note, then add any change in appetite, stool or behavior. Bring that note and the label to the next review. This helps distinguish the product offered from what your cat received.

No NR response timetable has been established for cats in the studies reviewed here. If a new change in movement or behavior prompted the purchase, use the senior-cat signs guide to prepare for a veterinary assessment rather than waiting for a supplement response.

Choosing an NR Product for Your Cat

Choose a product whose directions include cats and whose formula you can compare with the products already in use. An individual NR amount makes that comparison possible; a total blend weight alone does not.

For NR within a combined powder, explore Hollywood Elixir’s formulation and use guide. The NAD+ cat overview explains the wider biology of the molecule this ingredient helps cells make.

Hollywood Elixir combines NR, reduced glutathione and CoQ10 in one daily powder.

Educational content only. This material is not a substitute for veterinary advice. Always consult your veterinarian about your cat’s specific needs. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Products mentioned are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Glossary

NR: Nicotinamide riboside, a vitamin B3-related compound cells can use to make NAD+.

NAD+: Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, a coenzyme involved in energy metabolism and other cellular reactions.

NMN: Nicotinamide mononucleotide, an intermediate in the pathway from NR to NAD+.

NAM: Nicotinamide, a distinct vitamin B3 compound involved in NAD+ synthesis.

NR kinase: An enzyme that adds a phosphate group to NR to form NMN.

NR chloride: A salt form of nicotinamide riboside used in supplementation research.

ATP: A molecule that supplies energy for much of a cell’s activity.

Metabolite: A small molecule involved in, or produced by, metabolism.

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells: A group of immune cells in the blood.

Serving: The amount of the complete product specified in its directions; it is not necessarily the amount of one ingredient.

Related Reading

Aging & Senior Cat Guidance
• Cat Age Calculator: Cat Years to Human Years
• Cat Lifespan by Breed
• Lethargy in Cats
• Senior Cat Not Eating
• Cat Drinking A Lot
• Why Is My Senior Cat Withdrawn?

Healthy Aging Support
• NAD+ for Cats
• NMN for Cats
• Vitamins For Older Cats
• Senior Cat Food

References

Numbered references identify the sources used for specific claims. Read the study design, species and evidence boundaries alongside each finding.

  1. Ratajczak J, Joffraud M, Trammell SA, et al. NRK1 controls nicotinamide mononucleotide and nicotinamide riboside metabolism in mammalian cells. Nature communications · 2016· DOI 10.1038/ncomms13103Study design/context: Mechanistic studySpecies/context: mouse, mammalian cellsEvidence boundary: Experimental pathway work; not canine or feline absorption, dosing, or clinical efficacy.↩ 1 · ↩ 2 · ↩ 3 · ↩ 4
  2. Trammell SA, Schmidt MS, Weidemann BJ, et al. Nicotinamide riboside is uniquely and orally bioavailable in mice and humans. Nature communications · 2016· DOI 10.1038/ncomms12948Study design/context: Pharmacokinetic studySpecies/context: human, mouseEvidence boundary: Human and mouse NAD-related biomarkers; not clinical benefit or a dose for pets.↩ 1 · ↩ 2
  3. Marinescu AG, Chen J, Holmes HE, et al. Safety Assessment of High-Purity, Synthetic Nicotinamide Riboside (NR-E) in a 90-Day Repeated Dose Oral Toxicity Study, With a 28-Day Recovery Arm. International journal of toxicology · 2020· DOI 10.1177/1091581820927406Study design/context: 90-day oral toxicology study with recovery armSpecies/context: ratEvidence boundary: Sprague-Dawley rats received NR-E, a synthetic NR chloride preparation, for 90 days with a recovery arm. Not a feline safety trial or serving instruction.↩ 1 · ↩ 2
  4. Elhassan YS, Kluckova K, Fletcher RS, et al. Nicotinamide Riboside Augments the Aged Human Skeletal Muscle NAD+ Metabolome and Induces Transcriptomic and Anti-inflammatory Signatures. Cell reports · 2019· DOI 10.1016/j.celrep.2019.07.043Study design/context: Randomized placebo-controlled crossover trialSpecies/context: humanEvidence boundary: Twelve older men in a 21-day crossover trial. Muscle NAD-related metabolites changed; muscle NAD+ and measured mitochondrial bioenergetics did not improve significantly. Not feline outcome evidence.↩ 1 · ↩ 2
  5. Conze D, Brenner C, Kruger CL. Safety and Metabolism of Long-term Administration of NIAGEN (Nicotinamide Riboside Chloride) in a Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-controlled Clinical Trial of Healthy Overweight Adults. Scientific Reports · 2019· DOI 10.1038/s41598-019-46120-zStudy design/context: Randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trialSpecies/context: humanEvidence boundary: Eight-week study in otherwise healthy overweight adults; adverse-event incidence and severity were similar across groups. ChromaDex-funded. Not feline dosing, efficacy or long-term feline safety.↩ 1 · ↩ 2
  6. Li Q, Homilius M, Achilles E, et al. Metabolic abnormalities and reprogramming in cats with naturally occurring hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. ESC heart failure · 2025· DOI 10.1002/ehf2.15135Study design/context: Observational metabolomics comparisonSpecies/context: catEvidence boundary: Observational serum-metabolite comparison; nicotinamide was lower in preclinical B1/B2 groups. No NAD-precursor supplementation or heart-tissue NAD measurement.↩
  7. Ikeda M, Tsuji H, Nakamura S, Ichiyama A, Nishizuka Y, Hayaishi O. Studies on the biosynthesis of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide. II. A role of picolinic carboxylase in the biosynthesis of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide from tryptophan in mammals. Journal of Biological Chemistry · 1965· DOI 10.1016/S0021-9258(18)97589-7Study design/context: Comparative biochemical enzyme experimentsSpecies/context: cat, ratEvidence boundary: Feline tissue enzyme activity and niacin nutrition; not NR dosing or clinical supplement efficacy.↩
  8. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. “Complete and Balanced” Pet Food. U.S. Food and Drug AdministrationStudy design/context: Official guidanceSpecies/context: dogs, catsEvidence boundary: Nutritional adequacy labeling; does not establish whether an NAD+ supplement benefits cats.↩
  9. G C Mills. Hemoglobin catabolism. I. Glutathione peroxidase, an erythrocyte enzyme which protects hemoglobin from oxidative breakdown. Journal of Biological Chemistry · 1957· PMID 13491573Study design/context: Biochemical mechanism experimentEvidence boundary: Biochemical erythrocyte experiment; no feline oral product effect inferred.↩
  10. Cristina Cerqua, Alberto Casarin, Fabien Pierrel, Luis Vazquez Fonseca, Giampiero Viola, Leonardo Salviati, Eva Trevisson. Vitamin K2 cannot substitute Coenzyme Q10 as electron carrier in the mitochondrial respiratory chain of mammalian cells. Scientific Reports · 2019· DOI 10.1038/s41598-019-43014-yStudy design/context: Cell experimentsSpecies/context: human cells, yeastEvidence boundary: Human-cell/yeast experiments; cellular electron transport, not feline oral supplement benefit.↩
  11. Cornell Feline Health Center. Anorexia. Cornell University College of Veterinary MedicineStudy design/context: Veterinary owner guidanceSpecies/context: catEvidence boundary: Prompt attention to loss of appetite; not NR-specific tolerability or a product-feeding protocol.↩
  12. Ray M, Carney HC, Boynton B, Quimby J, Robertson S, St Denis K, Tuzio H, Wright B. 2021 AAFP Feline Senior Care Guidelines. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery · 2021· DOI 10.1177/1098612X211021538Study design/context: Clinical practice guidanceSpecies/context: catEvidence boundary: Clinical assessment and practical care; not an NAD supplement trial.↩
  13. EFSA NDA Panel, Turck D, et al. 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 · 2019· DOI 10.2903/j.efsa.2019.5775Study design/context: Scientific assessment for human food-supplement useSpecies/context: human, mouse, rat, dogEvidence boundary: Official assessment of a specified NR chloride material. Oral metabolism inference and ingredient-stability findings do not establish feline absorption, a cat dose or the storage time of a different finished formula mixed into food.↩ 1 · ↩ 2

FAQ

What is nicotinamide riboside for cats?

Nicotinamide riboside, or NR, is a vitamin B3-related compound cells can use to make NAD+. NAD+ helps cells use energy from food and takes part in cellular maintenance. NR is the precursor ingredient you may see on a supplement label; it is a different molecule from NAD+ itself.

How long until I notice changes with NR in cats?

The research reviewed here does not establish a reliable NR response timetable for cats. Human studies measured changes in blood or muscle compounds, not when a cat would become more playful. If a new change in activity or behavior prompted the purchase, arrange a veterinary assessment rather than waiting for the supplement to work.

What should I look for in NR supplement quality?

Look for the full NR ingredient name, its amount per defined serving and directions that include cats. For a blend, read every ingredient: the total powder weight is not the NR amount. If testing is offered, check which product and lot were tested and what the results actually measure.

What does research say about NR benefits and limitations?

Oral NR has increased NAD+ in human blood cells. A separate study in older men changed muscle NAD-related compounds without improving mitochondrial energy production. Human and rat studies also provide information about tolerability and toxicity. Our primary-source search did not identify a published oral NR supplementation trial in cats.

When should I avoid starting NR with my cat?

Find the cause of new appetite loss, weight loss, vomiting, lethargy or behavior changes before adding a product. If your cat receives medicines or a therapeutic diet, review the complete formula and directions with the veterinarian managing that care. Contact the veterinarian promptly if your cat is not eating.

How do I decide between NR alone and a blend?

An NR-only product centers the choice on that precursor. A blend supplies additional ingredients, so compare what each adds and whether it overlaps with existing supplements. Hollywood Elixir combines NR, reduced glutathione and CoQ10 in one daily powder. Their different biological roles explain the formula; they do not by themselves prove a greater benefit from combining them.

What are signs my cat’s supplement plan is working?

Start with what you can observe: how much your cat eats, whether the product is tolerated and any changes in the activity you are following. Keep the product name, serving and start date together for the next review. A more active week may be welcome, but it is not a measurement of NAD+ or proof that NR caused the change.

When should I call the vet after starting NR?

Contact your veterinarian about vomiting, diarrhea, appetite loss, unusual lethargy or sudden behavior changes after introducing a product. Have its label, the amount actually consumed and the timing ready. If your cat is not eating, seek advice promptly rather than continuing to hide the supplement in meals that are being refused.

Orange-and-white cat beside a Hollywood Elixir box held in a person's hand

Discover LPL-01: How This Fits Into a Larger Feline Longevity System

Aging in cats unfolds quietly. It’s not driven by a single failure, but by gradual shifts across interconnected systems — cellular energy, oxidative balance, immune tone, and tissue integrity — each influencing the others over time.

This article explores one layer of that system. To understand what actually shapes long-term health, you need to step back and look at how these layers interact.

Start with the underlying science:

Keep exploring

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