Updated 9/13/23. Niagen is a popular anti-aging supplement with some research and lots of online testimonials from people saying it really works. People have said this supplement can improve energy levels, exercise performance and even turn gray hair dark again. I've read the research on this supplement and have previously written an entire review of Tru Niagen research. But I never tried it for myself. Now, for the first time, I will reveal what happened when I took Niagen for 30 days. This is my 30-day experiment. Did it work for me? Let's find out.
Related Tru Niagen/NAD + Reviews & Videos
Here are other reviews you may find helpful:
- Nicotinamide Riboside Review (this is the active ingredient in Tru Niagen)
- Video: Nicotinamide riboside: Does it improve exercise performance
- Video: Nicotinamide ribososide human proof part 1
- Video: Nicotinamide riboside human proof part 2
- Elysium Basis Review
- NMN Review
- Tru Niagen Human Research
- Nestle Celltrient Energy Drink Review
- Video: Do NMN and NR lower cholesterol?
- Video: Is NMN Safe for people with diabetes?
- Video: Does Nicotinamide Riboside Cause Cancer? Part 1
- Video? Nicotinamide Riboside and Cancer Part 2
What Is Tru Niagen?
TRU Niagen is the hottest anti-aging supplement on Earth. This supplement is a form of niacin (vitamin B3). Technically called nicotinamide riboside (nick-oh-tin-a-mide rhy-bow-side), Niagen is a “NAD booster supplement.” NAD is a substance that helps us make energy.
When our mitochondria (the energy factories in our cells) can't make energy effectively, this can lead to defects in our cells. These defects seem to be linked to disease – and even aging. By raising NAD levels, Niagen might slow down or reverse some of these problems. It's a fascinating concept.
Research does show Tru Niagen can significantly raise NAD levels in humans. While clinical studies proving this supplement slows aging or reduces disease have not yet been conducted, there are many people who have said this supplement has helped them feel better. It is because of those testimonials I decided to put this supplement to the test.
Why I Decided To Try Tru Niagen
If you've read my other reviews, you know I usually don't experiment with too many supplements. I prefer to look at the science and draw my conclusions. But, since I've been told so many interesting benefits of Tru Niagen, I decided to give it a whirl and see what happened.
It's no secret I've been skeptical of Tru Niagen – very skeptical – and other nicotinamide riboside supplements for a long time. Yes, there is some research, but there's not as much human proof as I'd like.
I thought I'd make a good Guinea pig for this experiment because:
- I am skeptical. I highly doubt I'd fall for the placebo effect
- I've read the clinical research on this supplement
- I'm honest and unbiased.
If Niagen worked for me, I would be overjoyed to tell you about its health benefits.
Why Did I Pick Tru Niagen?
TruNiagen isn't the only nicotinamide riboside supplement. There is also Niacel and Elysium Basis. Both are popular supplements. I specifically picked Niagen because this is the supplement made by ChromaDex, the company that invented nicotinamide riboside. They hold the patent on this stuff. This is also the company everybody else gets their NR from, too.
How Much Tru Niagen Did I Use?
For 30 days, I took 250mg of Tru Niagen per day. I picked this dosage because that's what was suggested on the bottle. I took 1 capsule in the morning, usually with breakfast and another capsule mg at dinner time.
On the first day, I took only one capsule just to see if there were any side effects. After noticing no side effects, I increased the dosage to 250mg per day, which I took every day during my month-long experiment.
Why A 30-Day Experiment?
When I decided to start this experiment, there wasn't much human clinical research on nicotinamide riboside. I hoped my experiment would spark future research. More importantly, when I scanned online testimonials, I saw several people saying they experienced significant results in 30 days or less.
My Basic Statistics
It is good for you to know who I am. This will help you better figure out if my results with TruNiagen would be similar to yours. So who am I?
I am a middle-aged guy who is pretty healthy overall. I don't smoke or drink and I don't have any major health problems. I do not suffer from:
- diabetes
- high blood pressure
- heart disease
- cancer
- high cholesterol or triglycerides
or any other serious health disorders. I do suffer from tinnitus which I've told you about previously.
I try to work out a few times a week, but I admit I do not get as much exercise as I should. I do try to eat well – I start each day with a healthy smoothie – but I'll likely eat anything that's chocolate – especially cookies.
Basically, I'm the average Joe.
Does Nicotinamidede Riboside Cause Cancer?
Update: Nicotinamide Riboside & Cancer
Tru Niagen 30 -Day Experiment Results
OK, here's what happened after 30 days. I'll break this down into several different categories to make it easier to scan and make sense out of. I'll summarize all the results afterward too.
Tru Niagen And Blood Pressure: Any Reductions?
- Day 1: 106/64
- Day 30: 105/69
My blood pressure did not change significantly during my 30-day Niagen experiment. My blood pressure has always been good. There are days when my BP has been even lower than this. Other studies have also noted no change in blood pressure.
Did Tru Niagen Boost Stamina and Energy Levels?
Some have told me TruNiagen boosted their energy during the day. In other words, they felt more pep to get through the day. I did not experience this effect. During my 30-day procedure, there were times when I felt good – and other days when I was dragging.
In other words, I did not notice any improvement in energy levels from how I normally feel. I did not experience more or less energy during the day. I've seen some people say they experienced more energy very soon after taking Niagen. This did not happen to me.
Any Exercise Benefits?
I have heard from others how nicotinamide riboside helps them boost their workouts in the gym. I wish I could say it worked for me but I didn't notice any change in how I felt during exercise. I also did not observe any improvements in fitness level either.
I felt the same as usual: I had good days and not-so-good days. During my 30-day experiment, I didn't feel nicotinamide riboside helped me last longer in the gym or provided any benefits during or after exercise.
Does Tru Niagen Improve Sleep?
Some online testimonials describe Niagen improving sleep and helping people go to sleep faster, sleep better and be less groggy when they wake up in the morning. I noticed no changes in my sleeping pattern, quality of sleep or how long it took me to wake up in the morning. I've always been a pretty fast riser in the morning.
I did not notice any changes in dreams either. Some have reported TRU Niagen use caused more vivid dreams. I did not experience this. Likewise, Niagen did not produce any insomnia either.
Niagen did not seem to help me need less sleep at night either. I often get 6-7 hours of sleep a night. This requirement did not change. I'm a light sleeper and didn't notice any changes in this during my 30-day trial.
I am also a pretty early riser (5 a.m.) and often start my day immediately. I did not notice any change in how quickly I woke up in the morning.
Did It Help With Weight Loss?
My body weight did not change during my month-long experiment. While I did not test my body fat during this time, the scale told me I did not lose or gain any weight. Niagen is not promoted for weight loss but I thought I'd add this in case anyone was curious.
Effects On Hair, Skin, And Nails
I saw no difference in my skin, hair or nails. When reviewing amazon testimonials for this supplement, I noticed some saying their hair color returned to its youthful appearance after 1 month. Be skeptical of claims like this. I saw no change in hair color (darn!). No new hair growth either (double darn!!)
My nails tend to grow pretty fast because I eat vegetables on a regular basis. I didn't notice any change in how quickly my nails grew. As for the skin, if Niagen helped, I didn't notice it. I'm just as cute now as I was before 🙂
For more on hair, skin, and nails, see these reviews:
Tru Niagen And Aches/Pains
While I don't really have many aches and pains, one thing I do experience are some aches in my feet when I get up in the morning. It's not debilitating and goes away after about 5 seconds. I attribute this to a little osteoarthritis, in the feet, probably due to the running I did when I was younger.
Let me be clear: this aching is mild, and 99% of the time, there is no pain. I bring this up because I was curious if Tru Niagen would reduce this very mild achy feeling. I've seen testimonials from people saying this supplement reduced pain.
I saw no differences in my feet aches during my 30-day TruNiagen trial. There was no reduction and no increase in what I experienced. Remember this as you read online testimonials of those saying nicotinamide riboside supplements reduce pain. In this healthy guy, mild aches were not reduced.
Tru Niagen And Tinnitus
Can Niagen help tinnitus (ringing in the ears) or Meniere's disease? Before my experiment, I had seen people reporting online at various websites about Niagen helping reduce Meniere's symptoms such as ear ringing, dizziness, and feelings of fullness in the ears.
While I, fortunately, don't often have these side effects, I do experience an almost constant ringing in my left ear. After 30 days of Niagen use (250mg per day), I did not notice any reduction in ringing in my left ear. Like always, there were good and bad days. Niagen use did not reduce – or make worse – my tinnitus symptoms.
Tru Niagen And Mental Focus
One of my strengths is I can focus for long hours on a single topic. As proof, see these very long reviews:
So, I don't usually have a problem with staying focused. But, I'd take any advantage I could get. During my experiment, I did not notice any mental performance improvements or changes in my ability to focus on things that needed to be done. My mental clarity did not improve.
Did Tru Niagen Improve My Memory?
I observed no improvement in memory during my experiment. To be fair, I teach many classes and often have to think on my feet, so I've got a pretty good memory. Niagen did not improve or reduce my memory.
Any Mood Changes or Effects? Depression Or Elation?
Generally, I'm a pretty happy, even-tempered person. Do I have bad days? Of course. We all do. I observed no change in mood from day 1 to day 30.
I generally remain calm during difficult situations. As an example, A friend once said I was almost like a “Vulcan.” While I prefer Captain Picard to Mr. Spock, I took it as a testament to my even-keel nature. Do I have my moments when this isn't so – you bet. Did Niagen help calm those less-than-Vulcan moments? Nope.
Did It Help Food Cravings?
OK, I admit it, I like cookies. While I would not exactly call them cravings when I do get them, I enjoy them. During the 30 days I used this supplement, I saw no reduction in my desire for cookies or anything sweet.
Summary: Tru Niagen Experiment Results
Here is a quick summary of my results from taking 250mg of Tru Niagen per day for 30 days:
- Blood Pressure: no difference
- Energy Levels: no difference
- Workouts: no difference
- Sleep pattern: no difference
- Weight loss: no difference
- Hair, skin and nails: no difference
- Aches and pains: no difference
- Tinnitus symptoms: no difference
- Focus: no difference
- Memory: no difference
- Mood: no difference
- Cravings for sweets: no difference
Tru Niagen Side Effects & Adverse Reactions
I did not experience any negative side effects from this supplement.
Tru Niagen did not cause any flushing of my face. Remember Niagen is a form of the vitamin niacin (vitamin B3) which is known to cause skin flushing. In at least one Niagen study, flushing has been observed. I saw no such side effect during my 30-day trial.
I observed no change in my heartbeat rhythm during this experiment. One person on Amazon has reported irregular heartbeats with Niagen use. I did not experience this. As an aside, I did notice irregular heartbeats when I experimented with Tribulus Terrestris, an herbal testosterone supplement, but that product is very different from TruNiagen. See that review for more insights.
In short, Niagen caused no bad side effects after 1 month of use.
Problems With My Experiment
The scientist in me knows my little experiment was not perfect. Here are 6 things you should consider when interpreting my results.
- I only took Niagen for a month. While I am confident Niagen significantly raised my cellular NAD levels, it could take longer for health benefits to show up.
- I'm only one person. Generally the more people in a study, the better.
- I only used 250mg per day. This was the dosage recommended on the bottle. It's possible higher dosages may have different/better results.
- I did not do any before/after blood tests on myself. So I don't know if Niagen changed my cholesterol, HDL, LDL, or blood sugar. Researchers in one study saw no change in blood sugar or insulin sensitivity in overweight men who used 2000 mg of Niagen after 3 months of use. If 2000 mg didn't work, I doubt if the dosage I used would have worked either. To be honest, that study did show a reduction in triglycerides. This is to be expected since niacin is well known to have that effect.
- I relied on my own subjective feelings. To be fair, I did this because that's what others are doing too. When you read an online testimonial, those people are just reporting what they experienced. That's what I did.
- I am a healthy guy. It's possible unhealthy people may experience health benefits which I did not observe.
So Does Tru Niagen Work?
I hope this unbiased, 30-day experiment helps you decide whether Tru Niagen is right for you – or sparks your interest to try it yourself. I respect -and am envious – of those who report health benefits with Tru Niagen supplementation. After 30 days of use, I perceived no beneficial results -and no side effects – when I took this NAD booster supplement for one month.
Here's Tru Niagen on Amazon