NAD+ and Mitochondria
Why the tiny power plants inside your cells depend on NAD+ to work well.
Mitochondria
Structures inside your cells that produce most of your energy.
NAD+
The coenzyme mitochondria use during energy production.
The connectionThe link
Healthy mitochondria and healthy NAD+ levels are connected.
In brief
The Quick Read
- Mitochondria are your cellular power plants.They produce most of the ATP your body uses for energy.
- They need NAD+ to work.NAD+ is part of the chemistry that lets mitochondria turn nutrients into ATP.
- Mitochondrial function changes with age.NAD+ depletion has been linked to mitochondrial dysfunction, a recognized hallmark of aging.
- Supporting NAD+ is one way to support the system.Because the two are linked, replenishing NAD+ may help support the environment mitochondria need.
- ReVive is designed for this.RiaGev® is designed to support NAD+, ATP, and glutathione together, three of the biomarkers most closely tied to mitochondrial health.
If ATP is the electricity that powers your cells, mitochondria are the power plants. NAD+ is one of the essential materials the plants need to run.
What Are Mitochondria?
Mitochondria are tiny structures inside your cells. Their main job is to convert the food you eat and the oxygen you breathe into ATP, the molecule your cells actually use for energy.
Cells that work hard, like muscle cells and brain cells, tend to have more mitochondria. That is because more energy demand means more energy-producing infrastructure.
Illustrative and simplified.
What NAD+ Does Inside Mitochondria
NAD+ is not just present in mitochondria. It is part of the chemistry mitochondria use to produce energy.
- Coenzyme in energy reactionsMitochondria use NAD+ during the chemical steps that turn nutrients into ATP.
- Electron carrierNAD+ helps move electrons through the mitochondrial energy-production process.
- Redox balanceThe ratio of NAD+ to its reduced form (NADH) is a key signal in cellular metabolism.
- Response to stressNAD+ is part of how cells manage oxidative stress inside and around mitochondria.
Mitochondria without enough NAD+ cannot produce ATP as efficiently. The two are part of the same system.
Source: Bioenergy Life Science RiaGev® White Paper, 2022; Xue Y, et al. Nutrients. 2022;14:2219.
Over time
What Changes with Time
Both mitochondria and NAD+ shift as we age. They do it together.
NAD+ declines
As covered on the aging page, NAD+ levels can decrease as we get older.
Mitochondrial efficiency shifts
Changes in mitochondria over time have been described in the published literature.
The two are linked
NAD+ depletion has been linked to mitochondrial dysfunction, a recognized hallmark of aging.
What you may feel
Less consistent energy, slower recovery, and other everyday shifts many people describe as “feeling older.”
Source: Bioenergy Life Science RiaGev® White Paper, 2022; Summary of the History of B3 in Wellbeing (literature review).
How Supporting NAD+ Fits In
You cannot directly “top up” your mitochondria with a supplement. What you can do is support the raw materials your cells use to keep NAD+ available, which in turn supports the environment mitochondria need to function.
ReVive uses RiaGev®-SR, a patented, clinically studied combination of nicotinamide and D-ribose delivered in a sustained-release format. It is designed to support the salvage pathway, the route your body relies on most to make NAD+.
In a triple-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial published in Nutrients (2022), RiaGev® was associated with increases in markers of cellular energy production, including high-energy phosphates (ATP and ADP), alongside increases in NAD+ and glutathione, three of the biomarkers most relevant to mitochondrial health.
Source: Xue Y, et al. Nutrients. 2022;14:2219. doi:10.3390/nu14112219.
One ingredient. Three targets.
Why ReVive Supports the Mitochondrial Story
Three reasons the salvage-pathway approach fits.
NAD+
It supports the NAD+ side of the equation.
ReVive is designed to help maintain healthy NAD+ levels, which is one input mitochondria need.
ATP + ADP
It supports ATP production markers.
The RiaGev® trial reported increases in ATP + ADP alongside NAD+.
Glutathione
It supports the antioxidant side.
Glutathione is part of how cells manage oxidative stress, which is closely tied to mitochondrial health.
Supporting NAD+ and supporting mitochondrial function are not two separate things. They are part of the same cellular energy story.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does ReVive add mitochondria to my cells?
No. Supplements do not add mitochondria to cells. ReVive is designed to support the NAD+ your cells use during mitochondrial energy production.
Are there ways to support mitochondria without supplements?
Yes. Movement (especially aerobic exercise), sleep, and balanced nutrition are all part of a broader mitochondrial-support approach. Supplementation with an ingredient like RiaGev® is one addition, not a replacement.
Can I feel my mitochondria working?
Not directly. What you may notice, over time, is how your day-to-day energy, focus, and recovery feel. Mitochondrial support is a long-term daily strategy.
How does this connect to the Cellular Energy page?
Closely. Mitochondria are where most of your cellular energy is made. The Cellular Energy page explains the full ATP story; this page focuses on the mitochondrial side of it.
Recognition
Industry-Recognized for Innovation.
NIE 2020 Gold Winner
Recognized for innovation and excellence in nutraceutical ingredients at the Nutrition Industry Executive Awards.
2024 Ingredient Idol Finalist
Selected by Natural Products Insider (SupplySide Global) as one of the most innovative new ingredients in health and wellness.
Where you'll find RiaGev® in NAD PLUS
Sustained-Release, All Day.
Keep Exploring the Science
Meet RiaGev®
The patented NAD+ builder inside ReVive, and the clinical data behind it.
Read the ingredient page
The Benefits of NAD+ Support
What daily NAD+ replenishment is designed to support, and what the research says.
Healthy agingNAD+ and Aging
Why NAD+ levels change with age, and what that means for how you feel.
NAD+ and Mitochondria
Why the power plants inside your cells depend on NAD+ to work well.
You're hereNAD+ and Cellular Energy
Why your cells need NAD+ to produce energy, and what changes as we age.
The comparisonNAD+ vs. NMN
What's the difference, and why we built ReVive around the salvage pathway.
Safety
Safety Starts with Your Provider.
Consult your provider
If you're pregnant, nursing, taking medications, or managing a medical condition, talk to your healthcare provider before starting any new supplement.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
References
Published Literature & Source Documents.
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Bioenergy Life Science. RiaGev® White Paper. 2022.
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Bioenergy Life Science. RiaGev® Long-Term Trial White Paper. 2022.
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Pharmacodynamics Study Summary of RiaGev™. American Preclinical Services and Bioenergy Life Science. March 28, 2019.
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Summary of the History of B3 in Wellbeing (literature review).