What's the difference, and why we built ReVive around the salvage pathway.
A precursor and source of B3. One way to deliver NAD+ building blocks.
Our approachDesigned to support the salvage pathway by providing the key building blocks cells use to recycle NAD+.
NAD+ is the destination. Your cells need NAD+ to function. The question is how to get more of it.
NMN and NR are NAD+ precursor compounds. These popular supplements aim to raise NAD+ levels through different metabolic pathways. Both must be converted into niacinamide or related compounds before entering the body's NAD+ recycling processes, a step that is influenced by the gut microbiome.
Your body has its own preferred route. It's called the salvage pathway, and it's how most NAD+ is recycled in humans.
RiaGev® takes a different angle. Instead of supplying one precursor, it supplies two building blocks the salvage pathway already uses: nicotinamide and D-ribose. Niacinamide does not require further degradation to enter the salvage pathway directly.
Help you understand the options so you can choose what best fits your goals.
NAD+ stands for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide. It's a coenzyme found in every human cell, and it plays a role in how your cells produce energy, repair themselves, and respond to stress. NAD+ is what your cells actually use. Everything else on this page is simply a different approach to helping your body produce or recycle more of it.
NAD+ levels naturally decline with age. That's why a category of supplements focused on NAD+ replenishment exists in the first place.
There's more than one pathway. Understanding them is key to understanding what different NAD+ supplements actually do.
Builds NAD+ from the amino acid tryptophan (found in protein-rich foods). Generally not considered sufficient on its own.
A secondary salvage route used to sequester niacinamide equivalents. NR does not enter its own pathway directly; it is degraded to (NAM) and (NA) and enters each respective route above.
Uses a form of Vitamin B3 found in diet.
The pathway your body uses most. NAD+ salvage accounts for 80-85% of NAD+ turnover.
Your body has several ways to make NAD+, but it relies primarily on the salvage pathway, especially during periods of increased demand or stress.
Source: Bioenergy Life Science RiaGev® White Paper, 2022; Xue Y, et al. Nutrients. 2022;14:2219.
NMN is a precursor of NAM and NA, meaning your body must first convert it before it can be used to produce NAD+ through one of the body's biosynthetic pathways.
NMN supplements have grown in popularity in the healthy-aging category because they have been studied for their potential to support NAD+ levels. NMN is sold as a standalone supplement and is the active ingredient in a number of NAD+ products on the market.
NMN is found only inside the cell and does not survive digestion intact.
NR is degraded to NAM and NA, then enters each respective route.
Like NMN, NR is a precursor of NAM and NA that can ultimately contribute to NAD+ production. Before entering the NAD+ salvage or Preiss-Handler pathways, it must first be degraded in the gut.
NMN is one approach to raising NAD+. It is not the only approach, and different precursors enter the NAD+ production process at different points.
A simplified view of how each supplement type fits into NAD+ production.
Illustrative and simplified.
| Supplement type | Where it enters NAD+ production |
|---|---|
| NR | A (NAM) and (NA) precursor that enters NAD+ production through the salvage and de novo routes following degradation. |
| NMN | A downstream metabolite of all B3 sources. NMN is found only inside of the cell and does not survive digestion intact. |
| Niacinamide (NAM) | Enters the nicotinamide (NAM) salvage pathway, the route the body relies on most. |
| RiaGev® (nicotinamide + D-ribose) | Supplies both a B3 precursor and a sugar backbone together, designed to support the salvage pathway directly. |
Source: Bioenergy Life Science RiaGev® White Paper, 2022; Pharmacodynamics Study Summary of RiaGev™, American Preclinical Services with Bioenergy Life Science, 2019.
Three reasons we chose this approach for our daily formula.
The salvage pathway is how most NAD+ recycling happens in humans, which is why it was the design target for RiaGev®.
RiaGev® is designed to support NAD+, ATP, and glutathione together, while NMN- and NR-focused supplements generally target NAD+ alone.
RiaGev® has been evaluated in a triple-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial published in Nutrients (2022).
NMN, NR, and the salvage-pathway approach are all valid options for supporting NAD+ levels, though NMN and NR require additional conversion steps before entering the body's primary NAD+ recycling pathways.
We chose the salvage approach because it lines up with the route the body uses most and because RiaGev® supports the full NAD+, ATP, and glutathione triad in one ingredient.
Adapted from the comparison published on our product pages.
No. ReVive works through the NAD+ salvage pathway using RiaGev®-SR, which is designed to support NAD+, ATP, and glutathione together. This approach is different from NR or NMN-focused supplements.
Each works through a different route. NMN and NR are both researched precursor options. We chose the salvage approach with RiaGev® because it lines up with the pathway your body relies on most and supports more than NAD+ alone. The best option depends on your individual goals and your healthcare provider's guidance.
If you're currently taking another NAD+ supplement, we recommend consulting your healthcare provider before combining products to avoid duplication or interaction.
D-ribose is a naturally occurring sugar that forms the structural backbone of both NAD+ and ATP. Pairing it with nicotinamide is the patented combination that makes RiaGev® what it is.
Recognition
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
The patented NAD+ builder inside ReVive, and the clinical data behind it.
Read the ingredient page
What daily NAD+ replenishment is designed to support, and what the research says.
Healthy agingWhy NAD+ levels change with age, and what that means for how you feel.
Cellular biologyWhy the power plants inside your cells depend on NAD+ to work well.
Cellular energyWhy your cells need NAD+ to produce energy, and what changes as we age.
What's the difference, and why we built ReVive around the salvage pathway.
You're hereSafety
If you're pregnant, nursing, taking medications, or managing a medical condition, talk to your healthcare provider before starting any new supplement, including NMN, NR, or ReVive.
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.
Bioenergy Life Science. RiaGev® White Paper. 2022.
Bioenergy Life Science. RiaGev® Long-Term Trial White Paper. 2022.
Pharmacodynamics Study Summary of RiaGev™. American Preclinical Services and Bioenergy Life Science. March 28, 2019.
Summary of the History of B3 in Wellbeing (literature review).
