NMN vs NR: what is the difference?
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NMN (nicotinamide mononucleotide) and NR (nicotinamide riboside) are closely related compounds: NMN is NR with a phosphate group attached. In the UK, the differences that matter when you buy are legal status, dose and price. NR has been an authorised novel food since 2020, while NMN is still being assessed by the Food Standards Agency. I sell NMN, so read this with that in mind.
Nicotinamide mononucleotide
NMN
StructureNicotinamide, a ribose sugar and a phosphate group
Molecular weight334 g/mol
Status in Great BritainNovel food, application being assessed by the FSA
Human trials23 published, the first in 2020
Our productPure NMN, one 500mg capsule a day
Nicotinamide riboside
NR
StructureNicotinamide and a ribose sugar, no phosphate
Molecular weight255 g/mol (291 g/mol as the chloride salt sold in supplements)
Status in Great BritainAuthorised novel food since January 2020, as nicotinamide riboside chloride
Human trialsStudied in people since 2016
Our productWe don’t sell NR
What is the difference between NMN and NR?
Both are built around nicotinamide, a form of vitamin B3. NR is nicotinamide joined to a ribose sugar. NMN is the same thing with one phosphate group added. That makes NMN the bigger molecule: 334 g/mol against 255 g/mol for NR.
Supplements don’t contain plain NR. They use nicotinamide riboside chloride, a salt that is more stable, so the label weight includes the chloride. Keep that in mind if you compare milligrams between products.
NMN vs NR at a glance
| NMN | NR | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Nicotinamide mononucleotide | Nicotinamide riboside (sold as nicotinamide riboside chloride) |
| Molecular weight | 334 g/mol | 255 g/mol, or 291 g/mol as the chloride |
| Status in Great Britain | Novel food, application being assessed by the Food Standards Agency | Authorised novel food since January 2020 |
| First published human study | 2020 (Irie and colleagues, Endocrine Journal) | 2016 (Trammell and colleagues, Nature Communications) |
| Human trials | 23 published trials in our tracker, the largest with 108 people | We haven’t counted NR trials, so we don’t give a number |
| Usual form | Capsules or powder | Capsules |
Is NR legal in the UK? And NMN?
Yes. NR, as nicotinamide riboside chloride, was authorised as a novel food by Regulation (EU) 2020/16 in January 2020. That was before the UK left the EU, so the authorisation carried over into law in Great Britain.
NMN is classed as a novel food in Great Britain, and an application is being assessed by the Food Standards Agency. Our guide to UK NMN regulations explains where things stand.
If having a GB authorisation today is what matters most to you, that points to NR. I’d rather tell you that than have you find it out later.
Which has more human research?
NR reached human studies first, in 2016. NMN followed in 2020. Our NMN clinical trials tracker lists 23 published human trials of NMN. Most are small: the largest had 108 people, and the longest ran for 24 weeks.
We track NMN trials only, so I won’t give you a number for NR. If an NR seller tells you how many trials it has, ask which ones used the dose in their product.
Can you take NMN and NR together?
No study has tested taking them together, and they are sold for the same reason, so taking both doubles what you spend. Pick one. Our Can I take NMN with…? checker covers NR and 57 other combinations.
How much do NMN and NR cost per day?
Our Pure NMN is one 500mg capsule a day. A month costs £19.99, which is 67p a day, and the 6 month pack is £88.99, which is 49p a day.
NR prices vary a lot between brands. To compare fairly, divide the price by the number of days the pot lasts at the dose on its label, not by the number of capsules.
For what NMN costs over a full year, and who shouldn’t bother, see is NMN worth it?
Why we sell NMN and not NR
NMN is what we started with and what I take myself. We test it with an independent laboratory and publish the certificates. That isn’t a reason for you to choose NMN over NR. Decide on legal status, the research for the dose you would take and the price per day, and if you take any medicine, show the label to your pharmacist first.