Which has human evidence?
On administration, NAD+ has the edge: two small human IV studies exist. MOTS-c's human record is biomarker studies and a recruiting phase 2a; the published record is measuring MOTS-c in people, not administering it.
Summary
MOTS-c has compelling rodent metabolic data and almost no human administration data; NAD+ has real human IV studies that measured metabolites and tolerability, not benefits.
Key answers
What does the NAD+ infusion record actually show?
One study watched metabolite levels move after IV NAD+, another tracked tolerability. Neither measured energy, cognition, or any clinic outcome, so the drip menus run ahead of the published record.
Why are both marketed for energy and longevity?
Both sit on real mitochondrial biology that plausibly connects to energy and aging. The gap in both cases is the same: the biology is demonstrated, the marketed benefit is not, and MOTS-c is additionally on FDA's 2026 compounding agenda.
Comparison matrix
| Dimension | MOTS-c | NAD+ |
|---|---|---|
| Overall evidence grade | D | D |
| Evidence label | Limited human evidence | Limited human evidence |
| Regulatory status | Investigational / not approved | Not FDA-approved for listed uses |
| Editorial confidence | Low confidence | Low confidence |
| Efficacy | 1/5 limited | 1/5 limited |
| Safety | 1/5 limited | 1/5 limited |
| Regulatory risk | 4/5 high | 4/5 high |
| Product quality risk | 5/5 very high | 5/5 very high |
| Primary claim categories | Metabolic health claims, Longevity claims, Exercise adaptation claims | Mitochondrial and redox biology, Clinic IV and injection claims, Oral and nasal wellness claims, Compounding and sterile-product risk, Trial-tracking context |
Peptide summaries
1/5 efficacy
MOTS-c
MOTS-c remains research-first. Human sources currently show biomarker or association findings, while efficacy, longevity, and use claims still need direct intervention results.
Investigational / not approved
1/5 efficacyNAD+
NAD+ is included because peptide clinics and vendors discuss it beside mitochondrial peptides, but it is not a peptide and does not inherit credibility from peptide profiles or precursor research.
Not FDA-approved for listed uses
References
- 1.
PubMed. The mitochondrial-derived peptide MOTS-c promotes metabolic homeostasis and reduces obesity and insulin resistance 2015.
PMID:25738459 Accessed 2026-06-08.
Preclinical/metabolic mechanism source.
- 2.
ClinicalTrials.gov. ClinicalTrials.gov record NCT07505745 2026.
NCT07505745 Accessed 2026-06-08.
Recruiting/no posted-results trial record at the 2026-06-08 source check.
- 3.
PubMed. A Pilot Study Investigating Changes in the Human Plasma and Urine NAD+ Metabolome During a 6 Hour Intravenous Infusion of NAD 2019.
PMID:31572171 Accessed 2026-06-17.
Small human IV NAD+ metabolome pilot; used for study-exposure context, not as evidence of wellness efficacy.
- 4.
PMID:41704678 Accessed 2026-06-17.
Retrospective clinic-data pilot comparing four consecutive days of IV NAD+ with IV NR; used for real-world study-exposure and tolerability context.