Timeline Mitopure (Urolithin A)vsTru Niagen
Timeline Mitopure (Urolithin A)
Urolithin A (Mitopure), 500 mg/day
Tru Niagen
Nicotinamide riboside
Side-by-side
| # | Product | Active ingredient | Starting price | FDA status | Score | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Timeline Mitopure (Urolithin A) | Urolithin A (Mitopure), 500 mg/day | $95/mo | supplement | Top ·7.3 | See offer → |
| 2 | Tru Niagen | Nicotinamide riboside | Best ·$40/mo | supplement | 7.2 | See offer → |
Side-by-side scoring breakdown
How they work
Urolithin A is a metabolite your gut bacteria make from ellagitannins in pomegranate and berries, though many people produce little of it. Each 500 mg daily dose of Mitopure delivers a standardized, bioavailable form that triggers mitophagy, the cellular process of recycling damaged mitochondria, which helps muscle cells preserve mitochondrial quality and energy output as they age.
Tru Niagen delivers Niagen, a patented form of nicotinamide riboside (NR), a relative of vitamin B3. Your cells convert NR into NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide), a coenzyme essential for turning food into cellular energy, supporting DNA repair, and fueling the activity of enzymes called sirtuins. NAD+ levels tend to decline with age, and the theory is that replenishing NAD+ may support healthier cellular aging. Importantly, the supplement reliably raises blood NAD+; whether that higher NAD+ produces meaningful health benefits in people is still an open question.
Effectiveness
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials published in Cell Reports Medicine (2022, middle-aged adults) and JAMA Network Open (2022, older adults) found that 500 mg/day Urolithin A improved muscle strength (around 12% in one trial), exercise endurance, and biomarkers of mitochondrial health versus placebo. The evidence is strongest for muscle and mitochondrial function; it does not demonstrate extended lifespan in humans.
The strongest, most consistent finding is at the biomarker level: in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 140 overweight but otherwise healthy adults (Conze et al., 2019), Niagen raised whole-blood NAD+ dose-dependently within two weeks (about 22% at 100mg, 51% at 300mg, and 142% at 1000mg per day), and the increase was sustained over the 8-week study. Downstream clinical benefits are far less convincing. Dollerup et al. found that NR (1000mg twice daily, 2000mg/day for 12 weeks) raised NAD+ but did not meaningfully improve insulin sensitivity, skeletal-muscle mitochondrial function, or body composition in obese, insulin-resistant men. A 2018 crossover trial in middle-aged and older adults (Martens et al., 1000mg/day) raised NAD+ by roughly 60% but found that reductions in blood pressure and aortic stiffness did not reach statistical significance. So NR clearly elevates NAD+; the evidence that it slows aging or improves performance in healthy people remains weak.
Side effects
Across 25+ human studies Mitopure has shown a strong safety profile and holds FDA GRAS status. Infrequent effects can include mild digestive discomfort or nausea. Stop and consult a clinician if you experience an unexpected reaction.
Across trials at doses up to 1000-2000mg/day, Niagen has been well tolerated, with adverse-event rates similar to placebo and, notably, no skin flushing (a common complaint with older high-dose niacin). In real-world use, mild and transient effects can include nausea, stomach discomfort, bloating, headache, or fatigue. No serious adverse events have been clearly attributed to NR in published trials. Long-term safety beyond a few months is less studied, and because NAD+ influences cell metabolism, people with cancer or other proliferative conditions should be cautious and consult a physician before use.
Cost & value
As of 2026, roughly $85-$95/month on longer subscriptions, $112.50/month on a basic monthly plan, or $125 for a one-time 30-day softgel bottle from Timeline. Powder and gummy formats are also sold. Not covered by insurance.
As of 2026, Tru Niagen 300mg costs $49 for a 30-count bottle (about one month) at full price directly from the manufacturer, or $39.20/month on subscription (20% off, with free shipping). Larger bottles lower the per-capsule cost: a 90-count is $127 ($101.60 on subscription) and a 180-count is $244 ($195.20 on subscription), which works out to roughly $1.08-$1.41 per day depending on size and whether you subscribe. At higher daily doses, monthly cost rises proportionally. As a dietary supplement it is not covered by insurance and rarely qualifies for HSA/FSA reimbursement without a doctor's letter. Third-party retailers (Amazon, Costco, Walmart) sometimes price below MSRP.
Who it's for
Marketed to healthy adults, particularly those focused on muscle and mitochondrial health with age. Not intended for those pregnant or breastfeeding; consult a clinician if you have a medical condition or take medications. This is educational information, not medical advice.
Tru Niagen is aimed at generally healthy adults interested in cellular-aging support and NAD+ optimization. It is not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding (it has not been tested in these groups), and people with cancer or a cancer history should consult a physician first, since NAD+'s role in cell proliferation is not fully understood. Anyone on prescription medications, with kidney or liver disease, or undergoing chemotherapy should also talk to a clinician before starting. It is a dietary supplement, not a treatment for any disease, and is not intended for children.
Bottom line
Tru Niagen: Tru Niagen is a nicotinamide riboside (Niagen) supplement that reliably raises blood NAD+ levels (about 51% at the 300mg dose in a randomized trial) and has a strong safety record. But proven downstream anti-aging benefits in humans remain limited: trials show no clear gains in insulin sensitivity, muscle, or blood pressure. It is a safe, well-studied biomarker booster with an unproven longevity payoff. Both are strong options — match the pick to your specific needs, budget, and clinician's guidance.
Sources behind our Timeline Mitopure (Urolithin A) and Tru Niagen reviews
- Urolithin A improves muscle strength, exercise performance, and biomarkers of mitochondrial health in a randomized trial in middle-aged adults — Cell Reports Medicine (2022)
- Effect of Urolithin A Supplementation on Muscle Endurance and Mitochondrial Health in Older Adults: A Randomized Clinical Trial — JAMA Network Open / PMC (NIH) (2022)
- Urolithin A improves muscle strength and biomarkers of mitochondrial health (full text) — PMC / NIH (2022)
- Mitopure Softgels (product & dosage) — Timeline (2026)
- Best Urolithin A Supplement: Researched and Tested 2026 — Innerbody Research (2026)
- Nicotinamide riboside is uniquely and orally bioavailable in mice and humans — Nature Communications (2016)
- An open-label, non-randomized study of the pharmacokinetics of the nutritional supplement nicotinamide riboside (NR) and its effects on blood NAD+ levels in healthy volunteers — PLOS One (2017)
- Chronic nicotinamide riboside supplementation is well-tolerated and elevates NAD+ in healthy middle-aged and older adults — Nature Communications (2018)
- Safety and Metabolism of Long-term Administration of NIAGEN (Nicotinamide Riboside Chloride) in a Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-controlled Clinical Trial of Healthy Overweight Adults — Scientific Reports (2019)
- Repeat dose NRPT (nicotinamide riboside and pterostilbene) increases NAD+ levels in humans safely and sustainably: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study — npj Aging and Mechanisms of Disease (PubMed) (2017)
- Safety Assessment of High-Purity, Synthetic Nicotinamide Riboside (NR-E) in a 90-Day Repeated Dose Oral Toxicity Study, With a 28-Day Recovery Arm — International Journal of Toxicology (2020)
- Agency Response / GRAS Notice No. GRN 000635: Nicotinamide riboside chloride — U.S. Food and Drug Administration GRAS Notice Inventory (2016)
- A randomized placebo-controlled trial of nicotinamide riboside in older adults with mild cognitive impairment — GeroScience (PubMed) (2023)
- Nicotinamide riboside for peripheral artery disease: the NICE randomized clinical trial — Nature Communications (2024)
- Effects of nicotinamide riboside on NAD+ levels, cognition, and symptom recovery in long-COVID: a randomized controlled trial — eClinicalMedicine (The Lancet) (2025)
- What is really known about the effects of nicotinamide riboside supplementation in humans — Science Advances (2023)
- Therapeutic Potential of NAD-Boosting Molecules: The In Vivo Evidence — Cell Metabolism (PubMed) (2018)
- Regulation of NAD+ metabolism in aging and disease — Metabolism: Clinical and Experimental (PMC) (2022)
- NAD+ precursor supplementation in human ageing: clinical evidence and challenges — Nature Metabolism (2025)
- The Effect of Nicotinamide Mononucleotide and Riboside on Skeletal Muscle Mass and Function: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis — Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle (PMC) (2025)
- Evaluation of safety and effectiveness of NAD in different clinical conditions: a systematic review — American Journal of Physiology-Endocrinology and Metabolism (2023)
Editorial comparison, not medical advice. Discuss options with a qualified clinician. Individual results vary.