⚖ Head-to-Head · NAD+ vs Mitochondrial

NAD+ vs SS-31

Mechanism, half-life, dosing & research status compared side-by-side.

NAD+
Metabolic & Mitochondrial
Not Approved (drug use)
MitochondrialLongevityAnti-AgingNAD+IV Therapy
NAD+ (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide) is the oxidized form of the essential coenzyme NAD, present in every living cell. It is critical for mitochondrial energy production (as a hydrogen carrier in the electron transpo…
Full NAD+ profile →
SS-31
Mitochondrial
Phase II/III
MitochondrialLongevityCardiacEnergy
SS-31 (Elamipretide) is a synthetic aromatic-cationic tetrapeptide that selectively concentrates in the inner mitochondrial membrane (IMM) due to its unique charge properties. It is the most advanced mitochondrial-target…
Full SS-31 profile →
Technical Specs Comparison
MetricNAD+SS-31
Research Status Widely Studied Extensively Studied
Molecular Weight 663.4 Da 638.8 Da
Half-Life Very short (direct IV); precursors have hours-long kinetics ~2–4 hours
Peak Time - ~30–60 min
Typical Dose 250–1,000 mg (IV) 1–5 mg
Frequency 2–3x weekly (IV therapy); daily (oral precursors) Once daily
Route IV / IM / Oral (as precursors NMN, NR) Subcutaneous
Amino Acids - 4
WADA Status Not Listed Not Listed
FDA Status Not Approved (drug use) Phase II/III
Stack Compatibility & Key Differences
Both are active research compounds. See individual pages for full protocol data.
PK Plotter · Visualize plasma levels over time
Plot NAD+ → Plot SS-31 →
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between NAD+ and SS-31?
NAD+: NAD+ (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide) is the oxidized form of the essential coenzyme NAD, present in every living cell. It is critical for mitochondrial energy production (as a hydrogen carrier in the electron transpo… SS-31: SS-31 (Elamipretide) is a synthetic aromatic-cationic tetrapeptide that selectively concentrates in the inner mitochondrial membrane (IMM) due to its unique charge properties. It is the most advanced mitochondrial-target…
Can you stack NAD+ and SS-31?
Both are active research compounds. See individual pages for full protocol data.
Which has a longer half-life, NAD+ or SS-31?
NAD+ half-life: Very short (direct IV); precursors have hours-long kinetics. SS-31 half-life: ~2–4 hours.
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Verified Scientific Data
All specifications on this page are sourced from peer-reviewed literature and primary research. Half-life values, dosing ranges, and mechanism data are cross-referenced against published studies. Last audited 2026-06-15.
● Peer-reviewed sources ● Audit timestamp: 2026-06-15 ● Data version: ASCEND Wiki 2026
Data sourced from ASCEND Wiki · NAD+ profile · SS-31 profile · All comparisons
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