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Limited evidenceLongevity & antioxidants

Trigonelline

An alkaloid from coffee and fenugreek identified as an NAD+ precursor. The founding paper is impressive laboratory science, but no human supplementation trial has yet tested whether taking it does anything.

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What the science says

  • NAD+ precursor and muscle function Limited evidence

    A 2024 Nat Metab paper showed trigonelline raises cellular NAD+ through the nicotinate route and improved muscle function in worms, mice and human myotubes. The human element was observational: lower circulating trigonelline was associated with sarcopenia in older adults, which does not establish that supplementing helps.

  • Energy, ageing and cognition Limited evidence

    Marketing claims about energy and healthy ageing extrapolate from the same preclinical NAD+ mechanism. As of now there is no published randomized controlled trial of trigonelline supplementation in people.

Dosage & safety

Studied doseNo human dose has been established. Products generally supply 50–100 mg/day, a label dose with no trial behind it. Dietary intake from coffee is on the order of tens of milligrams per cup, mostly degraded by roasting.
SafetyNo human supplementation safety data at supraphysiological doses. Trigonelline is consumed in coffee and fenugreek without evident harm at dietary levels. Avoid in pregnancy and breastfeeding; fenugreek-derived products can affect blood glucose.

How to take it

TimingTiming does not matter.
With food?Take it with food.
Worth knowingCoffee is not a practical source: roasting destroys most of the trigonelline in the green bean, which is why supplements exist in the first place.

Interactions

With medications

  • diabetes medication

    Fenugreek-derived material, the usual source, lowers blood glucose and can add to insulin or oral hypoglycaemics. monitor blood glucose and talk to your doctor before combining

Well-established interactions only — this is not a complete list. Always tell your doctor and pharmacist what you take.

Frequently asked questions

Does trigonelline boost NAD+ in humans?

Not shown yet: a 2024 Nat Metab paper found trigonelline raised NAD+ and improved muscle function in worms, mice and human muscle cells, but no human supplementation trial has been published. The evidence for trigonelline is limited.

Does trigonelline help muscle loss with ageing?

The only human link is observational: older adults with sarcopenia had lower blood trigonelline. That does not show that taking trigonelline supplements helps, so the evidence is limited.

How much trigonelline should I take?

No human dose of trigonelline has been established; products generally supply 50–100 mg/day, a label dose with no trial behind it.

Can I get trigonelline from coffee?

Not in useful amounts: roasting destroys most of the trigonelline in the green coffee bean, which is why supplements exist. Supplement doses have no human safety data, and fenugreek-derived trigonelline can lower blood glucose on diabetes medication.

Scientific references

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