Legal status · Canada
Is Apigenin legal in Canada?
Written by Aaron CuhaReviewed Sep 2026
Direct answer
Apigenin can be sold in Canada as a supplement or cosmetic ingredient, classified as "Sold as a supplement". That is not drug approval: Health Canada has not evaluated any health claim, and injectable or "research use only" versions fall outside supplement rules, so that label does not make human use lawful. On the evidence, 1 human study is cited on its profile.
Apigenin in Canada at a glance
| Classification | Sold as a supplement |
|---|---|
| Note | Sold as a natural health product. No approved therapeutic claim relating to NAD. |
| Health Canada approval status | Not a Health Canada drug approval; sold as a supplement or cosmetic |
| Human studies cited | 1 of 4 citations on the profile |
| Reviewed | Sep 2026 |
Classification and note come from the Apigenin profile, checked against Health Canada, Health Products and Food Branch (Health Canada) listings at the reviewed date.
What this means
- 01
Apigenin can be sold in Canada as a supplement, food or cosmetic ingredient under the classification above, without drug approval.
- 02
Supplement status means Health Canada has not evaluated any health claim; manufacturers are responsible for safety and labeling, and quality varies by product.
- 03
Injectable or "research use only" versions are not supplements. That label does not make human use lawful, and injectables fall under medicines rules.
What Apigenin is
Sold as a CD38 inhibitor that defends the NAD pool, on the strength of one 2013 paper in cells and obese mice. No human study has ever measured whether apigenin changes CD38 activity or NAD in a person, and human plasma after a large dietary dose peaks in the nanomolar range.
Apigenin occupies a specific and growing niche in NAD marketing. The pitch is that instead of pushing more precursor in, you stop the leak: CD38 is the enzyme that consumes NAD and its activity rises with age, so inhibiting it should preserve NAD.
Mechanism: CD38 is a membrane-bound NAD glycohydrolase, one of the principal consumers of NAD in mammalian tissue, whose expression and activity rise with age and which is also the main enzyme degrading NMN in vivo. Inhibiting it raises intracellular NAD without supplying any precursor, which in turn increases sirtuin activity and reduces global protein acetylation.
Regulatory history: A dietary constituent of common foods, sold over the counter as a supplement. Not an approved drug for any indication, and no health claim relating to NAD, CD38 or ageing has been authorised.
How Health Canada treats this kind of product
Authorises drugs for sale through a Notice of Compliance and Drug Identification Number. A compound that is not authorised for sale cannot lawfully be sold for human use, and personal importation of prescription drugs is limited.
The classification above is the The Longevity Archive reading of Health Canada, Health Products and Food Branch listings for Apigenin at the reviewed date, not a legal opinion. Rules change, and importing, prescribing and possessing a compound can each be treated differently. Check the regulator directly before acting on anything here.
Apigenin in other countries
Frequently asked questions
Is Apigenin legal in Canada?
Apigenin can be sold in Canada as a supplement or cosmetic ingredient, classified as "Sold as a supplement". That is not drug approval: Health Canada has not evaluated any health claim, and injectable or "research use only" versions fall outside supplement rules, so that label does not make human use lawful. On the evidence, 1 human study is cited on its profile. Note: Sold as a natural health product. No approved therapeutic claim relating to NAD.
Can I buy Apigenin in Canada?
Yes, in supplement or cosmetic form. In Canada Apigenin is classified as "Sold as a supplement", so oral, topical or cosmetic products can be sold under supplement rules. Injectable versions and products labeled "research use only" are not supplements and are not approved for human use. Note: Sold as a natural health product. No approved therapeutic claim relating to NAD.
Is Apigenin Health Canada approved?
No. In Canada Apigenin is classified as "Sold as a supplement", which is not a Health Canada marketing approval. For comparison, the US FDA status is: A dietary constituent of common foods, sold over the counter as a supplement. Not an approved drug for any indication, and no health claim relating to NAD, CD38 or ageing has been authorised.. On the evidence, 1 human study is cited on its profile.
Related compounds in Canada
Full research profile
Mechanism, cited studies, FDA status and the full legal summary for Apigenin live on its compound profile.
Apigenin profileThis page is general information about the regulatory status of Apigenin in Canada, current as of Sep 2026. It is not legal advice, and classifications change; check Health Canada, Health Products and Food Branch directly or consult a lawyer for a specific situation. Educational use only. This database summarizes published research. It is not medical advice and contains no dosing protocols or recommendations for personal use. The Longevity Archive has no vendor relationships and does not recommend where to buy anything.