Legal status · Canada
Is NRPT legal in Canada?
Written by Aaron CuhaReviewed Sep 2026
Direct answer
NRPT 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, 3 human studies are cited on its profile.
NRPT in Canada at a glance
| Classification | Sold as a supplement |
|---|---|
| Note | Sold as a natural health product. No approved therapeutic claim. |
| Health Canada approval status | Not a Health Canada drug approval; sold as a supplement or cosmetic |
| Human studies cited | 3 of 4 citations on the profile |
| Reviewed | Sep 2026 |
Classification and note come from the NRPT profile, checked against Health Canada, Health Products and Food Branch (Health Canada) listings at the reviewed date.
What this means
- 01
NRPT 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 NRPT is
In 120 healthy adults aged 60 to 80, it raised whole blood NAD by about 40 percent at the recommended dose and about 90 percent at double dose, sustained over 8 weeks. Every published NRPT trial has measured blood NAD or safety, and the one trial that measured a tissue outcome, muscle repair after experimental injury in 32 older adults, was null.
NRPT is a two-ingredient supplement: nicotinamide riboside, an NAD precursor, plus pterostilbene, a methylated relative of resveratrol described as a sirtuin activator. The product is sold as Basis by Elysium Health.
Mechanism: Two components with two proposed mechanisms. Nicotinamide riboside is phosphorylated by nicotinamide riboside kinases to NMN and then adenylylated to NAD, raising the substrate pool for sirtuins, PARPs and CD38.
Regulatory history: Sold as a dietary supplement in the United States. Not approved as a drug for any indication. Nicotinamide riboside chloride has New Dietary Ingredient notifications on file and is generally recognised as safe for certain uses; pterostilbene is also marketed as a dietary ingredient.
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 NRPT 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.
NRPT in other countries
Frequently asked questions
Is NRPT legal in Canada?
NRPT 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, 3 human studies are cited on its profile. Note: Sold as a natural health product. No approved therapeutic claim.
Can I buy NRPT in Canada?
Yes, in supplement or cosmetic form. In Canada NRPT 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.
Is NRPT Health Canada approved?
No. In Canada NRPT is classified as "Sold as a supplement", which is not a Health Canada marketing approval. For comparison, the US FDA status is: Sold as a dietary supplement in the United States. Not approved as a drug for any indication. Nicotinamide riboside chloride has New Dietary Ingredient notifications on file and is generally recognised as safe for certain uses; pterostilbene is also marketed as a dietary ingredient.. On the evidence, 3 human studies are cited on its profile.
Related compounds in Canada
Full research profile
Mechanism, cited studies, FDA status and the full legal summary for NRPT live on its compound profile.
NRPT profileThis page is general information about the regulatory status of NRPT 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.