Legal status · United Kingdom
Is NRPT legal in the United Kingdom?
Written by Aaron CuhaReviewed Sep 2026
Direct answer
NRPT can be sold in the United Kingdom as a supplement or cosmetic ingredient, classified as "Sold as a supplement". That is not drug approval: MHRA 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 the United Kingdom at a glance
| Classification | Sold as a supplement |
|---|---|
| Note | Sold as a supplement. Nicotinamide riboside has been through novel food authorisation in the EU and UK. |
| MHRA approval status | Not a MHRA 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 Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) listings at the reviewed date.
What this means
- 01
NRPT can be sold in the United Kingdom as a supplement, food or cosmetic ingredient under the classification above, without drug approval.
- 02
Supplement status means MHRA 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 MHRA treats this kind of product
Licenses medicines for the UK market. A compound without a marketing authorisation is an unlicensed medicine, which can only lawfully be supplied for human use through a prescriber under the specials scheme, not sold as a research product.
The classification above is the The Longevity Archive reading of Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency 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 the United Kingdom?
NRPT can be sold in the United Kingdom as a supplement or cosmetic ingredient, classified as "Sold as a supplement". That is not drug approval: MHRA 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 supplement. Nicotinamide riboside has been through novel food authorisation in the EU and UK.
Can I buy NRPT in the United Kingdom?
Yes, in supplement or cosmetic form. In the United Kingdom 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 supplement. Nicotinamide riboside has been through novel food authorisation in the EU and UK.
Is NRPT MHRA approved?
No. In the United Kingdom NRPT is classified as "Sold as a supplement", which is not a MHRA 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 the United Kingdom
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 the United Kingdom, current as of Sep 2026. It is not legal advice, and classifications change; check Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency 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.