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[Biochemistry](https://durgical.com/en/biochemistry/) · Molecule

# NADPH

NADPH is the electron currency for building molecules and fighting oxidative damage; it comes mainly from the pentose pathway.

Updated 2026-11-01

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## Key facts

- Like NADH but with an extra phosphate on the adenosine ribose; that phosphate lets enzymes tell them apart.
- NADH is used to make ATP (catabolism); NADPH for reductive synthesis (fatty acids, cholesterol, steroids) and antioxidant defence.
- Sources: the pentose pathway (G6PD and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase), malic enzyme and cytosolic isocitrate dehydrogenase.
- Derived from niacin (vitamin B3).

**Also called**
Reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate

**Formula**
C₂₁H₃₀N₇O₁₇P₃

**PubChem**
[CID 5884](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/5884)

## Structure

- Two nucleotides joined through their phosphates: nicotinamide (the hydride-carrying part) and adenine with a 2′-phosphate.

## Clinical notes

- It keeps glutathione reduced; without it the red cell haemolyses (G6PD deficiency).
- Phagocyte NADPH oxidase uses it to kill bacteria; its defect causes chronic granulomatous disease.
- Cytochrome P450 and HMG-CoA reductase also consume NADPH.

## Pathways

- [Pentose phosphate pathway](https://durgical.com/en/biochemistry/pathways/pentose-phosphate-pathway/)
- [Fructose metabolism](https://durgical.com/en/biochemistry/pathways/fructose-metabolism/)

## Related conditions

- [Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/glucose-6-phosphate-dehydrogenase-deficiency/)

## Related

- [NAD⁺ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide)](https://durgical.com/en/biochemistry/molecules/nad/)
- [Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD)](https://durgical.com/en/biochemistry/enzymes/glucose-6-phosphate-dehydrogenase/)
- [HMG-CoA reductase](https://durgical.com/en/biochemistry/enzymes/hmg-coa-reductase/)
- [Dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR)](https://durgical.com/en/biochemistry/enzymes/dihydrofolate-reductase/)
- [Ribose 5-phosphate](https://durgical.com/en/biochemistry/molecules/ribose-5-phosphate/)

## Test yourself

Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it.

## What is the chemical difference between NADH and NADPH?

NADPH has one more phosphate on the adenine ribose.

## What does the cell use NADPH for, rather than NADH?

For reductive synthesis (fatty acids, cholesterol) and to keep glutathione reduced.

## What is the main source of NADPH in the red cell?

The oxidative phase of the pentose phosphate pathway, starting with G6PD.

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Molecules are shown in their neutral form, as the databases deposit them; in the cell the acids and phosphates are ionised.

Educational information, not medical advice. For any symptom, see a health professional.

Sources: [NADPH (CID 5884)](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/5884) (PubChem, NCBI, 2026) · Public domain; [Pentose phosphate pathway](https://reactome.org/PathwayBrowser/#/R-HSA-71336) (Reactome, 2026); Textbook of Biochemistry for Medical Students, 6th ed. (Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers (Vasudevan DM, Sreekumari S, Vaidyanathan K), 2011).

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Representative model, for educational purposes only.

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Source: https://durgical.com/en/biochemistry/molecules/nadph/
License: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Cite as: DurgiPedia (durgical.com), https://durgical.com/en/biochemistry/molecules/nadph/