The Benefits of NAD+ Supplementation Therapy
Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide (NAD+) gives life to cells and organisms across the planet. Without this molecule, we would not create energy from breaking down sugar and other energy-related molecules. NAD+ benefits go well beyond just creating energy for our bodies. Many other functions require NAD+. Some of these benefits include protecting against a decline in artery and vein function (Kane & Sinclair, 2018), involvement in DNA repair (Braidy & Liu, 2020), and NAD+ also provides an exciting area of research for addiction therapies (Braidy et al., 2020). This list is abridged as NAD+ is thought to be involved in over 200 functions throughout the body (Gropper et al., 2020). Because of how pervasive this molecule is in our body, we need to be aware of any potential deficiencies.
Whether you feel lethargic some days and want an extra boost to your energy or you are a highly trained athlete that wants to maximize your potential, NAD+ should be something worth investigating further. The benefit of this molecule goes beyond the typical energy-boosting promises commonly advertised by supplement companies. With a single 1000mg NAD+ supplement, you can boost this molecule's levels throughout your body. This additional source of NAD+ can help cells to perform DNA repair that would otherwise fail to happen, and the cell or cells would likely be forced to self-destruct. Even worse would be if one of these cells did not die but instead mutated and became cancerous. Since NAD+ is one of the molecules necessary for DNA repair, it could help a cell from mutating beyond proper functionality into something problematic.
There are many upsides to maintaining proper levels of this molecule. NAD+ benefits not only DNA but also the sirtuin system (Imai & Guarente, 2014). This system is involved in metabolism and circadian rhythm. If you have ever felt like you are tired during strange times of the day or that your sleep is just off, it would be worth it to learn more about how NAD+ might help you. Since NAD+ supplements with 1000mg are very potent, they will have a noticeable effect even after the first use. You might find you can sleep better or that you have more energy throughout the day. Healthy practices such as fasting might feel less challenging as well. If you do not notice any benefits for whatever reason, then there might be an unrelated issue occurring in which you may wish to seek medical advice. The human body is a complex organism. There is no one size fits all supplement, and finding what works best for you can take time and patience.
If someone told you that they had a universal supplement that can fix whatever issue you have and that there are no side effects, then I would consider listening to that person with an added sense of skepticism. Even water can have adverse effects if given in too large a dose (Hoorn & Zietse, 2017). Some of the side effects of NAD+ include burping, nausea, and occasional loose stools have also been noted (Braidy & Liu, 2020risks involved.
Since the treatment time lasts between 4 to 6 hours depending on the treatment method used, our NAD+ supplements usually consists of 1000mg doses. Whether IV administration or patch administration, NAD+ takes some time to be delivered to the body. Slowly adding NAD+ ensures the comfort of the individual throughout the therapy. Trying to receive this treatment too quickly can cause irritation and discomfort. If you prefer to have the freedom to go about your day without being confined to a therapy room for 6 hours, then trying the NAD+ patch kits might be most beneficial. Once the patch is applied, you will be able to go about your day without disruption. If you have the time and prefer to get IV therapy, that will also boost your NAD+ levels.
Even though 1000mg of NAD+ is effective, this treatment might not be beneficial to everyone. Our bodies react differently in how our cells uptake and use various molecules. You might be one of the few people that do not significantly benefit from NAD+ supplementation. The good news is that there are dozens of natural therapies. One of them might be just what your body needs.
Braidy, N., & Liu, Y. (2020). NAD+ therapy in age-related degenerative disorders: A benefit/risk analysis. Experimental Gerontology, 132(October 2019), 110831. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.exger.2020.110831
Braidy, N., Villalva, M. D., & van Eeden, S. (2020). Sobriety and satiety: Is NAD+ the answer? Antioxidants, 9(5), 1–25. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox9050425
Gropper, S. S., Smith, J. L., & Carr, T. P. (2018). Advanced Nutrition and Human Metabolism (Seventh). Cengage Learning.
Hoorn, E. J., & Zietse, R. (2017). Diagnosis and Treatment of Hyponatremia: Compilation of the Guidelines. Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, 28(5), 1340–1349. https://doi.org/10.1681/ASN.2016101139
Imai, S. ichiro, & Guarente, L. (2014). NAD+ and sirtuins in aging and disease. Trends in Cell Biology, 24(8), 464–471. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tcb.2014.04.002
Kane, A. E., & Sinclair, D. A. (2018). Sirtuins and NAD+ in the development and treatment of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. Circulation Research, 123(7), 868–885. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.118.312498
