NAD+

What is NAD+?

NAD+ is a co-enzyme found in every single cell. NAD+ helps energy production in the mitochondria of all living cells, which occurs through the metabolism of nutrients. Formed in the body from B vitamins, NAD+ also activates proteins called sirtuins, which are enzymes that create new mitochondria, protect DNA, and work with anti-aging. NAD+ is a “helper molecule” that helps other enzymes do their job most effectively. NAD+ plays a crucial role in a variety of biological processes including energy metabolism, aging, and calcium homeostasis. NAD+ declines with age.

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NAD+ Benefits

• Helps increase mental clarity and overall cognitive function 

• Alcoholism and drug dependency detoxification 

• Aids in treatment of age-related diseases 

• Increases energy and fights chronic fatigue syndrome 

• Slows aging process 

• Helps with symptoms of depression & anxiety  

• Reduces Inflammation  

• Boosts metabolism 

• Regenerates Cells

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Who is a good candidate for

NAD+ infusions? 

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Anyone who suffers from reduced energy levels, feels sluggish and fatigued, or feels like their  mind is continuously foggy can be a great candidate for this type of IV treatment. Replenishing  your body’s NAD+ levels can drastically reduce these types of feelings and provide additional  benefits.

People who are struggling with the side effects of aging or who suffer from certain age-related  illnesses or chronic conditions are also excellent candidates, however, these infusions can also  be beneficial for healthy individuals.  

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For example, it’s often recommended for athletes who want to enhance their performance  and endurance and speed up their recovery times after intense exercise or an injury.

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NAD+ Therapy and Addiction: 

Though it’s still a relatively new service, there is promising evidence that NAD+ IV drip and  infusions can be used as a form of addiction therapy. It’s important to note that the coenzyme  itself is not a fix for addiction, but it can help heal your brain by replenishing cells that have  been ravaged by substance abuse. Studies have shown that NAD+ can aid in the regeneration of opiate receptors, reducing  cravings and softening the effects of withdrawals. This can lead to reduced substance dependence and faster addiction recovery. Individuals who are committed to long-term recovery from addiction may find that NAD+  can assist them in their pre-addiction brain chemistry. A healthy, properly functioning brain is  one of the most important factors on the road to recovery.

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Things that deplete NAD+

1. Alcohol Use

Alcohol quickly depletes NAD+ in the body, which then leads to inflammation in the brain and liver. These lower levels of NAD+ also allow for chemical reactions that cause cravings and withdrawal symptoms. Thus, successful alcohol and drug addiction treatment centers often use NAD+ to aid in the detoxification of these addictive substances.

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2. Overeating

Overeating causes cortisol, glucose, and insulin levels to rise, which can lead to weight gain and increased inflammation. Eating foods high in sugar and fat also puts a lot of stress on the liver and can lead to fatty liver, a condition where fat is stored in the liver. This has been associated with lower NAD+ levels in aging.

 

3. Staying Awake At Night / Night Shift Workers

Studies have shown that people who are awake during the night have more oxidative stress than people who sleep at nighttime. This internal inflammation is thought to stem from melatonin suppression during the night by staying awake and/or working during the night.

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4. Pregnancy & Postpartum

Both pregnancy and postpartum bring major metabolic stressors to the mother as she is growing and nourishing the baby. During lactation, macronutrients from the mother are transported from the liver to the mammary glands (breasts), and the overall metabolic stress can decrease the mother’s liver NAD+ levels by one-third, adding stress to cells that perform up to and over 500 enzymatic reactions. On the other hand, mammary NAD+ increases by 20-fold. Therefore, improving NAD+ levels in the body may support healthy lactation.

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5. Mold Toxicity, Lyme Disease & Other Chronic Infections

These conditions, associated with CIRS, or Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome, notoriously correspond with lower NAD+ levels that are secondary to the oxidative stress involved. One reason is that CD38, a protein on the surface of immune cells, needs NAD+ to function and ward off foreign invaders — during inflammation, CD38 function increases and contributes to the depletion of NAD+. Many people with mold toxicity, Lyme disease, or other conditions associated with CIRS also suffer from neuroinflammation in the brain, which is fueled by depleted levels of NAD+.

If you are facing any of the above conditions, the best things you can do are reduce and eliminate unhealthy habits and increase healthier ones. Eating the right foods in healthy amounts, sleeping well at night, avoiding alcohol, and removing or avoiding sources of environmental toxins like mold are great first steps.

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6. Aging

A major question that has remained unanswered is why NAD+levels decline in the first place. One suggestion was that the synthesis of NAD+ declines with age. Mitochondrial dysfunction is a hallmark of metabolic decline during aging, but other things as we age that contribute to NAD+ depletion are DNA damage, altered cellular communication, cellular senescence, stem cell exhaustion, and more. 

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