As you get older, you become more prone to fatigue, sleep troubles, and weight gain, and you’re likely to lose your physical edge and see some decline in mental function and brain health. An NAD+ infusion can put you on the path to feeling more like your younger self.
Dr. Brian Myers and Dr. Dien Nguyen, licensed naturopathic doctors at Concierge IV Nutrition in Beverly Hills, California, use NAD+ infusions to help their patients beat a wide range of ills. Here’s what they want you to know about the benefits.
NAD+ basics
NAD+ is short for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, and it’s a coenzyme found naturally in all of the body’s cells. It’s an essential part of your metabolism, helping cells break down carbohydrates, fats, and proteins into usable energy.
It activates enzymes that control the genes responsible for aging and some age-related disorders. In addition, NAD+ binds with other proteins to assist with DNA and cellular repairs. Basically, it addresses the big picture of health, keeping cells running like well-oiled machines.
When your cells live longer and perform at the top of their game, you reap the benefits of more energy, clearer skin, thicker hair, and less brain fog. The bottom line? You feel — and look — younger.
Studies on humans have clearly demonstrated that NAD+ levels decrease with age, leading scientists to suggest that the declining levels are associated with the signs of aging and age-related illnesses such as heart disease.
How NAD+ functions
NAD+ doesn’t offer any direct benefit to your body; its job is to help your cells work better. As a coenzyme, it transports electrons in the cell from one place to another, specifically into the mitochondria, the organelles responsible for metabolizing nutrients.
The higher the levels of NAD+, the greater number of electrons end up in the mitochondria and the more energy is produced. When the NAD+ levels decline, the mitochondria process fewer nutrients, and the cells produce fewer reactions. As a result, your cells start to age and die.
The benefits of NAD+ infusion
There’s some debate about the effectiveness of NAD+ infusion, but research is very promising. Some of the many reported benefits include:
Anti-aging
One of the keys to staying young is being able to repair DNA effectively. When it gets damaged, it can lead to mutations that produce proteins that don’t work or cause cells to die outright. NAD+ functions to repair DNA and has demonstrated the ability to make old or damaged tissue look young again.
In a 2017 study, scientists gave NAD+ to elderly mice with damaged tissue. They saw an increase in protein interactions that resulted in greater cellular DNA repair. When examining the tissue, they discovered it was identical to the tissue of 3-month-old mice. Of course, mice aren’t humans, but the results are pretty remarkable.
Improved muscle function
As you age, your body becomes frail. But does it have to be that way? A recent study found that mice suffering from degenerative muscle diseases that affected their mitochondria saw decreased degeneration and increased muscular function when given NAD+. These degenerative diseases are also common in aging humans, suggesting a potential benefit from added NAD+.
Decreased brain fog and inflammation
The degeneration of neuronal functioning in the brain can lead to confusion and more serious conditions like Alzheimer’s disease. In a 2018 study on mice with Alzheimer’s disease, those that were given NAD+ showed drastic improvements in memory tasks after just one week.
When the researchers looked closer, they saw all the mice given NAD+ showed decreases in nerve inflammation, DNA damage, and apoptosis (cell suicide) in the brain.
Improved skin health
Niacin is one of the key vitamins recommended for strong and youthful skin, hair, and nails. A lack of niacin has been associated with skin sensitivity to UV light, DNA damage (moles, freckles, and blemishes), and skin cancer.
Research has shown that niacin, or vitamin B3, is an “NAD precursor,” meaning that when you take niacin, your body produces more NAD+. Research suggests that it’s not the niacin itself that prevents the skin problems but the increased NAD+ in skin cells.
Other benefits include strengthening cell defense systems, improving physiological stress response, reducing the potential for fatty liver deposits, and helping with drug and alcohol recovery, as abuse depletes your NAD+ levels.
If you’re dealing with the physical and psychological effects of aging, or if you just need an energy boost, NAD+ infusion may be right for you. Give Concierge IV Nutrition a call at 424-260-8912 to schedule a consultation, or request your appointment online today.
