You must have heard about NAD+ therapy- it’s a popular health trend these days. Luckily, unlike other health fads, this one works and is backed by science!
By now, you must be wondering, what is NAD+? How is it done? How long does it last?
This article will guide you about NAD+ by giving you a brief overview of its benefits and duration of therapy for different problems.
What Is NAD+?
NAD+ is a naturally occurring co-enzyme in your body that participates in major metabolic processes. Due to its anti-oxidant nature, it provides a state of balance by acting as a janitor. Metabolism produces tons of free radicals, which are highly reactive and attach to different cell membranes. This oxidative burden disintegrates cellular structures and tissues, leading to aging, but NAD+ puts a tight handle on it.
There is one caveat, though.
The NAD+ levels in your body decrease because the NAD hydrolase enzyme, which degrades NAD+ in the body, rises with age. The metabolic pathways that produce NAD also slow down with advancing age, resulting in low NAD levels.
Therefore, your skin wrinkles, energy levels decline, brain fog increases, and many chronic diseases appear gradually.
Does NAD+ Therapy Work?
You can increase your NAD+ levels naturally, but its supplementation also proves highly effective. In addition, it is safe and easy to introduce to the body.
The NAD+ therapy works on the principle of introducing NAD+ or its various precursors such as nucleoside riboside (NR), nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), and nicotinic acid in the body.
These elements convert into NAD+ through various pathways and your stores.
What Are The Benefits Of NAD?
There is a substantial evidence base available that proves NAD+ being a promising therapy. Some of the benefits backed by science are as follows:
- According to a study published in The Journal of Psychoses and Related Disorders, NAD+ therapy may prove effective in Schizophrenia. It is because oxidative stress is a significant part of the underlying mechanism of Schizophrenia and other neurodegenerative disorders. Since NAD+ is a potent anti-oxidative and mitochondrial metabolism regulator, it can prevent this damage.
- NAD+ therapy improves neurological function by increasing your focus and giving you clarity. It also boosts energy production and optimizes oxygen supply to the brain, reducing brain fog and enhancing cognitive abilities.
- NAD+ acts as a co-factor and activates enzymes in the skin that carry out DNA repair. This DNA recovery protects your skin from photo-aging, UV damage, and wrinkling.
- NAD+ therapy boosts drug detox by flushing drugs out of your system rapidly. It also improves fatigue and other withdrawal symptoms. One interesting thing is that it can potentially protect the liver from alcoholic damage, but more research is needed to explore this possibility.
How Can You Take NAD+ Therapy?
You can supplement NAD+ through oral pills and capsules or an intravenous line (IV). The IV NAD+ is often considered superior because it goes into the blood directly. Oral tablets or capsules break down in the gut and absorb through the intestinal wall.
Therefore, their bioavailability or quantity in the blood is relatively lesser. They also take more time to start an action and take consistency because you need to take a tablet daily.
How Long Does NAD+ Therapy Last?
The NAD+ supplementation and its duration depend on the treatment goal, nature of NAD+ supplement, and treatment provider.
- Treatment goal
You may need more sessions of infusion or a higher dosage of NAD+ daily for addiction and withdrawals. However, energy boost and anti-aging impact only require approximately one to two weeks of NAD+ infusions.
For instance, some facilities provide three infusions for anti-aging therapy in three weeks and a maintenance dose of one infusion per month. A higher amount is appropriate for neurological diseases with a daily infusion for five to ten days and then one infusion every other day for two weeks.
- Type of Supplement
The duration of therapy also depends on the type of supplement. If you take NAD+ precursors, their quantity may vary. For instance, research suggests that 200mg of tryptophan and niacin daily in a tablet or capsule form is sufficient for increasing NAD+ stores. Other precursors may require larger quantities due to their relatively smaller bioavailability.
- Individual Needs
NAD+ therapy is not uniform and depends on the individual needs. It is why every facility recommends you to get a consultation before starting treatment, especially in the case of IV therapy.
Are There Any Side Effects?
The concerns about side effects, especially with consumption in higher quantities and longer durations, are legitimate.
The research suggests that NAD+ and precursors like niacin, NMR, and vitamin B3 are largely safe for human use. The problems arise with impurities or contamination present in poor-quality supplements.
However, scientists advise caution because excessive and prolonged use may increase diabetes and Parkinson’s risk. But we need more research to explore these hypotheses and implement quality control.
Conclusion
NAD+ therapy has several potential benefits and is an emerging field. However, the dosing or NAD+ treatment depends on the type of supplement, formulation, and the disorder being treated. So, it is always a good idea to consider these things before initiating the therapy.