As we age, we become more prone to many conditions and diseases. This happens mainly because certain compounds (hormones, enzymes, etc.) in our bodies are responsible for keeping us healthy, but as we age, these compounds either break down or their production slows.
One such compound is the coenzyme NAD, short for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide. NAD has multiple roles in our bodies, which makes it very important for our overall health. As we age, our bodies produce less of this precious coenzyme, and our health deteriorates.
This is where NAD therapies come into play – they replenish the missing NAD. However, there are different types of NAD therapy, and it can be hard to choose the best one. Here, you can learn more about NAD and the types of NAD therapy, so keep reading!
WHAT IS NAD, AND WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT?
NAD is a coenzyme found in all living cells, and its role is to carry electrons during the process of energy transfer within cells. As such, NAD plays a vital role in metabolic and other biological processes in all living organisms.
There are two types of NAD: NAD+ and NADH. NAD+ is the oxidized version of NAD, which means it can accept electrons from molecules. When NAD+ accepts an electron, it becomes the reduced NAD, also known as NADH. NADH can then give the electron to another molecule.
This electron transport is important for cellular respiration, the process in which a cell converts energy from food into a usable form of energy. The whole process is much more complex than this, but I don’t need to explain it further. In short, NADH and its role in the electron transport chain are responsible for the creation of ATP – the main energy-carrying molecule.
Apart from this role, NAD is responsible for several other processes in our bodies. This coenzyme repairs and protects DNA, which is important for preventing various mutations and diseases. NDA also affects gene expression, impacting which genetic information will be turned into a function.
NAD also aids other processes, such as mitochondrial function, calcium signaling, and epigenetic and posttranslational modifications. It also promotes chromosomal integrity preservation, ensuring genetic stability during cell division and offspring trait inheritance.
When there isn’t enough NAD in your organism, all these important processes become hindered. As a result, you may start to experience low energy, brain fog, muscle weakness, diarrhea, skin sores, and other symptoms. NAD deficiency also causes your body to age on a cellular level. Your body loses the plasticity and resilience it once had.
WHAT CAUSES NAD DEFICIENCY
The aging process slows down NAD production, which makes it one of the main reasons for NAD deficiency. However, there might be other causes of NAD deficiency. For example, when your B3 intake is too low, your body can’t produce enough NAD.
When there is inflammation or oxidative stress in your body, your NAD levels will get depleted. So, basically, in any situation in which free radicals can create chaos in your body and prevent proper absorption of nutrients, your NAD levels will be low.
Some of these situations are:
- Alcohol abuse
- Irregular sleep
- Overeating/famine
- Pregnancy/postpartum
- Mold toxicity
- Lyme disease
- Stress
Basically, every condition or action that puts your body under stress and decreases its ability to absorb vitamins, minerals, and other important nutrients will also reduce your body’s ability to produce NAD. As a result, your cells start to age faster.
DIFFERENT TYPES OF NAD THERAPY
Since researchers found out how important NAD is for our cellular processes, they started looking for ways to replenish it where it is depleted. For that reason, they developed therapies that allow us to increase our NAD levels. There are three main types of NAD therapy: IV, oral, and nasal. Let’s take a closer look at each one of them:
NAD IV
IV is short for intravenous therapy, which means that NAD IV therapy includes administering NAD directly into your veins. This way, NAD reaches your cells much faster. As a result, your body will use 100% of the NAD molecules you get through therapy.
The concentration of NAD molecules and the duration of therapy depends on the individual. Some individuals may require higher doses, while others need much less NAD supplementation. Usually, NAD IV sessions last between 2 and 6 hours.
Before you choose NAD IV therapy, you should consult your doctor. They will tell you everything you need to know about this therapy and ensure that you don’t have any allergies or other pre-existing conditions that can worsen after NAD IV therapy. Also, if you’re taking any medications, your doctor should know how these medications will interact with NAD IV.
When you opt for this type of therapy, you should research different therapy providers. This is really important because you want to find a reputable healthcare provider whose NAD IV therapies are controlled and regulated. Also, keep in mind that NAD IV therapy can be expensive, and it isn’t always covered by insurance.
Who could benefit from NAD IV the most? First of all, everyone who suffers from a lack of energy and brain fog could benefit from NAD IV. Also, people who suffer from age-related diseases, such as:
- Parkinson’s disease
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Multiple sclerosis
- Fibromyalgia
- Heart disease
- Diabetes
- Chronic fatigue
- Mitochondrial dysfunction
- Anxiety/depression
There are even findings that suggest that NAD IV can help people with addictions. While NAD won’t cure addiction, it can help replenish brain cells that were damaged by opioid substances.
However, even if you are still completely healthy and full of energy, undergoing NAD IV therapy won’t be in vain. It can delay aging and keep you healthy and strong for many years to come.
NAD ORAL
NAD can also be administered through oral supplements. These supplements usually come in the form of pills and capsules, which you can take yourself. However, despite the convenience of oral NAD therapy, oral NAD needs to go through your digestive tract first.
There, NAD gets broken down, which means some portion of it will never get absorbed into your cells. As a result, oral NAD has a slower onset of action because it takes more time to be absorbed.
NAD oral therapy is usually taken daily for a longer time period. You can find it as an over-the-counter medicine in almost all pharmacies and health stores. Additionally, it is relatively cheap, especially in comparison with NAD IV.
When it comes to their composition, NAD oral supplements contain pure NAD or its precursors: nicotinamide riboside (NR) or nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN). When ingested, NR and NMN transform to NAD.
NAD oral supplements are perfect for relatively healthy individuals who don’t need NAD IV as much as people who suffer from serious conditions. For example, middle-aged or older people, people who experience fatigue, and people who have the potential to suffer from Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s in the future.
These oral supplements are also great for athletes and all individuals who want to prevent aging and deterioration. If you want to increase your chances of longevity and active life even in old age, then NAD oral supplements could be perfect for you.
NAD NASAL
NAD nasal supplements come in the form of nasal spray or mist, which makes them the most convenient form of NAD therapy. This is especially good to know for people who dislike pills or needles. NAD nasal supplements are more widely available and affordable than NAD IV but are a bit more expensive and less available than NAD oral supplements.
You can get NAD nasal in various wellness clinics and specialized stores. Because it is sprayed into the nostrils, from where it reaches the bloodstream directly, NAD nasal therapy gets absorbed more quickly than NAD oral but still more slowly than NAD IV.
With that in mind, we can say that NAD nasal therapy is a middle-ground solution in comparison to NAD oral and NAD IV. NAD nasal also comes with other potential benefits that other options don’t have.
For example, since NAD nasal is directly sprayed into the nose, it has direct access to the brain, where it can repair and protect certain brain cells. As such, NAD nasal therapy is perfect for people who want to use NAD in order to retain their cognitive abilities.
Still, don’t let this convenience fool you. Before taking the NAD nasal supplement (and any other similar supplement), you should consult your doctor first. This way, you can avoid some potential side effects and ensure that you get the most out of NAD therapy.
IV, ORAL, OR NASAL – WHICH ONE TO CHOOSE?
Now that we have reviewed each NAD therapy type, the question remains: which one is the best choice for you? The answer depends on your individual situation, needs, age, and overall health condition.
NAD IV therapy is recommended for people who need to get the most out of this therapy. This includes aging people or people afflicted with various neurodegenerative conditions, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
NAD IV absorption time and bioavailability are the shortest, but this therapy is the most expensive option. Additionally, it is also less available because it can only be administered at specialized clinics.
NAD oral is the most affordable and available solution, but its absorption time is the longest. Also, people who dislike taking pills might find NAD oral therapy inconvenient. NAD nasal is truly the middle ground between NAD oral and NAD IV. It is moderately available and affordable, and it absorbs moderately fast. However, it is probably the most convenient way of administering NAD.
So, with that being said, choose a NAD therapy that’s most convenient and effective for you. Alternatively, there is also a NAD IM (intramuscular) therapy, and you can research that option before making the final decision.
HOW TO STIMULATE NATURAL NAD PRODUCTION?
If you prefer to do things naturally, you probably wonder if there are natural ways to increase NAD levels inside your body. The answer is yes, there are, but you need to make some profound changes in your lifestyle to stimulate natural NAD production.
Scroll back and find a section that spoke about common causes of NAD depletion. Basically, you need to do everything opposite from that. For example, alcohol and other substance abuse can deplete your NAD levels, so don’t drink alcohol or do drugs.
Some other things that can have a positive impact on your NAD levels:
- Exercise and physical activity
- Eating properly, not too little or too much
- Taking enough minerals and vitamins, especially vitamin B3
- Avoiding sun damage
- Sleeping regularly
- Reducing stress levels
- Getting rid of mold and other toxins from your surroundings
HOW CAN NAD THERAPY HELP ATHLETES?
If you are an athlete or otherwise physically active (gym, weightlifting, bodybuilding, etc.), you can also benefit from NAD. This therapy is especially beneficial if you want to stay fit and strong even in the distant future.
First of all, NAD therapy is completely legal and isn’t considered a performance-enhancing drug. As such, it won’t disqualify you from any competitions, which is important for professional and other competing athletes.
Now that you know you can safely use it let’s see what benefits you can expect from NAD therapy:
- Quicker muscle repair, even after an injury
- Reduced muscle fatigue and exhaustion after exercise
- You will feel more energy
- Expect more endurance and stamina
- Brain neurons repair
- DNA repair
Overall, NAD therapy isn’t some magical solution that will make you the best athlete. However, it can make you the best version of yourself, allowing your skills and strengths that are already within you to shine fully.
CONCLUSION
NAD therapy is one of the latest discoveries that could slow down the aging process and all its negative aspects. There are three main types of NAD therapy: IV, oral, and nasal. Each type comes with certain benefits and drawbacks, but they all have one thing in common: they can slow down the aging of your cells, increase your energy levels, improve your cognitive skills, and repair your DNA and damaged cells.
Another good news is that NAD therapy is widely available and suitable for everyone. No matter if you are young and completely healthy or a bit older and fighting certain conditions, this therapy can increase your overall wellness and quality of life.
