Q. Why is it important for the human lifespan and overall optimal health?
A. NAD has a key role in age-related conditions. This is because, as people age, these coenzyme levels naturally reduce in the body. As a result, these diminished NAD amounts can cause unwanted inflammation, lessen daily energy levels, and encourage the buildup of oxidative stress. A lack of NAD can also reduce your muscle function; it can eventually trigger memory loss and hinder metabolic reactions and cognitive function. 

“By middle age, our NAD+ levels have plummeted to half that of our youth,” confirms an article from Integrative Medicine: A Clinician’s Journal. Due to age-related NAD decline, studies have shown that upping this supplementation can help overturn cell health, manage insulin sensitivity and lengthen your longevity. 

Recommended Reading : What Does NAD IV Therapy in Toronto Have to Do with Weight Loss?

Q. What are some beneficial effects of NAD supplementation?
A. NAD is dubbed a “helper molecule” because it can promote various health benefits: 

• It may help improve cardiovascular health or prevent heart disease
• Could help lessen cravings linked to substance abuse (i.e. may be considered as adjunct support for addiction relapse/alcohol rehabilitation therapy)
• Can be a key ingredient for an anti-aging IV drip
• Could help promote weight loss 
• May potentially boost energy levels 
• Might reduce inflammation and promote immune modulation, which is necessary for fine-tuning immune response.
• Can help prevent or slow down age-related disease, especially conditions related to cognitive decline. 
• Shown to improve brain health by heightening concentration levels
• Note: NAD may lower risks for chronic pain and could help with improving stamina; this is why some athletes opt for NAD for promoting enhancement to athletic performance.

Q. Can we naturally increase NAD levels in the body?
A. As a matter of fact, yes! In our blog post “Restoring Optimal Function with Lifestyle Recommendations and NAD IV therapy” we discussed how lifestyle modifications can help recover NAD levels. For example, exercise not only assists you with weight management, it can also trigger an NAD boost! Another way to reap the benefits of this coenzyme is through dietary measures. Vitamin B3 is known to be an NAD precursor when ingested; that said, try foods that contain vitamin B3, such as whole grains, poultry, legumes and fish. 

Q. Why is NAD available in the form of intravenous drips?
A. NAD may be infused as an IV vitamin drip treatment. Oral supplements (sublingual delivery) in the form of precursors NMN (nicotinamide mononucleotide) and NR (nicotinamide riboside) can also be considered. But for many of our Toronto patients, we advise getting intravenous therapy (IV infusion therapy) for a few reasons: 

• IV therapy drips bypass the digestive tract and enter the bloodstream only. 
• Because the digestive process isn’t needed with this treatment, you’re ensured a complete absorption of nutrients. When NAD is taken via oral supplements, it does not offer efficient absorption.  
• If you cannot absorb nutrients due to a chronic condition (i.e. Crohn’s, colitis), due to gastric bypass surgery, or you have an aversion to pill-swallowing, the IV route is recommended for boosting vitamins, minerals and NAD levels. 

If your health concerns include low energy, a fuzzy memory or poor muscle health, please book your initial consultation with us. New patients are welcome, especially for uncovering health strategies with one of our functional medicine health care providers. 

How to access TFMC wellness services and intravenous therapy

Our compassionate, tailored approach to health care can help tackle the root cause of your wellness issues. Our experienced health team can cater to a wide range of conditions, such as those linked to chronic stress (mental health concerns), immune health, degenerative diseases, chronic fatigue syndrome, age-related weight gain, hormone imbalances, adrenal fatigue, alcohol overindulgence, and acute illness. 

Individual patient care is important to us, as everyone has distinct health concerns that may relate to genetics, lifestyle choices, environmental surroundings, and personal health goals. This is why we adapt your treatment plan for biological needs. Customized integrated treatments may include: Western medicine, herbal medicine, naturopathy, acupuncture, bioidentical hormones replacement therapy, NAD IV therapy, and more. 

When IV therapy is administered with other functional medicine treatments, it can contribute to an improvement in energy levels and overall wellness. Our IV therapy lounge is designed to administer vitamin drip therapy for patients who require adjunct support. Our nutritional IV therapy treatments are freshly prepared daily; your drip compound is tailored for your individual needs with safe ingredients, which may include IV NAD+, amino acids (protein building blocks), vitamin C, folic acid, glutathione cofactors, and other nutrients. 

Level-up your cellular energy in our IV Lounge! NAD IV therapy from the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre is located in the Yorkville neighborhood. Please leave a message to request your initial visit. 

Disclaimer: The information in this article is designed for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical advice or care. This information should not be used to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting a doctor. Consult with a health care practitioner before relying on any information in this article or on this website.

References

Campelj D, Philp A. NAD+ Therapeutics and Skeletal Muscle Adaptation to Exercise in Humans. Sports Med. 2022 Dec;52(Suppl 1):91-99. doi: 10.1007/s40279-022-01772-2. Epub 2022 Nov 4. PMID: 36331703; PMCID: PMC9734213.

Navas, L. E., & Carnero, A. (2021). NAD+ metabolism, stemness, the immune response, and cancer. Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy, 6(1), 1-20. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41392-020-00354-w

Schultz MB, Sinclair DA. Why NAD(+) Declines during Aging: It’s Destroyed. Cell Metab. 2016 Jun 14;23(6):965-966. doi: 10.1016/j.cmet.2016.05.022. PMID: 27304496; PMCID: PMC5088772.

Shade C. The Science Behind NMN-A Stable, Reliable NAD+Activator and Anti-Aging Molecule. Integr Med (Encinitas). 2020 Feb;19(1):12-14. PMID: 32549859; PMCID: PMC7238909.

Yaku, K., Okabe, K., Gulshan, M., Takatsu, K., Okamoto, H., & Nakagawa, T. (2019). Metabolism and biochemical properties of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) analogs, nicotinamide guanine dinucleotide (NGD) and nicotinamide hypoxanthine dinucleotide (NHD). Scientific Reports, 9(1), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-49547-6