Your cells hold a compound called nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) – Without NAD, your body wouldn’t be able to function properly. Now, imagine the impact of a NAD deficiency. Fortunately, NAD IV therapy from our Toronto IV Lounge can help address this issue.

Your body must carry out countless enzymatic tasks – and NAD is affiliated with over 500 of these! Due to its heavy role in the human body, scientists have deemed NAD as a ‘helper molecule’; this is because it fastens onto other enzymes to activate molecular chemical reactions, including metabolic processes and DNA repair. 

So, when the body lacks NAD, how do you think this affects daily energy levels and functioning? Here, our IV Lounge lists the symptoms of this deficiency, how to address it, and details about our NAD IV therapy and functional medicine treatments. 

List of NAD+ deficiency symptoms

NAD partakes in regulating various biological processes. When the body lacks this compound, it directly influences cell functions, weakening your cellular energy production, metabolism, brain health, and immune function. As cellular health bears weight over how your organs and tissues operate, NAD+ deficiency symptoms can influence the mind and body. Here are some examples of related symptoms: 

• • Inflammation
  • Sleep disturbances and/or insomnia
  • Decline in mental health (i.e. mood swings)
  • Lowered stamina
  • Changes to mental performance (i.e. fuzzy memory or memory loss; concentration difficulties)
  • Brain fog
  • Dull skin
  • Weak muscle function
  • Chronic fatigue
  • Weight gain

It should be noted that as people age, NAD levels inherently wane. This decline is linked to various age-related conditions, including cancers, sarcopenia, and neurodegenerative diseases. But there is hope – treatments for low NAD can aid deficiency symptoms, and may potentially help with elongating the human lifespan. 

Suggested reading : NAD IV therapy in Toronto + 4 Little-Known Supplements to Help Delay Aging

Targeting Low NAD with Functional Medicine Treatments 

Our clinicians frequently advise patients on how to boost NAD for health goals, such as those related to athletic performance, cognition, and healthy aging. We tailor our advice and therapies for your biology only – these may range from adhering to lifestyle modifications to getting regular IV infusion therapy. Here are some examples: 

• • Reflect on your current lifestyle: A diet of ‘empty calories’ and sedentary living can lead to NAD declines. Exercise at the gym or jog around your neighborhood to get your heart pumping. And while you’re out, purchase organic produce for your meals. 

• • Explore oral supplements: Along with dietary changes, speak to a functional health provider about supplementing with NAD precursors, such as nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), tryptophan, or B3. Precursors have been shown to boost NAD; for example, according to a Translational Medicine of Aging article, one “…clinical trial showed that supplementation of 200 mg nicotinamide, a form of vitamin B3, increased blood NAD+ levels.”
  • Request an NAD IV therapy session: If you struggle with malabsorption, NAD+ IV therapy may be prescribed to you as adjunctive support. Intravenous therapy consists of directing nutrients, such as NAD, into your bloodstream. This prevents the digestive tract from processing nutrients and, because of this, you are guaranteed a full absorption of nutrients. (Note: though oral supplements are effective, there are times when the full dosage cannot be absorbed by the body due to the digestive process.)

If you suspect that your NAD levels are declining, why not book a consultation with us? Our Toronto clinicians can target your needs with a personalized approach to health care – new patients are always welcome!

Meet Our Toronto IV Lounge Health Team

The IV Lounge is part of the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre (TFMC), which is located in the Yorkville neighborhood. We’ve been in business since 2012, and our health team has over 20 years  of experience! With our vast wellness knowledge and integrative approach to health, we can tailor several treatment modalities for your biology. We offer allopathic therapies (Western), as well as naturopathic medicine, holistic nutrition, herbal remedies, psychotherapy, among others; you may also collaborate with us as we draft your treatment plan! 

Our IV therapy lounge is accessible for new and existing patients. Our functional practitioners can prescribe IV therapy drips and NAD+ IV therapy for supportive needs, such as sustaining energy production, skin health, muscle function, and mental clarity. When IV NAD+ is administered with formal health interventions and a healthy lifestyle, it may contribute to optimal functioning. This infusion therapy may be suitable for general health concerns, such as supporting cellular function, the immune system, and metabolic processes. 

Along with NAD+ IV, we offer intravenous therapy with vitamin C, glutathione, amino acids, and other key nutrients. We can also craft targeted IV therapy treatments, such as an anti-aging IV drip. We apply the principles of functional medicine to determine your exclusive dosage – this means that you will never have the same IV drip as someone else! This is how we personalize health care for your needs only.

Good news – NAD IV therapy from the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre is now available! Naturally ramp up your vitality with a custom-made drip. Just click here to begin your wellness journey (and don’t forget to ask for 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. You should always consult with a health care practitioner before relying on any information in this article or on this website. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified healthcare provider because of information you have read from the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre website or other affiliate media. 

 

References

A Wanders, R. J., & Houtkooper, R. H. (2021). NAD+ homeostasis in human health and disease. EMBO Molecular 

Medicine, 13(7). https://doi.org/10.15252/emmm.202113943

Covarrubias AJ, Perrone R, Grozio A, Verdin E. NAD+ metabolism and its roles in cellular processes during ageing. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol. 2021 Feb;22(2):119-141. doi: 10.1038/s41580-020-00313-x. Epub 2020 Dec 22. PMID: 33353981; PMCID: PMC7963035.

Freeberg, K. A., Udovich, C. C., Martens, C. R., Seals, D. R., & Craighead, D. H. (2023). Dietary Supplementation With NAD+-Boosting Compounds in Humans: Current Knowledge and Future Directions. The Journals of Gerontology: Series A, 78(12), 2435-2448. https://doi.org/10.1093/gerona/glad106

Ito, T. K., Sato, T., Takanashi, Y., Tamannaa, Z., Kitamoto, T., Odagiri, K., & Setou, M. (2021). A single oral supplementation of nicotinamide within the daily tolerable upper level increases blood NAD+ levels in healthy subjects. Translational Medicine of Aging, 5, 43-51. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tma.2021.09.001

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

Poljsak B, Kovač V, Milisav I. Healthy Lifestyle Recommendations: Do the Beneficial Effects Originate from NAD+ Amount at the Cellular Level? Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2020 Dec 12;2020:8819627. doi: 10.1155/2020/8819627. PMID: 33414897; PMCID: PMC7752291.

Rajman, L., Chwalek, K., & Sinclair, D. A. (2018). Therapeutic potential of NAD-boosting molecules: The in vivo evidence. Cell Metabolism, 27(3), 529. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmet.2018.02.011

Ummarino, S., Hausman, C., Gaggi, G., Rinaldi, L., Bassal, M. A., Zhang, Y., Seelam, A. J., Kobayashi, I. S., Borchiellini, M., Ebralidze, A. K., Ghinassi, B., Trinh, B. Q., Kobayashi, S. S., & Ruscio, A. D. (2021). NAD Modulates DNA Methylation and Cell Differentiation. Cells, 10(11). https://doi.org/10.3390/cells10112986

Xie, N., Zhang, L., Gao, W., Huang, C., Huber, P. E., Zhou, X., Li, C., Shen, G., & Zou, B. (2020). NAD+ metabolism: Pathophysiologic mechanisms and therapeutic potential. Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy, 5(1), 1-37. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41392-020-00311-7

Zhang M, Ying W. NAD+ Deficiency Is a Common Central Pathological Factor of a Number of Diseases and Aging: Mechanisms and Therapeutic Implications. Antioxid Redox Signal. 2019 Feb 20;30(6):890-905. doi: 10.1089/ars.2017.7445. Epub 2018 Feb 7. PMID: 29295624.