If you want to support healthy aging and longevity, NAD IV therapy from the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre may be considered. Our clinicians can discuss other ways to boost NAD levels, too, such as taking nicotinamide riboside (NR). 

So, what is NR? Nicotinamide riboside is a type of B vitamin that acts as a precursor to NAD (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide). NAD is a coenzyme that naturally declines in the body when people age, and its deficiency is tied to age-related conditions and symptoms, including dementia, obesity, diabetes, brain fog, and chronic fatigue syndrome. In fact, scientists have confirmed that supplementing with NAD precursors can treat NAD deficiencies, while helping to prevent chronic conditions, such as neurodegenerative disorders. 

When blended with a balanced diet, exercise, and additional functional medicine treatments, some supplements – such as IV NAD+ and NR – have the potential to help cognitive function, muscle recovery, and more. This article features:

• • A quick guide to what NR is;
  • How to take it as a supplement; 
  • And information about our functional medicine and IV therapy treatments. 

What is nicotinamide riboside?

• • Scientists also refer to NR as niagen. When taken as a supplement, it transitions into NAD through your body’s metabolic processes. Think of niagen as a ‘building block’ for much-needed NAD! 

• • Due to its link to NAD, NR  has beneficial effects on the body, such as preventing/managing age-related cognitive decline, obesity, and cardiovascular stress. NR may also help with driving cellular energy production, supporting DNA repair, and optimizing the circadian rhythm. 

• • “Many inflammation-related conditions—such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), sclerosis, and fibrosis—are known to deplete NAD+ contents, aggravate cellular injury, and upregulate proinflammatory cytokine,” reports a Nutrients piece. However, NR supplementation may have the ability to decrease cytokine levels, thereby reducing excessive amounts of inflammation and neuroinflammation.

• • High blood pressure (systolic) and arterial stiffness can indicate poor cardiovascular health on lab tests. A study from Nature Communications showed that a daily intake of NR (1000 mg daily) may lower the amounts of these biomarkers in healthy men and women between ages 55 and 79 years.
  • One important component of anti-aging therapy is exercise. Unfortunately, low NAD levels in seniors can lead to weakened muscle function and physical exertions. One study published in the European Journal of Nutrition demonstrated that niagen significantly upped NAD amounts, shrunk oxidative stress levels, and enhanced physical performances in older men. The study establishes how NR supplementation may have positive effects when treating antioxidant nutrient deficiencies. 

How to supplement with niagen

If you’re interested in taking niagen for your health goals, here are four things to discuss with your functional medicine practitioner:  

1. 1. How do I take it as an oral supplement? Niagen is available in capsules, tablets or powders; it may be taken with food or on an empty stomach. These supplements are available at local health stores, and your functional medicine provider may recommend a suitable dose for your needs. 
   2. Are there any side effects? This may depend on your current health status. Some patients have experienced mild side effects, such as low energy levels. Studies have shown NR supplementation to be well tolerated, but you should speak to your doctor beforehand to avoid medication interactions. 
   3. Does food contain niagen? Trace amounts of NR can be sourced from cow’s milk and yeast. But eating these may be problematic if you suffer from food allergies or intolerances. You can read more about boosting NAD levels with food by clicking here.
   4. Can I get it added to my next IV therapy drip? NR is not available for IV therapy treatments. But you’re welcome to request a NAD+ IV drip from our IV Lounge, and it’s especially suitable for patients struggling with malabsorption. NAD+ IV is offered as either a stand-alone drip or with a series of other nourishing drips (i.e.amino acids and  glutathione). Make an appointment with our IV Lounge to learn more about IV NAD+ and niagen supplements. 

Suggested reading: What is Sublingual Supplementation? A NAD IV Therapy Toronto Fact Sheet

How to get functional medicine treatments and NAD+ IV drips

Are you wondering where to access functional medicine and intravenous therapy? Our clinic, the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre, is located in the Yorkville neighborhood and is reachable via TTC. We offer in-person and virtual consultations, though some therapies require in-person visits (i.e. acupuncture, NAD+ IV drips, vitamin D injections, etc.). 

For some cases, tailored treatments can target unique health needs, such as cellular aging, nutrient deficiencies, memory loss, slow metabolic functions, inflammation (oxidative damage), and more. Our health practitioners are able to adapt several modalities; for example, we can provide a combination therapy that integrates conventional medicine with IV vitamin infusions, Chinese medicine, holistic nutrition, psychotherapy, and other modalities. 

We also support your nutrient levels with IV therapy treatments in our IV Lounge. Our health team keeps a close watch during each session – this is because your comfort and safety matter to us! When IV therapy is merged with a nourishing lifestyle and formal visits with a healthcare provider, optimal health can be supported. Ask us about our IV Lounge menu anytime – currently, we offer NAD, folic acid, various amino acids and vitamins, glutamic acid, and other nourishing ingredients. 

NAD IV therapy from the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre can be freshly blended for new patients. Don’t delay – our IV Lounge is booking sessions at this moment! Ask us to reserve your initial visit by sending us a message here. 

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), e13943. https://doi.org/10.15252/emmm.202113943

Airhart, S. E., Shireman, L. M., Risler, L. J., Anderson, G. D., Nagana Gowda, G. A., Raftery, D., Tian, R., & Shen, D. D. (2017). An open-label, non-randomized study of the pharmacokinetics of the nutritional supplement nicotinamide riboside (NR) and its effects on blood NAD+ levels in healthy volunteers. PLoS ONE, 12(12), e0186459. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0186459

Biţă, A., Scorei, I. R., Ciocîlteu, M. V., Nicolaescu, O. E., Pîrvu, A. S., Bejenaru, L. E., Rău, G., Bejenaru, C., Radu, A., Neamţu, J., Mogoşanu, G. D., & Benner, S. A. (2023). Nicotinamide Riboside, a Promising Vitamin B3 Derivative for Healthy Aging and Longevity: Current Research and Perspectives. Molecules, 28(16), 6078. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28166078

Braidy, N., Berg, J., Clement, J., Khorshidi, F., Poljak, A., Jayasena, T., Grant, R., & Sachdev, P. (2018). Role of Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide and Related Precursors as Therapeutic Targets for Age-Related Degenerative Diseases: Rationale, Biochemistry, Pharmacokinetics, and Outcomes. Antioxidants & Redox Signaling, 30(2), 251. https://doi.org/10.1089/ars.2017.7269

Campbell, J. M. (2022). Supplementation with NAD+ and Its Precursors to Prevent Cognitive Decline across Disease Contexts. Nutrients, 14(15), 3231. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14153231

Dolopikou CF, Kourtzidis IA, Margaritelis NV, Vrabas IS, Koidou I, Kyparos A, Theodorou AA, Paschalis V, Nikolaidis MG. Acute nicotinamide riboside supplementation improves redox homeostasis and exercise performance in old individuals: a double-blind cross-over study. Eur J Nutr. 2020 Mar;59(2):505-515. doi: 10.1007/s00394-019-01919-4. Epub 2019 Feb 6. PMID: 30725213.

Martens CR, Denman BA, Mazzo MR, Armstrong ML, Reisdorph N, McQueen MB, Chonchol M, Seals DR. Chronic nicotinamide riboside supplementation is well-tolerated and elevates NAD+ in healthy middle-aged and older adults. Nat Commun. 2018 Mar 29;9(1):1286. doi: 10.1038/s41467-018-03421-7. PMID: 29599478; PMCID: PMC5876407.

Sharma, C., Donu, D., & Cen, Y. (2022). Emerging Role of Nicotinamide Riboside in Health and Diseases. Nutrients, 14(19), 3889. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14193889

Shi, W., Hegeman, M. A., Tang, J., Suarez, M., Swarts, H., Arola, L., & Keijer, J. (2017). Effects of a wide range of dietary nicotinamide riboside (NR) concentrations on metabolic flexibility and white adipose tissue (WAT) of mice fed a mildly obesogenic diet. Molecular Nutrition & Food Research, 61(8), 1600878. https://doi.org/10.1002/mnfr.201600878

Trammell SA, Schmidt MS, Weidemann BJ, Redpath P, Jaksch F, Dellinger RW, Li Z, Abel ED, Migaud ME, Brenner C. Nicotinamide riboside is uniquely and orally bioavailable in mice and humans. Nat Commun. 2016 Oct 10;7:12948. doi: 10.1038/ncomms12948. PMID: 27721479; PMCID: PMC5062546.