Weight loss can be part of some customized treatment plans – and NAD IV therapy from the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre (TFMC), along with lifestyle modifications, nutraceuticals and medications, could help undertake this health goal.

NAD (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) levels can impact your metabolism. In fact, upping levels can restore mitochondrial function, lessen oxidative stress, and modify insulin sensitivities in the skeletal muscles, which could potentially prevent insulin resistance. NAD could bolster resistance to weight gain by encouraging glycemic control, too. 

The coenzyme has a vital role in numerous functions, helping to regulate cellular health and mitochondrial function, DNA repair, and chronic stress. Unfortunately, levels can be depleted from excessive alcohol intake, lack of sleep, overheating, etc. But supplementing with NAD regularly can impact weight loss. Keep reading to learn more and how to get it as IV therapy from us. 

Quick Recap: What is NAD? 

NAD is a crucial molecule for the human body to survive. It plays a role in the conversion of food to energy, upkeeps our DNA health, and helps optimize cellular functions to prevent degenerative diseases. 

To understand how NAD works, imagine it as a school bus: it drops off molecules to different cells, triggering biochemical reactions. Due to its key role in cellular functions, NAD effects various essential functions, including these: 

• Energy production in cells
• Immune health 
• Circadian rhythm (sleep-wake cycle)
• Metabolic reactions

But NAD levels regress as people age, which can contribute to brain fog, an age-related disease, risks for heart disease, development of cancer, and a reduction in the human lifespan. According to an article from Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology, “This decline in NAD+ levels is linked causally to numerous ageing-associated diseases, including cognitive decline, cancer, metabolic disease, sarcopenia and frailty.”

However, with ongoing NAD supplementation you can increase your levels and potentially reap other health benefits such as energy boost with NAD IV and healthy longevity.

NAD’s role in weight loss

Metabolism is the manner in which your body transitions food into energy, and this energy production is necessary for optimal health. As we mentioned, NAD levels influence metabolism. If you’re in your senior years, there’s a chance you have low NAD levels, which can instigate extra belly fat or health issues related to cardiovascular health and brain function. But if you’re already overweight or have a poor lifestyle (i.e. sedentary, eating takeout, etc.), these factors alone can reduce NAD levels. In fact, studies have shown that nutritional deficiencies, which can be linked to obesity, can encourage the decline of this coenzyme.

Thus, ongoing supplementation could help with weight loss. “Many studies have revealed [that oral] administration of NAD precursors, such as nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) and nicotinamide riboside (NR), efficiently increase NAD levels in various tissues and prevent such metabolic diseases,” confirms the Journal of Biomedical Science.

At the TFMC, weight loss support is targeted using the integrative functional medicine model. If it appears you have NAD shortcomings, we may mention the following: 

• Oral supplements: Oral supplementation with precursors, such as NR and NMN, may be a tool for weight management, improving cellular energy levels and the repair of cells. If you struggle with malabsorption, we may advise getting supplementation through IV infusion therapies. 
• IV NAD+ infusion therapies: NAD may be administered through intravenous therapy, which allows for nutrients to enter the vein and avoid the digestive tract. It offers a complete absorption of nutrients because digestion isn’t required and NAD enters the bloodstream directly. For those suffering from malabsorption, NAD+ IV therapy is suitable, as oral supplementation for them could cause to have unwanted side effects (i.e. nausea, diarrhea). 
• Lifestyle modifications: Sedentary living can reduce NAD, so get moving! Not only will this help upgrade levels of this coenzyme, it can boost “feel-good” endorphins for your mental health, while strengthening muscle function. We may also recommend changing your diet to wholesome options (i.e. choices from the Mediterranean Diet), which could promote positive effects, such as an improvement in energy levels.

When oral or IV NAD+ is taken with other functional medicine therapies and a healthy lifestyle, it could lead to shedding pounds. Please book a session with our health team’s nurse practitioner, naturopathic doctor or medical doctor – read about our clinic below. 

Getting NAD IV therapy from the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre

NAD intravenous therapy drips are on our IV Lounge menu, along with vitamin C, vitamin B6, vitamin E, folic acid, amino acids, glutathione cofactors, and more. IV doses may be amended for a range of conditions, such as thyroid conditions, chronic fatigue syndrome, cellular damage, neurological function, mineral deficiencies, mental performance, healing of scars, and other health issues.  

When you become a TFMC patient, you can become empowered in your health decisions. This is because a functional medicine practitioner can educate you on your wellness issues, while providing a hands-on approach to health care. This inspires you to adhere to your health goals and make nutritious choices. Actually, we invite you to help customize your own functional medicine treatments! We’ll even teach you about other modalities to promote beneficial effects, such as herbal medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Western medicine, naturopathy, acupuncture, and more. 

If you’re interested in an NAD+ IV drip treatment, we can provide you with a slow drip to help optimize absorption and avoid possible side effects. You must book an initial consultation so that we can understand what you need for drip ingredients. During this session, we’ll discuss your health concerns, health history, daily living (i.e. lifestyle and environmental factors), and possibly suggest lab testing. After scrutinizing your “whole picture”, we customize your therapies. NAD IV therapy may be included as adjunct support, and when combined with a nourishing lifestyle and other therapies, it could potentially promote optimal health. 

Let’s unveil new longevity and weight-loss tactics with a tailored treatment plan! NAD IV therapy from our Toronto clinic is accessible in the Yorkville neighbourhood – click on this link 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

Barbara E. Corkey. Reactive oxygen species: role in obesity and mitochondrial energy efficiency. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 2023; 378 (1885) DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2022.0210

Cantó C, Houtkooper RH, Pirinen E, Youn DY, Oosterveer MH, Cen Y, Fernandez-Marcos PJ, Yamamoto H, Andreux PA, Cettour-Rose P, Gademann K, Rinsch C, Schoonjans K, Sauve AA, Auwerx J. The NAD(+) precursor nicotinamide riboside enhances oxidative metabolism and protects against high-fat diet-induced obesity. Cell Metab. 2012 Jun 6;15(6):838-47. doi: 10.1016/j.cmet.2012.04.022. PMID: 22682224; PMCID: PMC3616313.

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.

Li, Q., Jiang, X., Zhou, Y., Gu, Y., Ding, Y., Luo, J., Pang, N., Sun, Y., Pei, L., Pan, J., Gao, M., Ma, S., Xiao, Y., Hu, D., Wu, F., & Yang, L. (2023). Improving Mitochondrial Function in Skeletal Muscle Contributes to the Amelioration of Insulin Resistance by Nicotinamide Riboside. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 24(12), 10015. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms241210015

Luo, C., Yang, C., Wang, X., Chen, Y., Liu, X., & Deng, H. (2022). Nicotinamide reprograms adipose cellular metabolism and increases mitochondrial biogenesis to ameliorate obesity. The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, 107, 109056. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnutbio.2022.109056

Navas, L. E., & Carnero, A. (2020). 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

Rappou E, Jukarainen S, Rinnankoski-Tuikka R, Kaye S, Heinonen S, Hakkarainen A, Lundbom J, Lundbom N, Saunavaara V, Rissanen A, Virtanen KA, Pirinen E, Pietiläinen KH. Weight Loss Is Associated With Increased NAD(+)/SIRT1 Expression But Reduced PARP Activity in White Adipose Tissue. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2016 Mar;101(3):1263-73. doi: 10.1210/jc.2015-3054. Epub 2016 Jan 13. PMID: 26760174.

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