What Are NAD Boosters?

Last Updated: 20 September 2023

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NAD-boosting supplements and lifestyle changes promise to reverse the effects of NAD decline. However, seeking medical guidance is advised, and science has yet to fully prove these claims.

Seeking more vibrance as you age? Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) boosters may help you. These supplements aim to increase NAD levels in the body.

As research mounts on NAD’s role, these boosters have become increasingly popular. But do they live up to the hype? Below, we’ll explain what NAD boosters are, their potential benefits, the various forms available, and lifestyle tips to naturally optimize your levels.

What Are NAD Boosters?

NAD boosters are supplements designed to increase NAD levels in the body. NAD is a coenzyme present in all living cells that helps support energy production and many other important cellular functions. As we age, levels of NAD decline naturally.

In addition to energy metabolism, NAD may help support DNA repair, cellular defense against stress, and other vital cell functions. This is thought to potentially promote longevity and healthy aging. However, more research is still needed on the long-term efficacy and safety of NAD boosters.

Types of NAD Boosters

There are different forms of NAD boosters:

NAD Supplements

NAD Supplements are a common way to directly consume NAD precursors that can boost NAD levels. Nicotinamide riboside (NR), nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), and niacin (vitamin B3) are three supplements often used to increase NAD.

NR and NMN are precursors that convert to NAD in the body, while niacin is thought to support NAD production. These supplements provide an efficient way to get higher doses of NAD-boosting compounds compared to food sources alone.

NAD IV Therapy

NAD IV therapy involves infusing NAD directly into the bloodstream for more rapid absorption and delivery to tissues and organs. This allows high therapeutic doses to bypass digestion. 

NAD IV therapy must be administered by a qualified health professional. It provides more potent and immediate NAD boosting compared to oral supplements.

Specific Lifestyle Factors

Certain lifestyle factors like exercise, calorie restriction, and intermittent fasting can also optimize NAD levels. While lifestyle approaches boost NAD levels more modestly and gradually than direct supplementation, they provide sustainable benefits, generally without side effects.

Nutrition

Certain foods, like dairy products, fish, meat, and nuts, contain precursors that the body uses to synthesize NAD. A balanced diet rich in these nutrients might support natural NAD production.

What Are the Benefits of NAD Boosters? 

Because NAD boosters help to increase NAD levels in the body, they potentially offer the following benefits:

• Boost energy levels: NAD is crucial in cellular metabolism and energy production. By supporting ATP generation, NAD can improve energy and physical performance.
• Promote healthy aging: Boosting NAD levels may help slow age-related cellular changes and improve age-related health problems.
• Support cognitive function: NAD may help protect neurons from oxidative stress and inflammation, showing potential as a treatment for neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s.
• Protect against cardiovascular disease: NAD may help regulate blood flow and improve circulation, potentially contributing to a healthy heart. It may also help treat and prevent cardiovascular diseases.
• Help prevent cancer: NAD is involved in DNA repair and cell cycle regulation, suggesting a potential role in cancer prevention.
• Aid with weight maintenance: By supporting optimal metabolic function, NAD may contribute to maintaining a healthy weight.

It’s important to note that while these benefits are theorized based on NAD’s role in cellular processes, further research is needed to fully understand the extent and effectiveness of NAD boosters.

Do NAD Boosters Work?

Research suggests that NAD boosters could work, but more studies are necessary to fully prove their advantages. Early tests on people and animals reveal that NAD precursors, such as NR and NMN, can raise NAD levels in the body. However, more extensive human trials are needed to confirm their effects, especially in the long term.

Moreover, scientists still need to determine the best amounts and ways to give NAD boosters. They’re not sure yet how well different precursors are absorbed and whether lifestyle factors, like exercising or fasting, might have the same benefits as supplements.

Although the current findings are positive, more thorough trials on humans will help us understand if NAD-boosting strategies can stop age-related problems and diseases. Until we get more proof, talk to a healthcare provider before beginning supplementation.

Is NAD IV Therapy Better Than Oral NAD Supplements?

There is not enough evidence to definitively say whether IV NAD therapy or oral supplements work better to raise NAD levels. Each method has unique pros and cons that make it more or less fitting, depending on the person.

NAD IV therapy allows for faster absorption and higher peak amounts compared to swallowing supplements. This can quickly restore NAD levels in cells. However, IV therapy involves an infusion by a trained professional, is more invasive, and can be quite expensive over time.

Oral NAD precursors, like NR or NMN, are non-invasive and generally more affordable. However, absorption rates can vary widely between people based on factors like age and metabolism. Oral NAD supplements provide a more gradual boost in NAD rather than intense spikes. The convenience of supplements makes daily dosing possible to maintain effects.

Talking to a healthcare provider to evaluate your needs and desired outcomes can help you decide if NAD IV therapy, supplements, or a combined approach is most suitable.

How Do I Boost NAD Naturally?

Here are some ways to naturally boost NAD levels:

• Exercise regularly: These include aerobic exercise like brisk walking, jogging, cycling, or swimming.
• Follow an intermittent fasting protocol: Fasting may stimulate sirtuin activity and NAD production.
• Consume NAD precursors: These include animal- and plant-based foods containing these precursors.
• Reduce calorie intake: In studies, limiting calorie intake has been linked to higher NAD levels. Try to consume fewer calories and opt for nutrient-rich foods.
• Manage stress levels: Practices like yoga, meditation, and good sleep habits are helpful.

FAQs:

Final Thoughts

NAD boosters – be it oral supplements, IV therapy, or lifestyle changes – offer intriguing possibilities for boosting your NAD levels. Remember that while the scientific landscape is promising, there’s still much to uncover about NAD boosters’ effectiveness. Use a proactive approach by consulting healthcare experts, evaluating your needs, and taking informed steps toward a healthier future.

Maggie Aime, MSN, RN

Maggie Aime, MSN, RN is a freelance health, wellness, and medical personal finance writer. Her extensive nursing experience includes oncology, kidney transplant, cardiology, and home health. Read more about her work at www.thewritern.com.

References

• Braidy et al. 2020. Sobriety and Satiety: Is NAD+ the Answer?
• de Guia et al. 2019. Aerobic and resistance exercise training reverses age-dependent decline in NAD+ salvage capacity in human skeletal muscle.
• Franczyk et al. 2021. Importance of Adipose Tissue NAD+ Biology in Regulating Metabolic Flexibility.
• Imai et al. 2014. NAD+ and sirtuins in aging and disease.
• Lin et al. 2021. NAD+ and cardiovascular diseases.
• Navas et al. 2021. NAD+ metabolism, stemness, the immune response, and cancer.
• Pramono et al. 2020. NAD- and NADPH-Contributing Enzymes as Therapeutic Targets in Cancer: An Overview.
• Zhao et al. 2021. NAD+ improves cognitive function and reduces neuroinflammation by ameliorating mitochondrial damage and decreasing ROS production in chronic cerebral hypoperfusion models through Sirt1/PGC-1α pathway.