What NAD+ is
NAD+ stands for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide. That is a mouthful, so most people just say NAD. It is a helper molecule found in every cell in your body. Cells use it to turn food into energy. They also use it to repair DNA and to run enzymes called sirtuins, which are linked to aging.
Your body makes NAD+ from forms of vitamin B3 in food. Levels are highest in youth. Research in people shows that NAD+ in tissues drops with age, often by half between young adulthood and later life. That drop is one reason scientists became interested in topping it back up.
The different ways people take it
There are three main approaches. The first is a precursor pill, such as nicotinamide riboside, called NR, or nicotinamide mononucleotide, called NMN. Your body converts these into NAD+. The second is an NAD+ injection under the skin or into muscle. The third is an NAD+ IV drip, where the molecule goes straight into a vein over a few hours.
Pills are the most studied. Several randomized trials show NR and NMN raise NAD+ in blood cells by 40 to 100 percent within weeks. Shots and IVs raise blood levels faster, but there are fewer published trials on them.
What the studies show, and what they do not
Here is the honest picture. Studies in mice are exciting. Raising NAD+ in old mice improves muscle, metabolism, and lifespan in some experiments. Human studies are smaller and shorter.
In people, trials confirm that NAD+ precursors are safe and raise NAD+ levels. A 2018 trial in Nature Communications gave NR to healthy middle-aged adults for six weeks and saw blood NAD+ rise with no serious side effects. A 2021 study in Science found NMN improved how muscles handle sugar in women with prediabetes. Other trials in older men found little change in muscle or metabolism.
No human trial has shown that any form of NAD+ slows aging, prevents disease, or extends life. Anyone who tells you otherwise is ahead of the evidence. What people often report is better energy, sharper focus, and faster recovery, and those reports are real but subjective.
NAD+ IV drips
An NAD+ IV delivers a large dose directly into the bloodstream. Because it bypasses the gut, more of it reaches the cells. The drip runs slowly, usually two to four hours, because a fast infusion can cause chest tightness, flushing, or nausea. A nurse adjusts the rate to keep you comfortable.
Zen IV Spa offers NAD+ IVs starting at $399, delivered at your home in New York and New Jersey by a licensed nurse. For a shorter visit, an NAD+ shot is $175. If you prefer to dose at home on a schedule, there is a self-injection program shipped to you after a video visit.
NAD+ IVs are a wellness service. They are not approved by the FDA to treat any condition, and the compounded NAD+ used in them is not an FDA-approved drug.
Who should be careful
NAD+ is generally well tolerated. People who are pregnant or breastfeeding should skip it because it has not been studied in them. Anyone with an active cancer should talk to their oncologist first, since NAD+ fuels cell growth and the effect on tumors is not understood. Very high oral doses of nicotinamide can affect the liver, so stick to studied doses.
Pills, shots, or IV: which to choose
If you want a low-cost daily habit, a precursor pill is the best-studied option. If you want a fast, noticeable boost or do not absorb oral supplements well, a shot or IV makes sense. Many clients combine them, using an IV every few weeks and a shot or pill in between.
Where to learn more
Visit /nad/ to see the NAD+ IV, shot, and self-injection options and book a free video visit. Call (332) 239-2005 or book at zenivspa.zenoti.com.
Common Questions
Does NAD+ reverse aging?+
No study in humans shows that. It raises a molecule that declines with age, and that is a reasonable thing to study, but it is not proven to add years or reverse damage.
How fast does an NAD+ IV work?+
Blood levels rise during the infusion itself. People who notice an energy effect usually report it within a day or two. Others notice nothing, and that is also normal.
Are NAD+ IVs FDA approved?+
No. The NAD+ in IVs is compounded by a pharmacy and is not an FDA-approved drug. It is offered as a wellness service.
Can I take NR or NMN with an NAD+ IV?+
Yes, many people do. They work on the same pathway. A prescriber should know everything you take.
Why does an NAD+ IV take so long?+
A fast drip can cause flushing, cramping, or nausea. Running it over two to four hours keeps those side effects away.
Sources: Martens et al., Nature Communications 2018 (NR in healthy adults); Yoshino et al., Science 2021 (NMN in prediabetic women); review of NAD+ metabolism and aging (Cell Metabolism 2018); NIH Office of Dietary Supplements fact sheet on niacin.
All treatments are medical services. Every guest is screened, and every treatment is prescribed by a licensed provider. Nothing on this page is medical advice for you personally, and the opinions summarized here belong to the doctors named, not to Zen IV Spa. Talk to a provider before starting or stopping anything.
