NAD+ IV therapy: what it is, what it can and cannot do

NAD+ IV therapy is an infusion of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, a molecule every cell uses to turn food into energy and to repair itself, given directly into a vein. Levels of NAD+ tend to fall with age, which is why it is popular as an energy and healthy-ageing treatment. The honest position is that research in people is still early: there is good science on why NAD+ matters inside cells, but much less evidence that infusions make healthy people feel or age differently. At Ivory Premier, Dr. Kim Cuizon, a medical doctor, screens every patient first and gives NAD+ slowly, under supervision, to people who understand what it can and cannot do.

What does NAD+ do in the body?

NAD+ is a coenzyme, a helper molecule that enzymes need to work. It carries energy in the reactions that turn food into fuel inside the mitochondria, the power plants of your cells. It is also used by proteins involved in repairing DNA and in how cells respond to stress. Without enough NAD+, cells cannot make energy efficiently.

Does NAD+ really decline with age?

Studies show that NAD+ levels in many tissues fall as we get older, and that illness, heavy drinking and poor sleep can lower them too. In laboratory and animal studies, raising NAD+ improved several markers of ageing. Whether the same happens in people, and whether an infusion is the best way to do it, is still being studied.

What does the research show in people?

Human studies so far are small and short. They show that NAD+ and its building blocks can raise NAD+ levels in the blood and are generally well tolerated when given properly. They have not yet shown clear, lasting improvements in energy, ageing or performance in healthy adults. Some people report feeling more alert or clear-headed after a course. We take those reports seriously while being clear that they are not the same as proof.

What is a session like?

You sit in a private room and a thin cannula is placed in a vein in your arm. NAD+ runs in slowly, often over one to several hours, because a fast drip commonly causes flushing, nausea, a feeling of pressure in the chest or stomach, or cramps. If you feel any of these, the drip is slowed and the feeling usually eases within minutes. Staff check on you throughout and the doctor is on site. Most people go back to their day afterwards.

Is NAD+ IV better than NAD+ supplements?

Not necessarily. Capsules usually contain building blocks such as nicotinamide riboside (NR) or nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), which the body converts into NAD+. An infusion raises blood levels faster and more directly, but no study has yet shown that it gives better long-term results than supplements. The choice depends on your goals, budget and comfort with needles, and your doctor can talk through both.

Who should not have NAD+ IV therapy?

It is not given during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Some heart, kidney and liver conditions, and some medicines, make it unsuitable or need extra care. People with a history of cancer should discuss it with their specialist first, because the effects of raising NAD+ in that setting are not fully understood. This is why the doctor reviews your health history before any infusion and may advise against it.

What should I ask before booking?

• Who prescribes and supervises the infusion, and is a doctor on site?
• How fast will it run, and what happens if I feel unwell?
• What evidence is there for the result I want?
• How many sessions do you suggest, and why?

A clinic that answers these plainly is a clinic that puts your safety first.

The next step

Read about NAD+ IV therapy at Ivory Premier, or request a consultation with Dr. Kim to talk it through before deciding.