I\u2019ve taken NAD capsules for several months and I\u2019m frequently offered NAD injections and IV drips, so I\u2019ve been keen to understand whether these delivery methods actually work, whether they\u2019re safe and if NAD is the miracle molecule that wellness influencers make it out to be. <\/p>\n
I spoke with three experts \u2013 longevity doctor Dr Harpal Bains<\/a>, registered nutritionist Sahar Berjis<\/a> and Dr Sophie Shotter, aesthetic physician and host of the Age Well podcast<\/a> \u2013 to understand whether NAD can actually reverse biological age or if all the hype is just slick marketing. <\/p>\n What is NAD?<\/p>\n Through the mid-20th century, NAD became a cornerstone of biochemistry. Researchers learned that it plays a vital role in redox reactions \u2013 the energy transfers that keep cells alive. In the 1960s and 70s, NAD was further linked to DNA repair and aging, setting the stage for its rebranding decades later.<\/p>\n By the early aughts, geneticist David Sinclair popularised research showing that NAD+ activates sirtuins, sometimes called \u201clongevity genes\u201d. By the 2010s, the biohacking community had embraced NAD. Silicon Valley entrepreneurs, elite athletes and wellness influencers were using IV drips and supplements, claiming that this obscure coenzyme had the power to sharpen focus, ward off disease and even reverse aging. <\/p>\n At its simplest, NAD is chemistry. As Berjis explains: \u201cNAD is found in every cell of your body. It plays a crucial role in energy production (think: helping your mitochondria turn food into fuel) and cellular repair.\u201d<\/p>\n This molecule exists in two forms: NAD+ (the oxidised, active version) and NADH (the reduced, electron-carrying version). \u201cSo when we say \u2018NAD\u2019 in the body,\u201d Berjis clarifies, \u201cwe\u2019re usually talking about the balance between NAD+ and NADH. But in supplements and IV drips, NAD+ is what you\u2019ll see emphasised, because it\u2019s the form that directly fuels repair and renewal.\u201d<\/p>\n In other words, NAD+ is the golden child \u2013 the one we\u2019re told can restore youthful vitality, sharpen our focus, and slow ageing itself.<\/p>\n Dr Harpal Bains explains that, \u201cNAD is essential for energy production and also activates sirtuins \u2013 key genes linked to longevity. It is hugely important for proper cell function and for protecting the body from aging and disease, and is a powerful coenzyme and metabolic regulator found in the mitochondria (the \u2018powerhouse\u2019 of each cell that provides energy for your body). Stress, aging, chronic disease and your environment can all influence NAD levels.\u201d<\/p>\n In other words, without NAD, we don\u2019t function. Which is why pills, drips and injections might feel like the holy grail, especially as levels begin to decline with age.<\/p>\n Few molecules present as much futuristic promise as NAD+. In a culture obsessed with \u201cbiohacking<\/a>\u201d and optimisation, its role in activating \u201clongevity genes\u201d means it\u2019s been easy to frame NAD as a hack for extended youth.<\/p>\n Dr Sophie Shotter notes that it is your cellular energy currency. It is crucial for every single process which goes on in the human body, and without NAD+ you would die quicker than if you were deprived of oxygen.\u201d However, as we age, levels decline and this has tangible effects such as poorer sleep, less physical energy and mental fatigue.\u201d<\/p>\n By midlife, you\u2019re running on a fraction of the NAD+ you were born with. Add to that the chronic stress, poor sleep and environmental toxins of modern life, and the appeal of boosting those levels is obvious. But methods of raising NAD+ levels and whether they actually work is far less straightforward.<\/p>\n Read more: The daily habits of a longevity doctor who reversed her age by 30 years<\/a><\/p>\n open image in gallery<\/p>\n NAD IV drips are marketed as the fastest, most effective way to \u201crefuel\u201d your cells (Getty\/iStock)<\/p>\n Which delivery method actually delivers?<\/p>\n Walk into a wellness clinic in London, LA, or New York and you\u2019ll likely be offered an NAD+ drip. Marketed as the fastest, most effective way to \u201crefuel\u201d your cells, it\u2019s become a status treatment for executives, athletes and wellness enthusiasts with money to spend. But do these drips actually work?<\/p>\n Berjis explains that the commonly accepted view on delivery is this: \u201cCapsules or powders typically aim to boost NAD+ indirectly through precursors like NMN or NR, while IV clinics often infuse NAD+ directly for faster absorption, bypassing the digestive tract.\u201d<\/p>\n However, Dr Shotter believes that this delivery method is ineffective. \u201cThe first thing I should say is that taking actual NAD+ in any form doesn\u2019t work. NAD+ is inherently unstable \u2013 it doesn\u2019t survive outside of a freezer for more than about 30 minutes. To date there is no company I have come across who has shown me they are able to stabilise NAD in liquid, topical or ingestible forms. <\/p>\n \u201cSo I would say any supplement or skincare stating that they contain NAD+ are not worth the investment, home injections are not worth the investment. Surprisingly to many, IV administered NAD+ is also not worth the investment.\u201d<\/p>\n The molecule itself, she argues, simply doesn\u2019t cross into the cells where it\u2019s needed. <\/p>\n \u201cNAD+ is a molecule which belongs inside cells, and it is also a very large molecule. If it\u2019s infused into the veins, it cannot be absorbed into the cells except under very rare basically unachievable conditions. So this means that the NAD+ is trapped in the veins where it can\u2019t have any impact at all. <\/p>\n \u201cMore worryingly, there is a new study about to be published showing that NAD+ inside the veins causes inflammation, which is the exact opposite of what we want to achieve when thinking about longevity medicine.\u201d<\/p>\n Shotter\u2019s verdict is unequivocal \u2013 trendy NAD IVs are not just ineffective, they may actually be harmful, as well as expensive.<\/p>\n Read more: A flexibility expert says these are the three best stretches for fighting tight hips<\/a><\/p>\n open image in gallery<\/p>\n Experts have argued that intravenous delivery is more effective than oral capsules, however, others suggest the NAD molecule is too big to enter cells via either method (Getty\/iStock)<\/p>\n NAD side effects <\/p>\n The glossy marketing around NAD rarely mentions risks. But each expert I spoke with raised caveats. Berjis warned that minor symptoms include nausea, headaches and muscle cramps. She also explained that, \u201coral supplements are still being studied [but] some studies have shown long term impacting insulin resistance in the body\u201d.<\/p>\n Dr Bains advises a cautious approach, especially for people with pre-existing health conditions.<\/p>\n \u201cThose with kidney or liver diseases have to be more cautious when taking NAD, mainly due to the potential load of clearance than can happen when a cell goes into functional mode after being sluggish for so long.\u201d<\/p>\n The risks may not be dramatic, but some do seem to undermine the idealistic \u201cfountain of youth\u201d narrative that often NAD+ clinics and companies seem to push.<\/p>\n It\u2019s also worth pausing to ask \u2013 why are NAD drips being promoted so aggressively despite contrasting studies? The answer lies in economics. IV therapy has become a booming sector in the wellness industry, with clinics charging anywhere from \u00a3250 to \u00a31000 per session.<\/p>\n For clients seeking quick fixes for fatigue, burnout or jet lag, NAD+ slots neatly into the luxury optimisation package. But as Shotter points out, \u201cthere is also a huge amount of misinformation out there which is concerning as it can lead to people investing in things that don\u2019t have the expected benefits\u201d.<\/p>\n Read more: I have a PhD in strength training \u2013 stop using the wrong weights for your workouts with this simple test<\/a><\/p>\n open image in gallery<\/p>\n At the age of 20 you have half of the NAD you were born with, and at 40 this has halved again (Getty\/iStock)<\/p>\n Miracle molecule or marketing?<\/p>\n For all three experts, NAD precursors (nutrients that convert into NAD in the body)\u00a0, lifestyle and sustainable practices all need to be taken into consideration before taking NAD. Bains recommends starting conservatively with supplements that are precursors to NAD.<\/p>\n \u201cStart with nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) or nicotinamide riboside (NR) at 250\u2013500 mg per day, from a reputable brand. Or even niacin which can pass through your gut more successfully and let your body do the work of converting to NAD. And pair it with lifestyle practices like good sleep, movement and time-restricted eating to support your body\u2019s natural NAD pathways,\u201d she advises.<\/p>\n Shotter agrees that boosting your natural NAD+ levels is a much better strategy than ingesting NAD or inserting an IV. She explains that taking the precursors of NAD+, as Dr Bains suggests, can work for a while, but she says that unfortunately with time, this can burn through our own ability to produce more.<\/p>\n![\"NAD](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/iStock-1312587753.jpg\")
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