How it works
Serves as an electron carrier in redox reactions and as the required substrate for sirtuins and PARP enzymes, which govern DNA repair and mitochondrial biogenesis.
Structure: Coenzyme (dinucleotide, not a peptide)
Reported benefits
- Reported energy and mental-clarity improvements
- Supports sirtuin-mediated DNA repair pathways
- Used adjunctively in recovery clinics
Practical considerations
- Precursors (NR, NMN) are cheaper and orally available with better human data
- Infusions must be run slowly or they are extremely uncomfortable
- Benefit in healthy young adults is unclear
Side effects and risks
- Flushing, chest tightness and nausea during rapid infusion
- Injection-site pain
- Headache
NAD+ dosing overview
IV 250–750 mg per session; subcutaneous 50–100 mg several times weekly
| Context | Amount | Frequency | Route |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clinic IV infusion | 250–750 mg | Per session, over 2–4 hours | Intravenous |
| Subcutaneous protocol | 50–100 mg | Several times weekly | Subcutaneous |
This describes doses reported in published literature and community protocols. It is not a recommendation, and it is not a substitute for clinical supervision.
NAD+ FAQ
Why are NAD+ infusions so slow?
Rapid infusion commonly causes chest tightness, nausea and flushing. Slowing the drip to several hours is how clinics manage it.
Is IV NAD+ better than oral NR or NMN?
Unproven. Precursors have more human pharmacokinetic data behind them; direct NAD+ infusion has more anecdote and less evidence that intact NAD+ enters cells rather than being degraded first.
Is NAD+ a peptide?
No — it is a coenzyme, not a peptide. It is included here because it sits in the same clinic and longevity protocols people research alongside peptides.
Research references
- Covarrubias et al., 2021 — NAD+ metabolism in ageing, Nature Reviews