Biohackers, Billionaires & Celebrities Are Obsessed With This Longevity Treatment

What Is NAD+?

Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide, also commonly referred to as NAD, is an essential coenzyme that already exists in every cell. “[It’s] the only vitamin-derived molecule that assists every chemical process in the body,” explains Lauren Goodman, a licensed nurse practitioner and founder of Juliana Clinics in Beverly Hills. Research shows NAD+ plays a pivotal role in cell regeneration. NAD levels decline with age, beginning in the early 30s, and recent studies suggest levels decline even earlier in some individuals. As NAD levels decrease, cells begin to die. Unlike some essential nutrients, NAD can be supplemented in the body via intravenous route, subcutaneous injection, or oral vitamin encapsulations and liposomal formulas, all of which promise to extend the lifespan of your cells.

Around the time Harvard released its study about NAD+ effectively naming it an ultimate elixir of youth, the longevity, nootropic, and beauty communities flocked to “magic” medicine. Suddenly Kendall Jenner and Hailey Bieber were “NAD-ing” on Jenner’s family Hulu series, and Stanford’s Dr. Andrew Huberman, a neuroscientist and famous podcaster on the topic, praised the coenzyme as something he supplements with everyday for mental health, improved energy, and regenerative medicine.

NAD+: Intravenous (IV) vs. Subcutaneous (subQ) vs. Oral Supplements

First and foremost, not all NAD+ is created equally. People looking to try NAD+ IV or subcutaneous therapy should never buy it online, and only procure the treatment through a reputable licensed practitioner under their supervision. The co-enzyme itself is a pricey product, so steer clear of Groupons or deals for IV drips, subcutaneous injections, and oral supplements.

An intravenous drip involves a needle, a peripheral catheter, a vein, and a bag of saline hooked onto an extendable IV pole. The patient controls their drip speed using a roller clamp. Depending on the dosage—250mg - 1,000mg— an IV drip can take anywhere between 1.5 to 12 hours. People typically report uncomfortable side effects including nausea, stomach pains, racing heart, and increased body temperature if they drip too quickly. Others report feelings of euphoria if they go at a slower pace. IV drip infusions typically cost $1,500-$5,000 per session, depending on the NAD+ dosage and the nurse or doctor's supervision time.

If you’re wary of needles, there are NAD+-boosting supplements you can take. Melanie Mancil,a registered nurse in Malibu, California,has been treating A-list celebrity patients with various forms of NAD+ therapy for almost a decade. Her love and passion for NAD led her to develop her own oral supplements—Twelve28, which are made of a unique, proprietary encapsulation of NAD+. But not all NAD+ supplements contain actual NAD+: Elysium Health’s Basis formula features nicotinamide riboside (NR), a form of vitamin B3 and precursor to NAD, and is proven to increase NAD+ levels by 40% in four weeks.

While Mancil points to individuals’ unpredictable epigenetics when asked about the timing and efficacy of oral supplements, recent medical studies documented 24 generally healthy participants that took 500mg capsules of nicotinamide riboside twice daily who saw elevated NAD+ levels after six weeks.

After years of administering NAD+ IV drip therapy, Mancil turned to 100mg subcutaneous injections, which involve injecting NAD+ directly into fatty tissue, like the stomach or outer thigh. “I found that the results were the same, the side effects—especially the gastrointestinal ones—were not as painful or intense, and the time for treatment was much less. Unless a patient is going through something, like depression or detox, and needs a strong, 1,000mg dose that can only be administered through IV, I prefer subQ injections.” Mancil reports that her patients feel an immediate warming sensation and euphoria, and she monitors them for at least 30 minutes before they can drive. Mancil’s subQ injections are priced between $125-250 per treatment and can be administered everyday. Mancil’s protocol suggestions vary depending on your goals and an individual’s epigenetics are always at play, but most patients will see and feel results after one injection.

Benefits

Anti-Aging and Regeneration:

“I like NAD+ for the regenerative space,” said Lauren Goodman. Her Beverly Hills-based clinic treats Hollywood’s most recognizable faces. “When you go into a clinic and you’re getting collagen stimulating treatments or purely regenerative treatments like laser, Sculptra, stem cells, exosomes, PDRN (a polynucleotide derived from salmon sperm), you’re injecting your body with something that you hope stimulates neocollagenesis.” Goodman likes to pair these treatments with NAD+ IV drip therapy for her patients, which she offers as an add-on service in her clinic after an aesthetic treatment. “If you add in NAD+, you’re amplifying the results,” she says “The hope is you get even better, more guaranteed results because it’s assisting your body in that wound-healing, cascading response.”

Reproductive Health:

Jillian Morgan, a television producer in Los Angeles, was 31 when she was diagnosed with PCOS and diminished ovarian reserve. After her endocrinologist suggested trying NAD+ therapy before freezing her eggs, Morgan was trepidatious, but willing to try it. “I wanted to do the least amount of cycles and retrievals as possible,” she says. “My doctor said I’d probably have to do three [retrievals] and I was dreading it.” Morgan did a protocol of three NAD+ IV sessions over the course of a week at 250mg doses each, two weeks before her first scheduled retrieval. When it was time to do her first egg retrieval, she woke up from the procedure to astonishing news: the doctor collected far more eggs than he had expected, and that could be her last and only cycle. Whether or not this was due to the NAD+ therapy, Morgan can never be sure. But a plethora of recent medical journals support NAD+ supplementation’s role in female reproductive healing.

Brain Restoration Therapy:

The studies on NAD+ improving cognitive function and its application on brain function are what attract tech billionaires and the biohacking-obsessed to the elixir like moths to a raging flame. “I have more mental clarity, no more brain fog, and I don’t find myself searching for words in my vocabulary that once came to mind with ease,” says Stephanie Coronado, a patient seeking help with symptoms of perimenopause and overall malaise. “I’m back to feeling like myself again—sharp and articulate after two years of dealing with brain fog due to hormonal changes. I also have more energy in the mornings after NAD.” Obsessed with outsmarting Father Time, NAD+ has become the longevity secret for the .01% looking to restore their energy levels back to the days of dorm room coding binges. Dave Asprey, founder of Bulletproof 360, is known as the “Father of Biohacking. In recent years, he’s touted NAD+’s brain-boosting powers at an evangelical pitch. But for the apex of Silicon Valley founders, NAD+ isn’t just a way to ensure less brain fog—it’s an investment in a mental edge to outwit their competition, no matter the cost. Brainpower is the ultimate currency. And when your net worth looks like a binary code, regular NAD+ drips are just considered necessary upkeep.

My Experience With NAD+

I first learned about NAD+ in 2015 from a protege of Dr. William Hitt, an early pioneer of the therapy who is often credited with originating the treatment protocol. Dr. Hitt worked from his clinic in Tijuana, Mexico administering NAD+ IV drip therapy for drug and alcohol detox and rehabilitation. After working with researchers from South Africa, Dr. Hitt developed a high-potency formula, which was my introduction to the treatment. (I wasn’t detoxing from drugs or alcohol, I was just interested in trying this supposed miracle serum and seeing how it could change the way I felt.)

A 500mg dose combined with 1,000mL of saline took anywhere from 8 to12 hours for me to finish. If I dripped too quickly, I’d become extremely nauseous and experience stomach pains to the point of tears. As soon as I clamped down on my IV though, the nausea and discomfort subsidized in an instant. Going into my first experience, I thought that drinking organic juices and eating vegan was the way to go. While dripping NAD+ however, I was disgusted at the sight of a salad. I found that eating sugary snacks like cheap candy bars and Mexican Coca-Cola (the one with sugar, not sugar substitute) dramatically helped, and I was always able to drip faster while feeding my body sugar. After a week of IVs, my skin was clearer than ever, my energy was boosted, and my mood was unflappable,even in the face of a personal disaster.

Ten years later, I still do regular single-day 250mg booster IV’s every 4 to 6 months—usually in my living room with a close friend who’s a nurse—if I’m feeling off. Combined with 500mL of saline, I can drip it in about two hours depending on how much sugar I’ve had that day. Like magic, my good mood returns and the monsters go back under my bed, and out of my head. My sleep regulates, my mental focus returns, my skin clears of any breakouts, and my energy increases without needing 56 cups of coffee and matcha before noon.

Most recently, I did a week-long 500mg daily IV drip for major situational depression. It took about 6 to 8 hours a day, and it worked like a miracle. Intrusive thoughts about the past were gone, and if bad memories crept in, they wouldn’t linger or ruin my whole day like a rabid animal I was trying to avoid. I fully regained my appetite for life. Days weren’t spent crying in bed anymore, and I felt all of my resentments lose charge like defunct batteries. I still have bad days and occasional nightmares, but they pale in comparison to the pain I felt before my week of NAD+.

Who Is A Good Candidate For NAD+ Injections?

Cancer patients are not recommended to undergo NAD therapy of any kind, as increased NAD levels enhance glycolysis and fuel cancer cells. It’s also a very pricey, cost-prohibitive treatment. Subcutaneous injections range from $100-200 per injection, oral supplements cost anywhere between $60-127 per month, and high-dose IV drip therapy can cost upwards of $60,000 for a week-long nurse assisted treatment.

The Verdict

There are no disputes or refutations that NAD+ supplementation therapy is beneficial for the body— after all, it’s an essential coenzyme that exists in all cells. Countless medical studies show its serious potential for a variety of ailments ranging from regenerative health, anti-aging, depression, improved cognitive function, increased energy levels, and reproductive health, among many others. But with all wild or wacky trends—especially one where the potential for eternal youth and boundless energy is at stake—it’s important to avoid a biochemical buzzkill. The market is rife with formulations of varying qualities, and not all providers are equally qualified with the treatment. To maximize safety and positive results, always seek out licensed professionals with expertise in NAD+ and prioritize pure, high-grade formulas. If you have the money to spend and decide to pursue the cellular glow-up, do so with your eyes wide open to who and what you’re working with. This treatment’s bright future could be the Willy Wonka Golden Ticket you’re looking for in the search of a sharper and overall better you, from the inside out. It indisputably was for me.