Brain Fog Killer or Over-Hyped Trend? Get the NAD+ Facts Before You Decide

Hey there, Dr. Janine Do here—coming at you with a jam-packed, no fluff newletter on vitamins, supplements, and the science ot back it all. Grab a coffee—or better yet, a lemon‑water with Himalayan salt—because for this issue, we’re diving deep into the science, the stories, and the step‑by‑step plan that can have you buzzing with clean energy long after your coworkers tap out. Today, we’re talking about NAD.

The “Battery Drain” Every High‑Performer Eventually Feels

Picture this: it’s 3:14 p.m. You’ve conquered two board calls, a strength circuit, and the quarterly planning meeting—but suddenly your brain stalls like an old lawnmower. You reach for espresso #3, yet it barely moves the needle.

I lived that scene for years. Then, five summers back, I stumbled on a tiny biochemical hero that’s now my secret weapon: NAD⁺ IV therapy. Since plugging it into my routine, I’m hitting 6 a.m. workouts, banging out copy at 9 p.m., and still meeting my wife for date night—without dragging my knuckles.

You deserve that, too, so let’s unpack how it works.

Meet NAD⁺—Your Cell’s VIP Pass to High‑Octane Energy

Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide sits at the switchboard of every cell in your body. Think of it as the currency that keeps electricity flowing through your internal grid:

• Turns carbs & fat into ATP energy

• Fires up sirtuins (the “longevity genes”)

• Helps repair DNA dings you rack up from stress, toxins, and that extra glass of Cab

Bad news: Your natural NAD⁺ balance drops‑off by almost 50 % between ages 40 and 60. Good news: We can refill that tank in under two hours with a precisely dosed IV, bypassing the gut bottleneck.

Why the REAL Story Starts Inside Your Mitochondria

If NAD⁺ is the currency, your mitochondria are the Banks of America. They’re the double‑membrane “powerhouses” that crank out as much as 95 % of your total ATP NCBI. When those engines get rusty—think clogged filters, cracked spark plugs—you feel it as:

• Mid‑day crashes

• Sluggish workout recovery

• Brain fog, mood dips, and slower reflexes

• Chronic inflammation that ages joints and arteries

Keeping mitochondria healthy is—no exaggeration—the master key to energy, metabolism, and aging well.

The Study that Put NAD⁺ and Mitochondria on the Map

Why it matters: This 60‑page deep dive followed dozens of animal and human experiments to show how topping‑up NAD⁺ flips on a mitochondrial foreman called SIRT3. When SIRT3 is humming:

1. The electron‑transport chain runs cleaner—more ATP, fewer damage‑causing free radicals.

2. New mitochondria actually sprout inside muscle and liver (mitochondrial biogenesis).

3. Animals given extra NAD⁺ turned glucose & fat into energy more efficiently, resisted diet‑induced obesity, and even lived longer.

Translation for you: smoother cardio sessions, easier fat‑loss, fewer aches, and a mileage extension on every cell in your body.

What the Science Means

Let’s cut through the lab jargon:

Other landmark scientific studies on NAD+

1. Houtkooper RH et al., Endocrine Reviews, 2010 – “The Secret Life of NAD⁺”

• Key Findings: Boosting NAD⁺ flips on the mitochondrial enzyme SIRT3, scrubs acetyl groups off respiratory-chain proteins, ramps ATP output, and slashes free-radical spill.

• 👉👉What It Means for You: Cleaner cellular combustion → steadier all-day energy and less oxidative wear-and-tear on joints, skin, and brain.

• Caveats: Scholarly review built mainly on animal & cell data—direct human evidence is still emerging.

2. Verdin E, Science, 2015 – “NAD⁺ in Aging & Neurodegeneration”

• Key Findings: Falling NAD⁺ tracks with cognitive decline; precursors boosted neuronal stress-resistance in rodent and fruit-fly brains.

• 👉👉What It Means for You: Explains why clients often report laser-sharp focus and mental clarity after NAD⁺ drips.

• Caveats: Largely pre-clinical; the paper calls for large human brain-function trials ASAP.

3. Trammell SAJ et al., Nature Communications, 2016 – “Oral Nicotinamide Riboside Is Orally Bioavailable in Humans & Mice”

• Key Findings: A single NR capsule bumped human blood NAD⁺ 2.7-fold and revealed NAAD as a reliable biomarker of repletion.

• 👉👉What It Means for You: Confirms NAD⁺ precursors can raise levels—IV delivery just does it faster and more predictably.

• Caveats: Small pilot (n = 1 kinetics; n = 12 dose-escalation); not designed to measure clinical outcomes.

4. Braidy N et al., Antioxidants & Redox Signaling, 2019 – “NAD⁺ and Degenerative Disease”

• Key Findings: Charts how NAD⁺ loss sparks oxidative stress in brain, muscle, and immune cells; precursor therapy reversed pathology in aged mice.

• 👉👉What It Means for You: Builds the case for proactive NAD⁺ top-ups to keep age-related decline at bay before it strikes.

• Caveats: Narrative review; urges randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to pin down human disease-modifying effects.

5. Rajman L, Sinclair DA et al., Cell Metabolism, 2018 – “Therapeutic Potential of NAD-Boosting Molecules”

• Key Findings: Surveyed 40+ animal studies—restoring NAD⁺ improved glucose control, endurance, cardiac output, and lifespan by up to 30 %.

• 👉👉What It Means for You: Highlights the system-wide ripple-effects of healthy NAD⁺ levels: energy, metabolism, and heart health all get a lift.

• Caveats: Heavy on animal data; authors caution against over-promising until large human RCTs report.

FAQ common questions, from common folks

Q: Can’t I just swallow NAD⁺ pills?
A: Oral precursors do help over months, but the gut can bottleneck absorption. IV delivery spikes blood NAD⁺ levels in a single session—like wiring funds directly into your mitochondria’s checking account.

However if you’re still interested in trying this instead, TruNiagen is a great brand to try. The brand also publish scientific papers that show elevated levels of NAD+ in your bloodstream before and after taking TruNiagen. I’ve watched and followed the folks behind this brand, it definitely seems legit.

Q: How long does one infusion’s effect last?
A: Most feel a sustained lift for 7‑14 days. We recommend a 4‑drip loading phase (weeks 1‑4) followed by monthly maintenance to keep levels optimal year‑round.

Q: Is it safe to stack with peptides, testosterone, or GLP‑1 meds?
A: Yes—in fact many clients see synergistic effects. We coordinate dosing so none of your programs trip over each other.

Q: Will I really notice anything after one drip?
A: About 80 % of clients feel something—sharper mental focus, warmer extremities, smoother workouts—within 24 hours of the first infusion. The other 20 % typically notice big gains after drip #2 or #3.

Q: how much does it cost?
A: The oral pills such as TruNiagen cost around $40-$50 for a 30 day supply. If you go for the IV infusions, be prepared to drop around $500-$1000 for each 500mg IV infusion. Prices vary by location - last I checkd, it’s around $560 for a single session at PrimeIV Wellness, some savings when you buy a 4-pack.

Q: Where can I get NAD IV infusions?
A: A lot of medspas such as PrimeIV Hydration and Wellness, or Restore around the country offer them. I would stick to the major ones and not your average mom & pop medspa. These folks usually have a lot of nerds with fancy degrees at the corporate office coming up with protocols to make sure everything is done safely.

Find a location near you here for PrimeIV Health and Wellness: https://primeivhydration.com/locations/

Find a location near you here for Restore Hyper Wellness: https://www.restore.com/locations

Parting Thoughts

Look, I love a good gadget as much as the next bio‑hacker. But the smartest upgrades start with cellular fundamentals—oxygen, minerals, and NAD⁺. Ignore them and you’re pouring premium gas into a rusty engine. Treat them right and your body outperforms folks half your age.

Give your cells the respect they deserve. Your golf swing, Peloton stats, and family adventure bucket list will thank you.

To your unstoppable energy,

Janine Do, PharmD

P.S. Questions? Hit reply, I’d love to hear questions from you.

Citations

1. Houtkooper RH, Cantó C, Wanders RJ, Auwerx J. The secret life of NAD⁺: an old metabolite controlling new metabolic signaling pathways. Endocrine Reviews. 2010;31(2):194-223. doi:10.1210/er.2009-0026. PMID: 20007326.

2. Verdin E. NAD⁺ in aging, metabolism, and neurodegeneration. Science. 2015;350(6265):1208-1213. doi:10.1126/science.aac4854. PMID: 26785480.

3. Trammell SAJ, Schmidt MS, Weidemann BJ, et al. Nicotinamide riboside is uniquely and orally bioavailable in mice and humans. Nature Communications. 2016;7:12948. doi:10.1038/ncomms12948. PMID: 27721479.

4. Rajman L, Chwalek K, Sinclair DA. Therapeutic potential of NAD-boosting molecules: The in vivo evidence. Cell Metabolism. 2018;27(3):529-547. doi:10.1016/j.cmet.2018.02.011. PMID: 29514064.

5. Braidy N, Berg J, Clement J, et al. Role of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide and related precursors as therapeutic targets for age-related degenerative diseases: Rationale, biochemistry, pharmacokinetics, and outcomes. Antioxidants & Redox Signaling. 2019;30(2):251-294. doi:10.1089/ars.2017.7269. PMID: 29634344.