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You may have heard the good news about NAD+ and the important role it plays in your health. But how does NAD+ work and what is it?
To gain a better understanding of NAD+, and why NAD+ IV therapy may be right for you, let’s take a look at the science behind it.
NAD+ is short for “nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide”. And it’s made up of nucleotides, which are considered to be the building blocks for the nucleic acids that make up our DNA.
The two nucleotides that comprise NAD are joined together by their phosphate groups:
Scientists first discovered NAD in 1906 when Arthur Harden and William Young were studying fermentation. Their work would lead to many more scientific discoveries and Harden being co-awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for chemistry in 1929.
Since the discovery of NAD+, scientists have continued to identify its role in a wide range of chemical reactions that influence metabolism, cellular repair, and cell homeostasis.
Your body is dependent on NAD+ in order for its sirtuin proteins to function. This is important because sirtuin proteins influence longevity and play a role in dictating the aging process.
In total, your body has seven different sirtuin proteins. NAD+ helps regulate sirtuin activity through the removal of acyl groups, a metabolic process that’s known as the deacylation.
Collectively, sirtuins influence genes associated with aging, inflammation, fat storage, fat synthesis, and blood sugar management. And without NAD+, sirtuins simply cannot function properly.
Simply put, NAD is a coenzyme that helps your cells “work better”. Think of NAD+ as being a “helper” molecule, or coenzyme, that binds to other enzymes to help cause metabolic reactions at the molecular level.
There are two forms of NAD: NAD+ and NADH. The NAD molecule you’re most likely to hear about is NAD+.
NAD+ is the oxidized form and has a plus (+) sign because of the positive charge it has on one of its nitrogen atoms. This positive charge allows NAD+ to act as an electron carrier.
When NAD+ accepts electrons, it becomes “reduced” and turns into NADH. NAD’s ability to shuffle around electrons is important because this allows your body to complete the chemical reactions necessary for your metabolism to function properly.
NAD+ works like a shuttle bus, bringing electrons into the cell to support the mitochondria. The mitochondria are the powerhouse of within your cells, and the part that metabolizes nutrients.
Less NAD+ means fewer shuttle buses rushing electrons into the mitochondria. In turn, less support for your mitochondria means fewer nutrients are metabolized.
On a day-to-day basis, your NAD+ levels have a big impact on your energy level and body’s ability to recover from DNA damage and oxidative stress.
But NAD+ levels can become depleted over time with DNA damage, ultraviolet rays, or free radical damage. And for those who lead busy, demanding lifestyles, NAD+ levels can decrease at an even faster rate than your body’s ability to replenish its stores.
Since staying young and feeling young relies on the ability to efficiently repair DNA damage, restoring your NAD+ levels is essential.
NAD+ is present in every single cell and your body needs it to survive. If you think your NAD+ levels are low or lagging behind, incorporating NAD+ IV therapy into your wellness care can help you bounce back.
Unlike NAD+ that’s ingested orally, intravenous NAD+ bypasses the digestive system and is delivered directly to your cells for maximum absorption. For recommendations on how frequently you should schedule your treatments, consult with a board-certified neurologist that specializes in NAD+ therapy.
To schedule your NAD+ IV therapy session, visit our clinic to learn more.
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