Research around NAD+’s role with aging continues to receive widespread attention in the scientific community.

For example, a team of researchers in New South Wales suggests low levels of NAD+ are linked to mitochondrial inefficiency, one of the nine hallmarks of aging. 

NAD+ is a vital coenzyme that functions mainly in the mitochondria of our cells. It declines as we age, reaching a pivotal downward trend between the ages of 40 and 60, according to the same New South Wales study. 

Although natural methods, like caloric restriction and moderate exercise, can increase your NAD+ levels, supplements have proven to be an easy way to replenish the necessary nutrients for maintaining NAD+. However, lately, NAD+ IV therapy has received a lot of buzz as a new way to boost this critical molecule.

What is NAD+ IV therapy?

Growing in popularity with wellness blogs and podcasts, you may have heard about IV treatments being provided at trendy wellness spas that feature vitamin infusions. These types of therapies claim to boost immunity, cure hangovers, detox the body, and promote youthful qualities.

IV therapies, or intravenous therapies, administer nutrients through a vein using a standard saline solution. 

These treatments usually happen in clinics, wellness spas, or via at-home service where customers opt for monthly or even weekly IV sessions.  

Unlike most NAD+ boosting supplements that use precursor ingredients like nicotinamide riboside or niacin, IV therapy sessions typically use NAD+ as the direct delivery.

NAD+ IV sessions cost around $600 for up to 60 minutes of treatment. The course of the therapy ranges anywhere from six to eight weeks, and some providers even offer packages of sessions, much like physical training packages at gyms. 

While it depends on the length of treatment and the location, a full course of treatment might cost up to $15,000 over the span of a year. 

What does NAD+ IV Therapy treat?

The market for NAD+ IV therapy uses heavy language around longevity and anti-aging. Services target people experiencing fatigue, cognitive decline, chronic pain, and sleep disruption. The promise they deliver is that the therapy will help you feel “young and rejuvenated.” 

In more bold cases, these IV therapy clinics claim that NAD+ IV treatment may provide relief or lessen the symptoms of Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, and autoimmune diseases.

Overall, the language is largely exaggerated and is absent of adequate substantiation. The few that provide a scientific basis usually reference a pre-clinical trial (studies on animal subjects) or a study that uses oral supplementation of NAD+ or an NAD+ precursor. The differences in intake and ingredients are quite important as the science differs depending on these factors.

Is NAD+ IV therapy effective?

Providers of NAD+ IV therapy claim that an intravenous solution is more effective because it bypasses the digestive system, allowing your body to feel the effects quicker. 

Many wellness clinics and doctors cite a Harvard Medical School study that states NAD+ IV therapy has a proven 87% success rate. However, the study speaks only about the use of NAD+ precursors, not the actual use of intravenous administration for NAD+. 

Broadly speaking, the effectiveness of direct NAD+ supplementation is in question. NAD+ is a large, phosphorylated molecule, and it can not directly permeate the cell wall. 

A published study from the Journal of Biological Chemistry shows that your body breaks NAD+ down into smaller precursors before absorbing it into the cell. Once through, your cells convert the precursors back to NAD+. 

This arduous process denotes direct NAD+ supplementation, whether through intravenous methods or oral-administration, may not be the best solution to elevating NAD+ levels. 

NPR also notes these NAD+ IV treatments often contain other nutritional supplements, like amino acids mixed with NAD+, so it’s difficult to attribute the success of the therapies to NAD+ alone. 

Put simply; the scientific community just doesn't know enough about NAD+ IV therapy to make conclusive recommendations.

Can NAD+ IV Therapy help addiction patients? 

The most interesting claim surrounding NAD+ IV therapy is its supposed benefit for treating alcohol and drug addiction patients. 

NAD+’s benefits to addiction patients are illustrated deeply in works like Paul Norris Mestayer’s, Addiction the Dark Night of the Soul, NAD+ the Light of Hope. However, most of this evidence is anecdotal with no use or basis in the scientific method. 

Testimonies of NAD+ IV therapies in patients claim that it can curb cravings and lower the instances of hallucinations. Clinics market the treatment armed with similar stories. 

Unfortunately, unfounded claims like these are nothing new. NPR notes, “Unsubstantiated claims have long been a part of addiction treatment. For instance, in the late 19th century, a doctor dubbed his formula the "Double Chloride of Gold Cure" and sold it via mail order for addiction, claiming a 95% cure rate.”

Follow the science.

The science behind NAD+ is progressing rather fervently, but so is the fanfare around it. While NAD+ IV therapy has some interesting anecdotal evidence, it's difficult to support its methodology without concrete science. 

The conversation around elevating NAD+ in connection with aging is serious and by no means a farce, but it's important for us to check for the following things when it comes to products or services that claim to elevate NAD+:

1. What’s the active ingredient? Some may use precursors. Some may use direct NAD+. Your experience will be heavily impacted by the kind of ingredient used in your regimen. We outline those differences here.

2. Where is the product sourced? For example, not all nicotinamide riboside ingredients are the same. Does the product contain the patented form or an unverified 3rd party?

3. Check for the clinical studies. We provide an important checklist of things you should review here when reviewing a supplement’s clinical research.

4. Where is the product manufactured? Is it cGMP certified? Are there any other safety certifications?

5. Has the ingredient been reviewed by a pertinent regulatory authority?

When in doubt, follow the science. Look for published studies and check out the ingredient on www.clinicaltrials.gov. Each study should give an adequate description of the product being tested in their trials.

It’s your right to be informed of the products you put into your body. After all, your health is an investment. And a little research and know-how can go a long way.

If you came here for a quick yes or no, let’s save you some time. Niagen® (our patented form of nicotinamide riboside) is safe for all adults when taken as recommended. 

Clinical studies, multiple certifications, good manufacturing practices, multiple regulatory approvals and scientific standards have validated Niagen® since its commercialization in 2013.

But the nutrition industry, with its many vitamins, supplements, and fad diets, is difficult to navigate. It’s populated with products making false, sensational claims and bad actors pushing risky ingredients. 

Sadly, nicotinamide riboside is no exception. There are forms of nicotinamide riboside (and products containing nicotinamide riboside) that have not been studied and are not established as safe. 

It’s non-negotiable. Orally-administrated nutrients should prioritize the consumer’s safety. With that in mind, Niagen® nicotinamide riboside is thoroughly tested, regulated, and substantiated to safeguard your health.

What is nicotinamide riboside? 

Nicotinamide riboside is a form of vitamin B3 that is converted into a molecule called nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+). NAD+ helps your cells generate the energy that powers all the functions in your body. 

NAD+ is an essential molecule called a coenzyme. Working alongside an enzyme, NAD+ helps your mitochondria, or your cellular powerhouses, generate energy. Clinical studies even demonstrate its potential to support healthy aging.

How do I know nicotinamide riboside is safe to use?

We can’t speak to other forms of nicotinamide riboside, but nine published clinical studies have verified Niagen® as a safe and effective NAD+ booster. Niagen® is vegetarian-friendly, and chemically identical to naturally-occurring nicotinamide riboside. Niagen® is formulated without nuts or gluten. It contains no caffeine, no animal byproducts, and no artificial colors or flavors. 

Niagen® is also safe to take with other supplements and is not known to negatively interact with medications. As a form of vitamin B3, nicotinamide riboside is just a new form of something old. Your daily multivitamin may already contain a close cousin of nicotinamide riboside, niacin. However, niacin isn’t usually favored to boost NAD+ because of its uncomfortable, skin-flushing side effects. 

For many years, niacin and nicotinamide were the most accessible methods of raising NAD+ through supplementation. But with the discovery of nicotinamide riboside, consumers have a better option. 

Of course, without the science, all this information would be purely anecdotal. The proof lies in the data and scientific findings. 

The human trials behind nicotinamide riboside. 

There are more than ten clinical studies published on Niagen®. 

A double-blind placebo study designed by Conze et al. in 2019 demonstrates how nicotinamide riboside increases NAD+ in human blood in a dose-dependent manner. Nicotinamide riboside was supplemented in overweight men and women over the course of eight weeks and did not lead to any attributable adverse effects.

The study abstract summarizes that NAD+ “increases were maintained throughout the remainder of the study. There were no reports of flushing and no significant differences in adverse events between the NR (nicotinamide riboside) and placebo-treated groups.”

To add, a 2018 clinical trial published in Nature proved that chronic supplementation of nicotinamide riboside is “well tolerated and... stimulates NAD+ metabolism in healthy middle-aged and older adults.” Once again, serious adverse effects were not experienced during the study.

And finally, a study by Airhart et al. tested the pharmacokinetics of nicotinamide riboside in adults. Pharmacokinetics is the study of how the body absorbs and responds to substances to test an ingredient’s safety and efficacy. Like the rest, the trial concluded by demonstrating nicotinamide riboside is well-tolerated in adults and causes no adverse effects.

Is nicotinamide riboside FDA approved?

Niagen® has two FDA notifications. Let’s break down what that means.

The Food and Drug Administration does not regulate nutrients or supplements the way it regulates pharmaceuticals. Generally speaking, the process for vitamins and other dietary supplement products does not require the same premarket review and approval as drugs.

If a dietary supplement product contains an ingredient that was not on the market prior to 1994, it must be notified to the FDA as a New Dietary Ingredient (NDI). The parent company must provide an extensive dossier containing relevant safety, quality control and manufacturing data before entering the market. The FDA then reviews the document over a 75-day period and issues a response. If the agency raises no objection in its response, it means there are no safety concerns with the NDI.

A company or brand may need to submit further notifications to the FDA depending on how the science or manufacturing process for the ingredient evolves. Niagen® has been the subject of two FDA NDI notifications and has received no objections. 

It should be noted that Niagen®, and the company that exclusively licenses the patent, ChromaDex, exceed the FDA’s minimum requirements through its own internal standards, procedures, and testing. These processes are validated through certification of our product by NSF International.

Tru Niagen® is certified as sport-safe by NSF International.

Tru Niagen® contains a single active ingredient, Niagen®, and has been certified as sport-safe by the NSF. NSF certification assures that products contain their claimed ingredients at the proper levels, that there are no unsafe levels of contaminants, and that the product is free of athletic banned substances. This ensures athletes (and the everyday consumer) can “make educated decisions when choosing a sports supplement.”

NSF certification is an ongoing process that includes product testing, material analysis, and facility inspections to create a safer consumer experience, and is only granted when a product complies with these rigid standards. On-site inspections keep brands accountable and uphold good manufacturing practices. The NSF also substantiates safety by verifying scientific claims and product labeling. 

It should be noted that not all dietary supplement products obtain NSF certification (or even attempt to do so). Year after year, Niagen® maintains its certification.

What are good manufacturing practices?

ChromaDex, the company that manufactures Niagen®, abides by a set of manufacturing regulations known as Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).

The FDA established GMP to ensure product consistency, prevent contamination, and uphold “robust operating procedures.” Good manufacturing practice guidelines ensures a product is made with ethics and quality in mind. 

ChromaDex manufactures Niagen® in GMP Certified facilities. They obtained certification with the following manufacturing standards:

• Chromadex’s facilities maintain the purity of their products with 36 internal tests or quality inspections.

• ChromaDex verifies the dose, strength, purity and composition of its products and abides by required labelling regulations. 

• ChromaDex follows procedures and performs inspections to meet the defined specifications of the appropriate capsules per bottle and the amount of NR in the capsule.

Nicotinamide riboside is a safe, effective method of boosting NAD+.

Niagen® has no serious attributable side-effects in clinical settings. It’s backed up by scientific literature (and scientists themselves) and rooted in high manufacturing and quality standards. 

From FDA compliance to sport-safe certification, the safety of Niagen® is validated by over 15 years of study.

Good ingredients make a statement about what consumers deserve. If you introduce a nutrient to your routine, you are entitled to the clarity, simplicity, and standards that ensure its safety.

Imagine two molecules. One molecule exists in the natural world. The other is made in a lab. There is no structural or chemical difference between the two. Under a microscope and in the body, they look and behave the same, despite their contrasting origins.

When a man-made molecule structurally mirrors a naturally occurring molecule, it is referred to as “nature-identical.”

Why are nature-identical compounds important?

Our cells can do it all— repair, rebuild, defend, and energize. They’re our smallest, hardest working parts.

Surprisingly, our cells are also a bit naive. While cells’ nuclei act as command centers, cells are guided by biological signals rather than a formal consciousness. 

Cells can’t tell the difference between a natural molecule and its man-made doppelganger.

However, scientists have extensive experience with naturally-occurring nutrients. They understand the risks, benefits, and chemistry that defines these molecules. They understand how the human body typically responds. And they can use this knowledge to amplify the power of a natural molecule. 

The potential of nature-identical substrates can be of enormous benefit to your health. Creating a nature-identical molecule can make a nutrient or vitamin more easily obtainable.

Natural and nature-identical sources of nutrients.

The human body rarely produces micronutrients in ideal quantities. A nutrient must often be obtained externally (as food or a supplement) to achieve adequate levels. Commercial vitamins and supplements are typically nature-identical molecules that help to provide the sufficient quantity of a nutrient your body needs.

Take vitamin C, for example. “Humans, unlike most animals, are unable to synthesize vitamin C endogenously” (within their own bodies). Vitamin C is a vital dietary component for immune function and protein metabolism. It is widely used and is available in dietary supplements and in foods like oranges, strawberries, and broccoli. Your cells, and your body at large, uses nature-identical and citrus-sourced vitamin C in the exact same way.

Some nutrients can be more challenging to obtain solely through organic material.

Nicotinamide riboside is an example of a naturally-occurring nutrient whose nature-identical form may offer a unique convenience. 

Nicotinamide riboside is a form of vitamin B3. This molecule increases the production of NAD+ in all cells. Your mitochondria, the powerhouses within each cell, use NAD+ to generate the energy that powers cellular function and repair. Every cell needs NAD+ to perform properly, and as natural NAD+ production declines with age, our energy and functions experience the same slow-down. 

Nicotinamide riboside is naturally present in milk (and avocados to a lesser extent). To receive an ideal serving of nicotinamide riboside from purely natural sources, you would have to drink more than 1000 glasses of milk per day.

This quota would be difficult to achieve. Also, for lactose-intolerant consumers, even a single glass of milk can be unpleasant. Fortunately, nicotinamide riboside is commercially available for the consumer in a nature-identical form called Niagen®. A single, 300mg serving of Niagen® provides a sufficient daily value of nicotinamide riboside for any adult.

Doesn’t nature-identical just mean synthetic?

Nature-identical molecules are synthesized in a laboratory and are created by scientists. Yet nature-identical is not a perfect synonym for synthetic.

While molecules like Niagen® are synthesized, they are identical chemical replicas of a naturally-occurring molecule. The same is true for the most popular nutrients on the market, like vitamin C and vitamin E. 

However, new molecules can be created without using an existing ingredient as a guide.

Whether a synthetic molecule is nature-identical depends on the process involved in its creation.

Are synthetics unhealthy?

Synthetic molecules are not inherently unhealthy. 

Many of the health products we rely on are synthetic, from vitamins to medications, to sports products. 

In fact, most medications are entirely synthetic. When you reach for an over-the-counter painkiller like acetaminophen or ibuprofen, you are easing symptoms with a man-made product. 

The safety of a product will depend on the characteristics of the substance. A question you need to ask yourself as you shop: “Is this molecule’s compatibility with my health fostered by rigorous science?” 

Clinical testing, quality control, and good manufacturing practices all lower the margins of error on a health product. 

Synthetic is a neutral term. Whether a synthetic ingredient is healthy or unhealthy depends on the characteristics of the ingredient, the manufacturing process, and the unique needs of the consumer. Synthetic molecules can be genuinely beneficial, as long as they are scientifically validated. 

How do nature-identical molecules benefit me?

Used correctly, nature-identical ingredients can add another line of support to your health routine. 

To get the most out of your nutrients, increase your consumption of vitamin-rich whole foods. Where further aid is needed, opt for a nature-identical supplement to fill in nutritional gaps. Natural and synthetic micronutrients can work together to give your system the best support.

When it comes to your health, always trust expert information, and remain curious about your unique nutritional needs.

Ultimately, nature-identical substances contribute to the accessibility of good health.