At Lifted, we’ve been diving deep into one of the buzziest yet exceptionally crucial molecules in the body: NAD.

So what is NAD exactly?

NAD, short for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, is a mouthful, I know. But at its core, it’s a form of vitamin B3, and more specifically (for the chemistry nerds among us), it’s the oxidized coenzyme form of B3. Its partner in crime is NADH, the reduced form, which you might remember from your days learning about oxidative phosphorylation aka how we make ATP (cellular energy) in our cells.

NAD and NADH are constantly flipping back and forth in our cells, and this exchange is a huge part of how we create energy in the mitochondria. But that’s just the beginning.

Why NAD Matters (Beyond Energy)

Sure, NAD is deeply involved in ATP production, but it also supports:

Alcohol and toxin metabolism in the liver
Histamine metabolism (hello allergy and mast cell folks)
The production of feel-good and calming brain chemicals like serotonin, melatonin, and GABA
Over 500 enzymatic reactions across the body

Can’t I Just Take a B Vitamin?

Technically, yes. You can take vitamin B3 (also called niacin) to support NAD. But it’s not all that efficient as niacin is several steps away from becoming NAD in your body. Another form of B3 called niacinamide is a little closer, but still not ideal as it has to be converted outside of the cell to get it into the cell in order to have desired effects.

There are other closer precursors like NMN (nicotinamide mononucleotide) and NR (nicotinamide riboside). NR is the final step for NAD to go through in order to pass through the cellular membrane, where it then can be reconverted to NAD for use. Both are effective ways to directly increase NAD levels.

Why Would I Want to Take This?

Because NAD = better cellular energy.

As we age, NAD levels naturally decline. On top of that, chronic conditions like long COVID (and other viral infections), stealth infections, and even neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s lower NAD meaning less mitochondrial oomph. People tend to experience symptoms like:

Fatigue
Brain fog
Poor sleep
Mood shifts

Basically, the more metabolically active your tissues are (think: heart, brain, muscles), the more NAD they need to do their jobs well.

Can You Test for NAD Levels?

Yes. There are labs that look at the various forms of NAD. An Organic Acids Test (OAT) also give us insight into mitochondrial function. While generally not required for a healthy individual, knowing NAD levels can help in deciding a dose that is appropriate for an individual.

How Do You Take NAD?

We offer a few options in our clinic, each with pros and cons:

Oral Supplements: NR and NMN are the go-tos here. These cross the cellular membranes much better than standard B3 forms.

Injections: Intramuscular (IM) or subcutaneous (SQ) injections are great for those wanting more direct absorption without an IV.

IV Therapy: IV NAD (compounded version): Effective, but takes a long time to drip—think 1–3 hours—because of side effects like rapid heartbeat and nausea. These side effects happen when the drip is going at too fast of a rate. IV Niagen (NR): this is a proprietary formula that is much more chill in it’s side effect profile with no heart racing or nausea. As a result it drips much faster than traditional IV NAD. This also opens up to a larger dose to be administered at one time.

What Will I Notice?

We’ve been trying the IV NAD ourselves at Lifted as we roll it out for our patients. And honestly, the results are impressive.

Personally I’ve noticed most is the improvement in mood and energy. The next day, I’m up before my alarm with a calm mind and none of that lingering heaviness or anxious tension.

Another teammate said “I felt my brain fog lift. No more lost words—I was speaking clearly and confidently again. And for the first time in what feels like forever, I felt truly rested.” At 50mg it was a small dose, but the shift was real.

This is one of the reasons why I love practicing naturopathic medicine: we get to test and tailor treatments to the individual. What worked for my teammate was a small dose. Someone else might need a higher amount, or a totally different delivery method. This is where the art of medicine comes in.

If you're curious about NAD therapy—whether it’s for energy, cognition, aging, or general vitality—let’s talk. We’d love to help you figure out if it’s a fit, and how to get you feeling better from the inside out.

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