Think of NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) as your cells’ rechargeable battery, repair crew, and messenger all in one—simply put, it’s the molecule that allows your body to function. Every living organism on Earth contains cells with NAD+ because this coenzyme keeps mitochondria moving, which results in food being converted into energy.
NAD+ also helps your body carry out critical processes to keep every system functioning, ensures that your DNA holds its structural integrity, and even helps keep your sleep cycle regular. However, as you age, your body makes less and less NAD+, leading to physical and mental fatigue and contributing to the effects of aging.
Many people look to external sources such as oral supplements, injections, nasal sprays, and IVs to replenish their NAD+ levels. These NAD+ therapies can increase energy, boost mental clarity, promote faster recovery from workouts or injuries, and support overall wellness and healthy aging. This has made NAD+ therapy a key aspect of regenerative medicine.
In this guide, we’ll take a deep dive into the differences between NAD IV vs oral supplements, so you can make an informed decision about the right NAD+ delivery method for your needs.
NAD+ Oral Supplements
Because NAD+ is a large molecule that is not well absorbed when ingested, oral NAD+ supplements are actually combinations of other nutrients that your body can transform into NAD+. These NAD+ building blocks typically contain forms of vitamin B3 such as niacin, nicotinamide (niacinamide), nicotinamide riboside (NR), and nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), as well as tryptophan.
In particular, look for a liposomal NAD+ supplement, which is a liquid and has higher absorption rates that may work better than capsules.
Pros of NAD+ Oral
A few of the benefits of NAD+ oral include:
- The supplement can be administered at home, so it’s convenient.
- Option of a liquid form or a capsule
- It’s more affordable, so it can work on almost every budget.
Cons of NAD+ Oral
However, oral NAD+ delivery might not work for everyone, so consider these potential issues:
- It can take a month or so to see the benefits of the supplements.
- Poor absorption from the gut into the bloodstream.
- It’s not a good choice for people who struggle with swallowing pills.
The Bottom Line: Is Taking NAD Orally Effective?
In general, oral NAD supplements can help boost your NAD levels. However, because NAD+ pills must pass through the digestive system, absorption is less effective and takes longer than more direct administrations. In addition, oral NAD+ supplements merely contain the precursors of NAD+, which can create delays in converting these into usable NAD+. Overall, when considering NAD pills vs IV therapy, the NAD+ oral route is best if you’re on a budget and/or the injection or IV route isn’t available.
NAD+ IV Therapy
With NAD+ IV therapy, the NAD+ is delivered intravenously to the bloodstream. An IV requires a licensed medical professional to administer the medicine, so you’ll need to go to a clinic or IV injection therapy center to receive it. Some clinics, such as Hydration Room, also offer a mobile IV therapy service that comes to your house for added convenience.
Benefits of Intravenous Delivery
The main benefit of an NAD IV vs oral treatment is that you’ll feel the effects almost immediately. When you take an oral NAD precursor supplement, it has to be digested and absorbed in the stomach and intestines before the body can convert these building blocks into usable NAD+. This process takes longer for the body to be able to use those nutrients. With an IV, a concentrated dose of NAD+ goes straight into your bloodstream, so the body can use it instantly.
Because your body has trillions of cells in it, replenishing your NAD+ levels across all of them can take several treatments in close succession, followed by regular maintenance treatments. With oral supplements, optimizing your NAD+ levels can be difficult. NAD+ IV therapy has the distinct advantage of efficiently and effectively boosting NAD+ levels so that you quickly feel benefits such as improved energy, mental clarity, metabolism, and recovery. In addition, IV doses can be increased as patients get acclimated to the therapy, making it easier to maximize the benefits of consistent NAD+ therapy.
The other major benefit of IV therapy is that a medical professional is present during treatment. If any common side effects arise—including increased heart rate, stomach discomfort, or nausea—the administrator can slow the drip rate so you remain comfortable for the duration of the IV.
Talk to a Specialist at The Hydration Room
If you can’t decide between an oral NAD supplement vs. IV, schedule a free phone consultation with one of our nurse practitioners. Our licensed medical professionals are happy to help you determine the best NAD+ treatment to meet your wellness goals, whether it’s oral supplements, IV therapy, injections, or nasal sprays.
