NAD+

What is NAD?

Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide (NAD+) is a coenzyme in every cell that is crucial to the basic reactions in your cells that keep you alive. Its role is to help transfer electrons from one molecule to another. Once the electrons are added or removed, a certain chemical reaction is created in your body.

The nicotinamide adenosine dinucleotide (NAD) molecule alternates between two forms. NAD+ is the active reduced form of the molecule and NADH is the inactive oxidized form of the same molecule. Energy production in your mitochondria (the area in every cell that produces cellular energy in the form of ATP) require NADH being recycled back to active NAD+. If this recycling stops and NADH is too high the cell can’t utilize oxygen effectively which starves the cell of energy causing it to die. At the end of the day, health and energy production are intimately related.If your mitochondria aren’t working optimally, you won’t produce enough energy for your cells and will start to experience symptoms. When this problem becomes too severe it turns into illness. Think of mitochondria as the gas station, NAD+ as the fuel pump, and ATP as the gasoline. When all these are working harmoniously, you are able to keep your cells functioning.

How is NAD+ Administered?

At Ascend Integrative Medicine, we administer NAD+ intravenously in an infusion. These infusions can take anywhere between two hours to eight hours, depending on the dose dispensed. We recommend bringing a snack and some reading material. The frequency of treatments will depend on the condition being treated.

What is NAD+ Used to Treat?

  • Anti-Aging
  • Athletic Performance
  • Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Anxiety and Depression
  • Addictions to alcohol, narcotics, and benzodiazepines
  • Neurological Diseases (Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s Disease, etc.)

How Does NAD Effect Aging?

It is well known in the medical research enzymes called sirutins play a vital role in how the body ages. We don’t fully know exactly how they work, but we do know certain sirtuin enzymes have the ability turn off genes that promote aging, fat storage, blood sugar regulation and inflammation.

NAD+ levels diminish as we age. This process may be an Achilles’ heel, causing issues in mitochondrial function and resulting in many age-associated pathologies. Restoring NAD +by supplementing can dramatically correct these age-related functional defects and improve many diseases of aging.

How Can NAD Effect Neurodegenerative Diseases and Chronic Illnesses?

Many of the neurodegenerative disease that afflict so many individuals have one thing is common, mitochondrial dysfunction. A 2019 Japanese review states “Mitochondrial dysfunction is considered crucial pathogenesis for neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease. Maintaining appropriate NAD levels is important for mitochondrial function. Indeed, decreased NAD levels are observed in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, and supplementation of NAD precursors ameliorates disease phenotypes by activating mitochondrial functions.”

Is NAD+ Safe?

NAD therapy is a very safe procedure with negligible adverse effects. Chest tightness or shortness of breath may be experienced if the infusion is given too rapidly.

Contact us today to learn if NAD+ therapy is right for you.

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