Top 3 NAD+ myths: What You Really Need to Know About NAD Supplements
NAD+ has quickly become one of the biggest buzzwords in the world of longevity and cellular health. From NAD supplements to IV drips and injections, everyone seems to be looking for ways to boost their NAD+ levels.
But what is real science and what is just marketing hype? In this blog, we break down three of the most common myths about NAD+ and share what the research really says.
Myth #1: You get NAD+ from your diet
A common misconception is that you can boost your NAD+ levels just by eating the right foods. Unfortunately, it’s not that simple.
You can’t actually absorb NAD+ from food. It’s a large and unstable molecule that breaks down in your gut long before it reaches your cells.
Your body depends on a constant internal supply of NAD+ — in fact, if all the NAD+ in your body were suddenly removed, you’d only survive for about 30 seconds. To avoid this your cells have built-in NAD+ production pathways, that operate 24/7 keeping you supplied with NAD+.
The main NAD+ production pathway is called the Salvage Pathway. When NAD+ is used for cellular repair the breakdown product is recycled back into fresh, usable NAD+ - a much more efficient strategy than making it from scratch.
While some foods, like those rich in niacin (vitamin B3) provide NAD+ precursors, eating them doesn’t guarantee a boost in NAD+ as your body still has to convert those raw materials into usable NAD+.
If you think about this in the context of evolution it makes sense. Our survival couldn’t depend solely on finding the right foods. Instead, our bodies evolved a failsafe way to produce NAD+ internally, no matter what we eat.
Myth #2: IV infusions or injections are the only way to absorb NAD+
You may have heard that oral supplements are ineffective, and that the only ‘bioavailable’ way to boost NAD+ levels is with an NAD+ injection of IV Infusion — but that is another myth.
Bioavailability simply refers to how much of an active ingredient (whether from food, a supplement or a drug) actually reaches your cells, and research shows that pure NAD+ infusions aren’t as effective as they seem.
It is well established that cells struggle to absorb pure NAD+, with studies showing most of the NAD+ from IV drips is quickly broken down in the bloodstream and excreted. A newer study even suggests that these high doses can trigger inflammation as your body tries to clear the excess NAD+.
To date there have been no human clinical trials testing NAD+ injections, so there is no clinical evidence to suggest that they are safe or effective.
Oral supplements can be bioavailable but they must be formulated correctly. At Nuchido, bioavailability is central to our research. Our founder, Dr. Nichola Conlon, is a specialist in cellular bioavailability, so we design our products to ensure the active ingredients are absorbed and used by your cells.
For example, rather than using isolated compounds, we often use plant-based extracts, which have better absorption. A great example is quercetin, a powerful antioxidant that’s poorly absorbed in its pure form. In Nuchido TIME+, we use Sophora Japonica Extract, which delivers quercetin in a form your body can actually use.
So, how do we know Nuchido TIME+ works? Our clinical studies didn’t just measure NAD+ in the blood, they measured cellular NAD+ levels. The results showed significant increases in cellular NAD+ as well as in cellular proteins like NAMPT and SIRT1, which are critical for powering NAD+ production and cellular repair.
In short: you don’t need an expensive and uncomfortable IV or injection to boost NAD+. You just need a supplement that’s proven to reach your cells, like Nuchido TIME+.
Myth #3: Taking NAD+ Supplements Will Stop Your Body From Making Its Own NAD+
Another common concern is that taking an NAD booster will turn down the body’s natural NAD+ production. Fortunately, the opposite is true — Nuchido TIME+ actually increases your body’s own natural NAD+ production.
As we age, one of the main reasons NAD+ levels drop is because the Salvage Pathway slows down. This recycling system, described earlier becomes less efficient, leading to a decline in NAD+ production.
Nuchido TIME+ works by reactivating this pathway, helping your cells produce and recycle NAD+ just as they did when you were younger. This same pathway is activated by exercise and intermittent fasting which naturally increase NAD+ levels.
We hope this blog has helped clear up some common misunderstandings about NAD+ supplements and the best ways to boost your levels.
Want to learn more? Read our other blogs to discover the science behind Nuchido TIME+ and how it supports healthy aging from the inside out.