An NAD+ drip that leaves you hot, achy and running to the toilet to vomit? That’s so 2024.
NAD+ — a coenzyme in involved in things like energy production and DNA repair — has been the hot biohacking supplement for the past couple of years, with Jennifer Aniston, Kendall Jenner and Joe Rogan among its fans.
But people who get it via IV infusion have also complained of serious side effects, from severe nausea to muscle cramps — plus lengthy treatment times as long as four to five hours.
Fortunately, there’s another version that promises all the benefits — think anti-aging, brain function, immunity — with shorter infusion times and fewer side effects. And according to some experts, it’s more effective, too.
Our bodies make NAD — short for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide — naturally. It helps convert food into energy and repair damage, but we have less of it as we age.
You can boost it a bit through fasting and exercise, but more and more people in the know have been turning to supplements, especially in IV form.
Fans says it helps them sleep, boosts their energy and makes it easier to recover from stresses like fitness or travel.
The problem is, infusions have been known to come with a host of side effects — especially stomach issues like nausea, bloating and diarrhea. People have also complained of chest compressions cramps, headaches and lightheadedness. For some, it’s so bad that they stop midway through an infusion.
And experts also argue that as a supplement, NAD+ has an effectiveness issue.
“It’s not bioavailable,” Dr. Andrew Shao, Senior Vice President of Global Scientific and Regulatory Affairs at Niagen Bioscience, told The Post.
That means you can infuse it into your veins, but it won’t be able to get into your cells and tissues to do anything. In order to get in, he said, it needs to be broken down into “NAD precursors” — basically building blocks of NAD.
Niagen is one of those building blocks.
“Niagen gets into cells and then is converted back into NAD, where it does its job — the energy production, the DNA repair, the cell repair, all of that,” Shao said.
But is it really better? One 2024 study by Shao and other researchers found that people who got Niagen infusions had “significantly higher” NAD+ levels a few outs later than those who had NAD+ infusions.
“My recovery from workouts seems faster [and] I’m more resilient to stress. I also sleep better … my body just runs more efficiently.
Dr. Abe Malkin
They also reported only minor side effects and quicker infusion times.
While trials have also found Niagen pills to increase NAD+ levels, there’s a clear benefit to going the IV route.
As a pill, Shao explained, “the supplement has to go through your digestive tract and interacts with your gut microbes.” That’s not inherently a bad thing — but those gut microbes will also use a lot of that NAD themselves, meaning less of it for the rest of your body.
With an IV, more of the good stuff gets to your tissues — and it gets there faster, Shao said.
That’s why it’s already becoming of a hit with high-powered, health-conscious clients, including a slew of celebrities. Famous fans already include Tori Spelling, Kelly Bensimon and Kathy Hilton.
“My weekly Niagen IVs are sacred,” Hilton told Page Six, adding that she also takes capsules. “Total game changer. More energy, stronger hair and nails, and better sleep — what more could you want?”
Health nut approved
Dr. Abe Malkin is super into all things wellness. In addition to IVs, he regularly takes peptides and does saunas, cold plunges and strength training. His routine includes blood work that frequently includes “extensive biomarker and toxin testing.”
He’s also the founder of Drip Hydration, which offers both Niagen and NAD+ drops as well as other IV therapy like Myers cocktails — and these days, he’s getting a Niagen drip once or twice a month.
“I’m always looking for the most effective and efficient ways to support longevity and cellular health,” the 41-year-old Los Angeles resident told The Post. “I was intrigued by the research showing it’s highly bioavailable and gentler to receive.”
He’d been getting NAD+ infusions for five years, and though he liked the “noticeable lift in energy, focus and recovery,” the drips could be uncomfortable. He’s noticed a difference since switching, including no discomfort or other side effects.
“I feel an immediate boost in mental clarity and sustained energy for days afterward,” he said. “My recovery from workouts seems faster, and I notice I’m more resilient to stress. I also sleep better — it’s like my body just runs more efficiently.”
He’s found it to be a “game changer” after long-haul flights. Though it would normally take him a couple of days to get over jet lag, an infusion makes him “bounce back much faster.”
He’s not the only one who’s hooked. Shannon Nadj, CEO of Hot Pilates in Los Angeles, has a packed wellness routine including Pilates, monthly hyperbaric chamber sessions, biweekly lymphatic drainage and daily supplements based on her blood work.
“I consider myself a very healthy person,” she said.
Her Niagen sessions have minimal side effects — just some jaw tightening at the end of the session — but benefits she loves.
“I felt energized, had glowing skin, and it helped with my workout recovery and mental clarity,” she said.
She’s since gotten her health-conscious friends and clients to try it — while Dr. Malkin says his friends, who are “busy executives and entrepreneurs who want to stay at the top of their game,” are also regulars.
