NAD+ IV drip is the ultimate recharger. It boosts your memory, energy & fights wrinkles

A prominent social icon in Delhi has been taking NAD+ supplements for over 30 years. Their journey has been astounding in terms of the energy they have for their day-to-day lifestyle.

Representative image | Flickr

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide or NAD+ drips were once mocked all over the internet and today, it has become a dependable source of anti-ageing and overall skincare wellness. 

It was founded by accident back in 1906 by two British biochemists – Arthur Harden and William John Young. The duo was only trying to figure out how fermentation works when the skincare discovery happened. 

This was then popularised by David Sinclair, a famous geneticist from Harvard. He was responsible for putting NAD+ drip IV therapy on the map. 

NAD+, medically known as Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, is a tiny but powerful coenzyme molecule that exists within every single cell present within our body and plays a massive role in keeping us alive and well. NAD+ is instrumental in converting food into energy that every cell in the body can use.  

NAD+ for skincare

• It repairs your DNA and helps cells to be their best selves and function smoothly overall.
• It hits the slow-mo button on ageing; NAD+ activates proteins called sirtuins that help regulate the ageing process. 

A human body can make NAD+ from scratch using tryptophan and aspartic acid, or it can get it from niacin-rich foods like chicken and avocados. However, as we age, NAD+ levels are bound to drop. Consumption of junk food, stress and poor sleep patterns also harm the coenzyme. That’s where the drips come in. 

As we reel from the death and theories of yet another popular celebrity in the news today, Shefali Jariwala, let me tell you one thing clearly; it doesn’t matter what strata of society you come from but if you do opt for anti-aging treatments, it’s crucial to choose only highly experienced, qualified doctors for such procedures. Cutting corners by going to unskilled practitioners or ‘quacks’ can lead to severe, even irreversible consequences—from botched results and infections to very, very dire long-term health risks. Your face and body deserve expert care, not reckless experimentation. 

The youth drip

A NAD+ drip is given via an IV infusion. This means that your body doesn’t have to wait for the coenzyme to be digested by your cells because, through the magic of IV, NAD+ becomes an instant recharge of your cells. 

Here’s why NAD+ drips have been hyped up:

• Anti-ageing: 

Like I mentioned above, NAD+ helps with cell repair, works like a charm on reducing wrinkles and leaves your face looking fresh as ever. 

• A brain boost: 

Yup, that’s right – NAD+ drips also help you with a sharper focus, better memory and in some cases, even mood support. 

• An upgrade to your metabolism: 

If you are prone to a sluggish metabolism, NAD+ drips help you kickstart your metabolism, and help you along the weight loss journey. 

• Energy revamp: 

NAD+ drips will also help you tackle fatigue, which means that droopy, nappy, zombie feeling you get post 3 pm? Won’t be around anymore!

• Skin damage repairs: 

Research suggests that it helps to boost your collagen production; there’s also research that’s being done on the extent to which NAD+ can smooth out wrinkles, fade your fine lines, brighten any dark spots and leave your skin feeling youthful, maybe even undo any sun damage. 

• Reduces any inflammation: 

NAD+ drips also help with repairing any DNA damage that could be caused by stress or toxins. 

• Eases your stress levels: 

These drips are also known for balancing oxidative stress in your body; oxidative stress is also known as the reason why you feel knackered after a long, hard week. 

NAD+ drips work best as a long-term commitment— so start with weekly sessions and then enter maintenance mode that could very well be lifelong.

After an initial loading phase, I always recommend that people switch to a maintenance dose every 4-8 weeks. Another recommendation I always add is to finish with a cleansing IV drip after the process. 

I recently came across a prominent social icon in Delhi, and they’ve been taking NAD+ supplements for over 30 years. Their journey has been astounding in terms of the energy they have for their day-to-day lifestyle.

It’s fascinating that, despite NAD+ being around for over 30 years, dermatologists—including myself—have really only started paying closer attention to it in the last five.

Side effects

NAD+ is known to be a natural supplement and not a medication, so it is safe to use without any serious side effects. But of course, because it’s injected through an IV line, there could be mild reactions that you should watch out for: 

• During the drip, you might feel flushed, nauseous or have a slight headache, which can be fixed by lowering the speed of the IV infusion.
• Long-term side effects are still being researched.

Mind you, this should not be taken on an empty stomach. And as always, drink enough water as it helps with better absorption. 

Dr Deepali Bhardwaj is a Delhi-based Dermatologist, anti-allergy specialist, laser surgeon, and internationally trained aesthetician running her Clinic at Defence Colony. She tweets @dermatdoc.Views are personal.

(Edited by Ratan Priya)