The Therapeutic Use of NAD
NAD (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) is an essential metabolite in our biologic system. It is found in cells in the mitochondria and as a co-enzyme increases ATP to produce energy (see diagram of Krebs cycle). With sufficient energy production the cell functions optimally. A cell producing suboptimal energy leads to degenerative conditions and even cancer. NAD is used in every cell in the body that has mitochondria. Clinically, NAD treatment was first used clinically in patients with chronic alcoholism and drug addiction. A course of intravenous therapy can markedly decrease or eliminate cravings.
After age 50 it has been demonstrated that NAD levels continue to decrease significantly in most of us. This leads to fatigue because cell energy production is diminished. Many of the CEOs I treat that entertain nightly have depleted even more NAD with alcohol consumption. The most impressive finding for me is the fact that patients with chronic neurodegenerative conditions such as multiple sclerosis have nerve cells that have dumped out all their NAD, which then presents as abnormal nerve function, neuropathies, and pain.
NAD can be given in many forms. By mouth it has to be a component of nicotinic acid. Pushing this at high levels causes hot flashes and other symptoms that patients do not like. Oral niacinamide and resveratrol can help improve NAD levels but this may take 90 days or more. This is why an intravenous infusion is a good start.
My preference is giving an intravenous infusion as the first step in filling up the gas tank. With this route we know the medication is getting directly into the bloodstream. A course of daily NAD by subcutaneous injection is given for 4 to 6 weeks in severe cases of NAD depletion. NAD for subcutaneous injection can be very helpful to increase and maintain NAD levels.
Following that we can help support NAD levels with oral, sublingual, nasal spray, creams, or liposomal encapsulated supplementation. This is for supplementation. When the gas tank is empty intravenous infusion of NAD is a very important step
The infusion itself takes in the range of about six hours and can be performed in an office or at a patient’s home. Preferential treatment would be an initial IV of a Myers cocktail (B vitamins and Vitamin C), methylcobalamine (B12) and 2000 mg of glutathione. Once this is infused then anywhere from 500 to 1500 milligrams of NAD can be administered intravenously. I currently use a one day intravenous treatment with 1500 mg as the preferred dose with most patients.
NAD encourages biologic activities that involve methylation. This is a word referring to how the body is metabolizing substances. Trimethylglycine (betaine) provides a good methyl donor and can be taken as an oral supplement. This is a good methylator which can lower homocysteine (inflammation) levels. Otherwise, additional oral magnesium, calcium, and potassium are helpful. Hydrogen water may hydrate the cell to work better (hydrogen article)-- see how hydrogen (H+) is involved with the NAD process in the diagram.
As far as the infusion, the IV needs to be administered at a rate that takes about four to six hours since faster infusion can bring on uncomfortable but not life-threatening side effects such as dizziness and chest tightness. These are eliminated by controlling the rate of infusion and is related to the assimilation of the NAD into the cell. Occurrence varies depending on the patient. It is interesting that alcoholics will rapidly soak up lots of NAD with no adverse side effects. They are severely depleted. The liver is an organ that requires a lot of NAD. In my experience I have found that patients with an autoimmune condition assimilate the NAD very slowly. This initially may result in an 8 to 10 hour infusion time. Further treatment with NAD in these patients can then many times be given more rapidly, particularly after injection of exosomes.
I have had patients who showed remarkable short-term improvement in neurologic dysfunction following intravenous NAD infusions. Any symptoms to the NAD infusion are temporary (this is a normal biologic product)--you are filling up the NAD gas tank.
One example is a 55-year-old patient with MS who came to me in a wheelchair. He had not been able to walk for two months. Following the first intravenous NAD treatment the patient walked from his wheelchair into the bathroom on his own. There was also considerable improvement in his speech. A temporary improvement makes me optimistic for a longer term effect after using stem cells.
NAD alone can be used for many chronic neurodegenerative conditions. In combination with stem cells I have seen further improvement with:
- Multiple sclerosis (MS)
- Parkinson’s disease
- Alzheimer’s
- Post stroke
- Traumatic brain injury
- Chronic degenerative neuromuscular diseases
- Peripheral neuropathy
- ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease
- NAD can be combined with stem cells for rejuvenation
A doctor and IV team needs to be certified to prescribed and administer NAD for medical treatment. Not every doctor can administer NAD and it is not available in most hospitals. Dose is given in most IV facilities is much less (250 mg) than the dose I use clinically.