NAD IV therapy promises more energy. But it could come at a cost

These days, everyone is looking for an edge – whether for more energy, sharper focus or a longer life. To get one, social media recommendations are usually as varied as they are enticing, with some supported by solid science while others rely heavily on theories, anecdotal reports and clever marketing.

Sometimes, even an essential nutrient such as vitamin B3 can be repackaged to seem more transformative than the science really suggests. NAD IV therapy is a prime example. While NAD is indispensable to human health, "there is no strong evidence that there is any health benefit to NAD infusions," says Dr. Zachary Mulvihill, an integrative health and well-being physician at NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine.

Here’s what to know before paying to get one.

NAD is short for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, and is a molecule that helps enzymes carry out a variety of essential chemical reactions. Your body converts the vitamin B3 (niacin) you eat as part of your diet into NAD, Mulvihill explains.

The molecule helps support more than 400 enzyme reactions and is especially important for shifting energy from carbohydrates, fats and proteins into a form your cells can use. NAD contributes to cell signaling, gene activity regulation…

Original source: https://www.usatoday.com/life/