By Dr. Robert Fortino, D.O.
Philadelphia & South Jersey’s Leading Weight Loss and Men’s Health Specialist
What Is NAD+?
Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) has quickly become one of the most talked-about therapeutics in longevity and wellness medicine. NAD+ is a coenzyme naturally found in every cell and is essential for cellular metabolism and energy production.
As we age, NAD+ levels decline—contributing to fatigue, metabolic slowdown, cognitive changes, and increased risk for age-related disease. NAD+ injections may help restore these levels directly into the bloodstream, bypassing the digestive system and allowing the body to absorb the compound more efficiently.
The result? A therapy that may improve energy, cognition, recovery, and metabolic balance helping patients feel renewed from the inside out.
How NAD+ Works
NAD+ participates in hundreds of metabolic reactions in the body, most notably inside the mitochondria, where cellular energy (ATP) is produced. It serves as an electron carrier during cellular respiration and plays a key role in DNA repair and cell survival.
While oral NAD+ supplements lose potency in digestion, intravenous or subcutaneous injections deliver the NAD+ more efficiently, allowing 100% absorption at therapeutic dosages.
Studies show that maintaining optimal NAD+ levels may:
- Combat oxidative stress
- Reduce inflammation
- Activate sirtuins—proteins that regulate DNA repair and longevity
These cellular effects form the foundation for NAD+ therapy’s wide-ranging benefits, including enhanced energy, sharper cognition, improved metabolism, and anti-aging support.
A Whole-Body Approach to Wellness
NAD+ injections work at the cellular level, where true wellness begins. Rather than targeting isolated symptoms, NAD+ therapy supports multiple biological systems simultaneously.
Patients who receive NAD+ injections frequently report:
- Increased daily energy
- Better sleep quality
- Brighter mood and motivation
- Clearer thinking and focus
Because NAD+ supports energy production and stress response pathways, it may also enhance other wellness strategies such as:
- Exercise performance and recovery
- Nutritional interventions
- Peptide or hormone optimization therapies
This synergistic action is why NAD+ is considered a cornerstone in integrative and functional medicine for those seeking to optimize longevity and vitality.
Energy and Cognitive Support
NAD+ plays a critical role in the electron transport chain, the process that creates ATP—our body’s main source of energy. By replenishing NAD+ through injections, many patients experience:
- Elevated energy and endurance
- Decreased fatigue
- Enhanced motivation
Because the brain consumes roughly 20% of the body’s total energy, NAD+ is equally vital for mental clarity and cognitive performance. It fuels neuronal energy metabolism and supports neuroplasticity—the brain’s ability to form new connections.
Research also suggests NAD+ may help:
- Protect neurons from degeneration
- Support production of neurotransmitters (the brain’s chemical messengers)
- Improve memory, focus, and resilience under stress
Patients often describe feeling more mentally alert, focused, and balanced after NAD+ therapy.
Anti-Aging and Longevity Benefits
One of the most exciting aspects of NAD+ therapy is its potential to slow the aging process at the cellular level.
NAD+ activates sirtuins, particularly SIRT1—often called the “longevity gene.” These proteins influence DNA repair, gene expression, and metabolism, and are also responsible for mimicking the cellular benefits of caloric restriction, one of the most researched life-extension methods.
By supporting cellular turnover and collagen production, NAD+ therapy may visibly improve skin tone, elasticity, and texture. On a deeper level, it helps maintain telomere length—the protective caps on chromosomes that shorten as we age, helping preserve cellular integrity.
Additional anti-aging benefits may include:
- Improved cardiovascular health
- Enhanced immune function
- Support for hormonal balance
Together, these effects contribute to improved vitality and quality of life at any age.
Accelerated Recovery and Cellular Repair
NAD+ is essential for the activity of PARPs (poly-ADP-ribose polymerases), enzymes that detect and repair DNA damage. By optimizing these repair mechanisms, NAD+ therapy may accelerate recovery after:
- Injuries
- Surgeries
- Illnesses
- Athletic performance fatigue
Its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties may help reduce cellular damage during healing, while its ability to restore energy at the mitochondrial level promotes faster tissue recovery.
In functional medicine, NAD+ injections are now part of recovery protocols for:
- Traumatic brain injury
- Post-surgical recovery
- Chronic fatigue syndrome
- Fibromyalgia
- Autoimmune conditions
By addressing underlying cellular dysfunction, NAD+ therapy may help the body repair itself more efficiently and may improve overall resilience.
Metabolic Regulation and Weight Support
NAD+ is a key regulator of metabolism. By enhancing mitochondrial efficiency and activating SIRT1, it improves how the body processes energy and burns fat.
Potential metabolic benefits include:
- Improved insulin sensitivity
- Enhanced glucose control
- Increased fat oxidation
- Decreased inflammation in adipose tissue
Many patients have noticed body composition improvements during NAD+ therapy. Because it supports metabolic flexibility, NAD+ may help complement weight management programs—especially for patients who have hit a plateau or struggle with metabolic resistance.
As research continues to expand, NAD+ is showing significant promise as a metabolic optimizer for patients with prediabetes, metabolic syndrome, or type 2 diabetes.
The Future of NAD+ Therapy
The potential benefits of NAD+ injections highlight the molecule’s essential role in maintaining cellular vitality, energy, and resilience.
From boosting energy and cognitive performance to slowing aging, supporting recovery, and enhancing metabolism, NAD+ therapy represents a powerful, science-backed approach to whole-body wellness.
While not a miracle cure, NAD+ therapy is an exciting development in preventive and regenerative medicine, offering a cellular-level solution for maintaining energy, focus, and longevity.
If you’re interested in learning more, call my office or consult with a qualified medical provider experienced in integrative and functional medicine, to determine the most effective NAD+ protocol for your individual health goals.
