Niagen IVs gain traction as an alternative to NAD+ infusions among wellness seekers
Clinicians and users say Niagen — an NAD+ precursor delivered intravenously — can raise cellular NAD+ more efficiently with shorter, gentler infusions, according to early studies and industry reports.
Wellness clinics and some high-profile clients are increasingly turning to intravenous Niagen, a form of nicotinamide building block for the coenzyme NAD+, as an alternative to direct NAD+ infusions, saying it produces similar benefits with fewer side effects and shorter treatment times.
Proponents — including clinicians and celebrities who have posted about the therapy — say Niagen IVs can boost energy, improve sleep and speed recovery from travel and exercise. They and some researchers argue the precursor is more bioavailable than infused NAD+, meaning it more readily enters cells where it can be converted back into active NAD+ and carry out functions such as supporting cellular energy production and DNA repair.
Advocates cite a 2024 study led in part by Andrew Shao, senior vice president of global scientific and regulatory affairs at Niagen Bioscience, which reported that participants who received Niagen infusions had “significantly higher” NAD+ levels a few hours later than those who received NAD+ infusions. Shao told The Post that direct NAD+ is not readily taken up into cells and must be broken down into precursors to be effective, whereas Niagen can enter cells and be converted back into NAD+.
"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.
Clinicians offering the therapy say patients tolerate Niagen better than NAD+. Reports about NAD+ IVs have included severe nausea, stomach upset, diarrhoea, muscle cramps, headaches and lightheadedness, and some patients stop treatments before completion. Niagen proponents say infusion times are shorter and adverse reactions milder.
Dr. Abe Malkin, founder of the IV therapy company Drip Hydration, said he switched from NAD+ infusions after five years and now receives Niagen once or twice a month. He said he noticed less discomfort and sustained benefits in energy, sleep and recovery from flights. "My recovery from workouts seems faster, and I notice I'm more resilient to stress. I also sleep better," Malkin said. He described the therapy as a "game changer" for jet lag.
Celebrity endorsements have raised the profile of the treatments. Kathy Hilton told Page Six that weekly Niagen IVs are "sacred," saying they improved her energy, hair and nails and sleep. Tori Spelling and Kelly Bensimon have also posted about receiving Niagen treatments.
Clinic owners and clients in Los Angeles and other wellness hubs say demand is growing among health-conscious executives, athletes and social influencers. Shannon Nadj, CEO of a boutique fitness company, described feeling an "immediate boost in mental clarity and sustained energy for days afterward" and said she noticed improved workout recovery and skin appearance after sessions.
Laboratory and clinical context supports some of the theoretical advantages of precursors over direct NAD+. NAD+ levels decline with age, and the molecule plays central roles in metabolism and cellular repair. Trials of oral Niagen capsules have shown increases in circulating NAD+ levels, but researchers and industry representatives say IV delivery avoids losses through the digestive tract, where gut microbes and metabolism can reduce the fraction that reaches tissues.
"As a pill, the supplement has to go through your digestive tract and interacts with your gut microbes," Shao said. "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."
Despite growing uptake, the body of evidence comparing Niagen IVs and NAD+ infusions remains limited to early studies, company reports and anecdotal accounts from clinicians and patients. Published randomized trials directly contrasting the two delivery methods are scarce in the peer-reviewed literature. Researchers who have studied NAD+ metabolism warn that differences in study design, dosing and timing can affect measured outcomes.
Providers offering Niagen and other IV therapies vary in dosing protocols and patient screening. Some clinics combine Niagen with other vitamins, electrolytes or peptide therapies. Patients seeking IV treatments are advised to discuss indications, risks and alternatives with licensed medical professionals and to consider available clinical evidence.
The rise of Niagen IVs adds to a broader trend of interest in interventions aimed at supporting cellular metabolism and longevity, from exercise and dietary approaches to supplements and intermittent fasting. While some users report subjective benefits such as better sleep and quicker recovery, clinicians and researchers say more robust, independent studies are needed to define efficacy, optimal dosing and long-term safety for intravenous precursor therapy.
For patients and clinicians, the decision to use Niagen IVs is currently shaped by a mix of emerging research, practitioner experience and personal tolerance of prior NAD+ infusions. As clinics expand offerings and early adopters report benefits, researchers say systematic trials will be important to confirm whether the apparent advantages of Niagen IVs translate into sustained clinical outcomes across diverse populations.