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NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) is a coenzyme present in all your cells: it takes part in mitochondrial energy production and DNA repair, and its levels decline naturally with age. Intravenous infusions raise its availability directly and can support cellular energy, mental clarity and repair processes within an anti-aging plan supervised by qualified doctors. They are not a promise of results: they are physiological support, and results vary from person to person.
What is NAD+ and why does it decline with age?
NAD+ was identified in 1906 by the biochemists Arthur Harden and William John Young, and has since been described as an essential coenzyme in hundreds of metabolic reactions. It serves two functions that matter for longevity: it allows mitochondria to produce ATP, the cell's energy, and it acts as a substrate for sirtuins and PARP enzymes, which are involved in DNA repair.
Over the years, that balance breaks down on both sides: production falls and consumption rises. A study published in Cell Metabolism in 2016 showed that the CD38 enzyme, which degrades NAD+, increases with age and with low-grade chronic inflammation.
NAD+ levels in human tissue can decline by around 50% between the ages of 40 and 60, according to an analysis of skin samples published in PLOS ONE in 2012.
The practical consequence is less efficient cellular repair and slower energy production. It is not a disease: it is physiology, and it can be acted upon through habits and, in some cases, with medical support.
What does the evidence say about NAD+ infusions?
Most human data comes from oral precursors, not the intravenous route. The trial by Martens and colleagues, published in Nature Communications in 2018, showed that 1,000 mg daily of nicotinamide riboside raised blood NAD+ by around 60% in healthy middle-aged adults.
In the 2018 trial, the increase in blood NAD+ was approximately 60% after six weeks of oral supplementation. The intravenous route raises plasma availability immediately, but human clinical trials are still scarce.
Intravenous infusion bypasses digestion and makes NAD+ available in plasma from the first session. The honest position, from a medical point of view, is to acknowledge that evidence on long-term clinical outcomes is still developing: that is why we present it as support, never as a guarantee.
In the European Union, nicotinamide riboside chloride has been authorized as a novel food ingredient since Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/16, while NMN does not have that authorization. This is useful context when comparing supplements with a doctor-supervised infusion.
| Route | Availability | Human evidence | Supervision |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intravenous infusion | Direct in plasma from the first session | Clinical trials still limited | Medical, with prior assessment |
| Oral precursors (NR) | Gradual, over weeks | Trials showing increases in blood NAD+ | Self-administered |
How does NAD+ fit into an anti-aging plan?
A serious anti-aging plan works on several layers. HIFU acts on laxity, facial PRP and skin boosters on skin quality, and the ClearLift laser on texture; NAD+ works on the cellular layer, the one that sustains the energy and repair behind everything else.
Habits multiply or slow that support. Sleeping 7 to 8 hours, strength training two or three times a week and moderating alcohol reduce the inflammation that activates CD38, the enzyme that consumes NAD+.
That is why in consultation we do not talk about an isolated infusion, but about a combined, personalized protocol. What we cannot promise is a specific result: results vary according to each person's age, metabolic status and lifestyle.
What can you expect from a NAD+ IV session?
Everything starts with a medical assessment: clinical history, current medication and goals. Pregnancy, breastfeeding, active cancer treatment or significant kidney or liver disease are reasons to pause or rule out the infusion, and that decision is always made by a doctor.
The session lasts between 60 and 120 minutes, with a slow drip adjusted to your tolerance. Some people report mild, transient discomfort — nausea, chest pressure, flushing or headache — that usually subsides when the infusion rate is reduced.
For sustained support, a course of 4 to 6 sessions is recommended, with a two-week follow-up included at no extra cost. The result is assessed at the end of the course, and what is measured is how you feel: energy, clarity, rest.
- Medical assessment
- Personalized protocol
- 60-120 min infusion
- Two-week follow-up
- Course of 4-6 sessions
| NAD+ IV dose | Session duration | Price per session |
|---|---|---|
| 250 mg | 60-120 minutes | €500 |
| 500 mg | 60-120 minutes | €750 |
| 1,000 mg | 60-120 minutes | €1,000 |
The prior medical consultation costs €50 and the aesthetic consultation is free. The dose is chosen based on your assessment, not a fixed chart.
Key points
- NAD+ is an essential coenzyme for mitochondrial energy and DNA repair, described in 1906.
- Its levels can decline by around 50% between the ages of 40 and 60, and the CD38 enzyme accelerates that decline.
- The strongest human evidence comes from oral precursors; the intravenous route acts directly, but its trials are still limited.
- A session lasts between 60 and 120 minutes and the recommended course is 4 to 6 sessions, with a two-week follow-up included.
- NAD+ supports an anti-aging plan; it does not replace it or guarantee results. Results vary.
How Santé Clinics approaches it
At Santé Clínica Estética, on Avenida Diagonal 384 (Barcelona), IV therapy is led by Dr. Alejandro Infante and performed by qualified doctors. No infusion begins without a prior medical assessment, and the dose — 250, 500 or 1,000 mg — is adjusted to your clinical history and your goals.
The aesthetic consultation is free and the medical consultation costs €50, with a two-week follow-up included. We see patients in Spanish, English, Portuguese and Russian, and if NAD+ is not indicated for you, we will tell you just as clearly.
Frequently asked questions
Do NAD+ infusions stop aging?
No. No treatment stops aging, and you should be wary of anyone who promises it. NAD+ can support cellular energy and repair processes, but results vary and long-term evidence is still developing.
How many sessions do I need and when is the result assessed?
A course of 4 to 6 sessions is recommended for sustained support. The first assessment takes place at the two-week follow-up, included at no cost, and the full evaluation at the end of the course.
Does the infusion have side effects?
The needle stick is the same as any intravenous line. During the infusion, some people notice mild nausea, chest pressure, flushing or headache — transient discomfort that usually resolves when the drip rate is reduced under medical supervision.
Can I combine NAD+ with other anti-aging treatments?
Yes, and it is usually the norm: NAD+ acts at the cellular level while HIFU, facial PRP or skin boosters work on skin structure and quality. Your doctor will define the order and intervals of each protocol.
What is the difference with oral NAD+ supplements?
Oral precursors raise NAD+ gradually over weeks and have more human trials; the infusion makes it available in plasma from the first session, under medical supervision. In the EU, nicotinamide riboside has been authorized as a food ingredient since 2020 and NMN has not.
