Top 4 Beneficial Effects of NAD IV Therapy for Toronto Athletes

If you’re participating in more physical activities, have you thought about supplementation? NAD IV therapy from the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre can potentially help with optimal functioning on (and off) the ball court!

Inside our IV Lounge, intravenous therapy may be prescribed for supportive measures. We offer a plethora of nutrients in our IV Lounge, and NAD (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) can be blended into an IV drip. It may support your physical performance by promoting energy production, muscle recovery, and more.

NAD is a crucial enzyme for directing cellular function — without it, we wouldn’t survive! This is because NAD holds major roles in our physical movements, muscle development, and in the development and restoration of skeletal muscle. “The vast majority of studies indicate that lower NAD+ levels are deleterious for muscle health and higher NAD+ levels augment muscle health,” confirms a Skeletal Muscle article.

This blog post may inspire you to up your game with NAD supplementation. We unveil its possible benefits for athletes, how to boost these amounts in the body, reasons to consider for NAD IV therapy in Toronto, and details about the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre (TFMC).

Key NAD Health Benefits for Athletes

NAD may target your health goals at a cellular level. Here’s how it can assist physical performances:

• Swiftly boosts hydration: NAD IV therapy treatments can rapidly rehydrate the body. According to John Hopkins Medicine, “For every hour of activity, people can lose up to 2 quarts of fluid ― and salt along with it.” High-endurance activities (i.e. running) can deplete about 3 quarts of fluids an hour. NAD IV therapy consists of blending the coenzyme with specific IV fluids, such as saline. Saline carries electrolytes and when intravenously given, it immediately replenishes fluids without the digestive process, potentially offering quick results.
• May improve endurance and stamina: Endurance sports, such as swimming and cycling, require continuous movements for a period of time. So next to training, a regular NAD IV drip could help upgrade stamina. “Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide is a key energy intermediate in skeletal muscle thought to promote mitochondrial adaptation to endurance exercise,” notes an article from Sports Medicine.
• Could maximize physical recovery: The body may be inflamed after exercising, which can cause body aches. When supplemented, NAD could instill anti-inflammatory effects, which may reduce muscle pain. The coenzyme also participates in the creation of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), a neurotransmitter used for cellular energy. Thus, NAD may prevent post-workout fatigue, which can promote a speedy recovery.
• May contribute to improving focus: Your full attention is needed to keep your eye on the ball! If you’ve been distracted lately, consider NAD+ IV therapy to promote improvements to brain function. As people age, cognitive decline may ensue, and studies show a correlation between this and low amounts of NAD. If you’re already short on NAD due to aging, NAD+ IV therapy drips could potentially improve your game focus.

Next Steps: How to Boost NAD for Physical Performances

This essential coenzyme may encourage positive effects for athletes. So how can you raise these amounts? Here are some ways:

• Eat NAD-rich foods: Add whole grain foods to your diet. As we described in “Top 6 NAD-Boosting Foods”, whole grains contain niacin, which can stimulate the production of additional NAD. Now’s the time to try brown rice as a new side dish!
• Supplement with precursors: Consult a functional health care practitioner for details about NAD-related supplements. Tablets or capsules with NAD precursors are available, and these precursors are niacin, nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), nicotinamide riboside (NR), apigenin and resveratrol. We urge you to get advice prior to trying new supplements, especially if you’re on medications or struggling with a digestive condition.
• Look into NAD IV therapy: As we explained earlier, IV NAD+ can be accessed in our IV Lounge. An IV tube is set up to administer a nutritional solution (that contains NAD or other ingredients) through your vein. The solution enters the bloodstream and bypasses the digestive tract, which prevents you from losing dosages from the digestive process. If you want to maximize rehydration and recovery, book an IV NAD+ drip session after a practice or game.

Supplementing with NAD, especially as a regular NAD IV drip, may not only promote improvements to athleticism — it can contribute to supporting metabolic functions, immune function, and cell health, while helping to prevent or delay age-related diseases. Please contact our health team to discover our functional medicine treatments.

Book Your Initial Consultation for NAD+ IV Therapy

It can be frustrating when your health concerns are misunderstood by a health care practitioner. This is why we take ample time with patients to discuss and understand their health needs, such as improving mental clarity, hair growth, weight management, cardiovascular health, and more.

Our functional and integrative approach to health care is designed to meet your needs only. By offering you an array of treatment modalities, you’re given multiple options for symptom relief, while helping to avert or delay forthcoming chronic issues. Your comprehensive treatment plan may contain acupuncture, naturopathic medicine healing, Western medicine, holistic nutrition, the use of functional medicine tests, and more.

IV NAD+ therapy can be prescribed by our clinicians. We freshly blend intravenous drips with natural ingredients (and no preservatives!) inside our IV Lounge. This drip can be given as a stand-alone treatment or administered with a series of drips that contain amino acids, glutathione, and other nutrients. We ask that you attend your initial consultation before getting your first NAD+ IV drip from us — this is to rule out underlying issues, medication interactions, and allergies to IV fluids. All TFMC treatments, including IV therapy treatments, are personalized with the functional medicine model, which is how we tailor your NAD dosage. When NAD IV therapy is included in a regiment of healthy lifestyle habits and wellness consultations, they may promote optimal health outcomes.

Get ahead of the game right now — let’s tailor a recovery regime for your muscles, mental acuity, and more. All you need to do is click here and request your initial visit for NAD IV therapy at the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre.

Disclaimer: The information in this article is designed for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical advice or care. This information should not be used to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting a doctor. You should always consult with a health care practitioner before relying on any information in this article or on this website. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified healthcare provider because of information you have read from the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre website or other affiliate media.

References

Amjad, S., Nisar, S., Bhat, A. A., Shah, A. R., Frenneaux, M. P., Fakhro, K., Haris, M., Reddy, R., Patay, Z., Baur, J., & Bagga, P. (2021). Role of NAD+ in regulating cellular and metabolic signaling pathways. Molecular Metabolism, 49. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molmet.2021.101195

Campelj, D., & Philp, A. (2022). NAD+ Therapeutics and Skeletal Muscle Adaptation to Exercise in Humans. Sports Medicine (Auckland, N.z.), 52(Suppl 1), 91–99. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-022-01772-2

Chubanava, S., & Treebak, J. T. (2023). Regular exercise effectively protects against the aging-associated decline in skeletal muscle NAD content. Experimental Gerontology, 173, 112109. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.exger.2023.112109

Goody, M. F., & Henry, C. A. (2018). A need for NAD+ in muscle development, homeostasis, and aging. Skeletal Muscle, 8. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13395-018-0154-1

Liao, B., Zhao, Y., Wang, D., Zhang, X., Hao, X., & Hu, M. (2021). Nicotinamide mononucleotide supplementation enhances aerobic capacity in amateur runners: A randomized, double-blind study. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 18. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12970-021-00442-4

Rajman, L., Chwalek, K., & Sinclair, D. A. (2018). Therapeutic potential of NAD-boosting molecules: The in vivo evidence. Cell Metabolism, 27(3), 529. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmet.2018.02.011

“Sports and Hydration for Athletes: Q&A with a Dietitian” from John Hopkins Medicine, viewed on June 2, 2024.

Tanabe Y, Fujii N, Suzuki K. Dietary Supplementation for Attenuating Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage and Delayed-Onset Muscle Soreness in Humans. Nutrients. 2021 Dec 24;14(1):70. doi: 10.3390/nu14010070. PMID: 35010943; PMCID: PMC8746365.

Xu, Y., & Xiao, W. (2023). NAD+: An old but promising therapeutic agent for skeletal muscle ageing. Ageing Research Reviews, 92, 102106. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arr.2023.102106

Original article “Toronto Functional Medicine Centre” first appeared in the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre website.