NAD+ therapy claims at biohacking conferences: what the science says

What did @nursedoza actually say?

At Dave Asprey's 2025 Biohacking Conference in Austin, @nursedoza made several claims about NAD+ injections that deserve a close look. The big ones: NAD+ shots will "save you" when you're run down, they produce energy "almost immediately," and, most strikingly, one patient's ankle pain "went away within a few minutes" after a shot. They also positioned NAD+ as beneficial for energy, focus, recovery, cognition, and immune function, and said injections can be done "from the comfort of your own home."

That last detail matters. A nurse promoting at-home self-injection of any compound, at a biohacking conference functioning as a sales environment, is a setup worth scrutinizing. The ankle pain anecdote is the most egregious claim here, and we'll get to why.

Does the science back this up?

Partially, but not in the dramatic, immediate way described. NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) is a real coenzyme involved in cellular energy metabolism, DNA repair, and mitochondrial function. Declining NAD+ levels with age are a legitimate area of research. The problem is the gap between what the science actually shows and what's being described here.

Studies using NAD+ precursors like NMN and NR (not injections) have shown modest improvements in metabolic markers in older adults (Yoshino et al., 2021, Science; Canto et al., 2012, Cell Metabolism). Direct IV NAD+ infusion research is much thinner. A small 2023 pilot study (Braidy et al., Nutrients) found IV NAD+ raised blood NAD+ levels, but clinical outcomes were limited and short-term. "Almost immediately" feeling energized is more consistent with a saline infusion effect, placebo response, or the general stimulation of being at a conference, than with a confirmed pharmacological mechanism. The ankle pain resolution in minutes has no credible mechanistic explanation in the current literature.

What did they get wrong (or right)?

Right: NAD+ does play a role in energy metabolism and cellular repair. The interest in NAD+ supplementation among longevity researchers is not fringe, it's a real and growing field. Saying NAD+ supports "energy, focus, and recovery" is a reasonable general statement, at least as a working hypothesis backed by preclinical data.

Wrong, and pretty significantly: The ankle pain claim is the kind of anecdote that should never be repeated as evidence by a healthcare professional. One patient reporting pain relief minutes after an injection describes a placebo response almost perfectly. NAD+ is not an analgesic. There is no known mechanism by which a subcutaneous or IV NAD+ injection would resolve joint pain in minutes. Repeating it uncritically, in a promotional context, while wearing scrubs, blurs the line between clinical credibility and marketing. That's a problem.

Also wrong: Framing NAD+ shots as something that will "save you" before a hard week is wellness influencer language, not clinical language. It sets expectations the evidence doesn't support.

What should you actually know?

If you're curious about NAD+, a few things are worth keeping straight. First, most of the serious research has used oral precursors (NMN, NR), not injections, so the injection format is ahead of its evidence base. Second, injectable NAD+ is not FDA-approved for any specific indication, meaning compounded versions vary in quality and sterility, and at-home injection carries real infection and dosing risks without clinical supervision.

Third, NAD+ IV infusions are sometimes used in addiction recovery and fatigue clinics, and some patients report feeling better, but controlled trial evidence is limited. Feeling a boost during or after an IV infusion can reflect hydration, the B vitamins often included alongside NAD+, or simply resting for an hour. Fourth, if a healthcare provider at a conference tells you a single shot fixed someone's ankle pain, ask for the peer-reviewed citation. There isn't one. That story is a sales tool, not a clinical observation.

• NAD+ research is real but mostly preclinical or based on oral precursors, not injections
• At-home self-injection of compounded NAD+ without supervision carries real risks
• Pain relief within minutes from a NAD+ shot has no established mechanistic basis
• IV infusion "energy" effects are often confounded by hydration and placebo