It’s "NAD+ mania," says VOGUE, adding that the coenzyme is a target for “algorithm-conscious wellness warriors and credentialed researchers alike.” NAD+ is a critical molecule made inside our cells that’s required for cellular energy production and optimal cellular health. While scientific research supports the benefits of boosting NAD+ with NAD+ precursor supplements like Basis, many—including celebrities Hailey and Justin Bieber, Jennifer Aniston, and Joe Rogan—are getting IV NAD+ drips, which lack scientific evidence. “IV drips are unnecessary and biologically do not make much sense, as there is no transporter to get the NAD+ molecule into the cells,” said Michael Sagner, M.D., director of the European Society of Preventive Medicine and a member of the Elysium Scientific Advisory Board.

Unlike NAD+, NAD+ precursors like NR (in Basis) can enter cells and are clinically proven to raise NAD+ levels. There are dozens of rigorous, placebo-controlled studies, including those from Elysium Health, demonstrating their safety and efficacy. Even if an increase in NAD+ were achieved with IV infusion, the benefit will disappear rapidly without regular repeated infusions. “In very plain words, intramuscular and IV NAD+ intake is silly,” says Charalampos Tzoulis, M.D., professor of neurology and neurogenetics at the University of Bergen and Haukeland University Hospital in Norway in the VOGUE article.