June 28, 2026
Lifetime Performance Medicine is a physician-led longevity clinic in Los Gatos, serving Saratoga, Campbell, San Jose, and the wider South Bay. NAD+ IV therapy has become a popular request across Silicon Valley, and with popularity comes a lot of overstatement. Our goal here is different. We want to explain what NAD+ actually is, what the evidence does and does not support, and who might genuinely benefit, so you can make an informed decision rather than chase a trend.
NAD+, short for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, is a coenzyme found in every cell of your body. Its main job is to help convert the food you eat into the energy your cells run on. It also plays a role in DNA repair and in the signaling pathways that help cells manage stress and maintain themselves.
One important point up front. NAD+ is not a peptide. It is a coenzyme, a small molecule that partners with enzymes to make essential reactions happen. You may see NAD+ grouped with all sorts of trendy therapies, but chemically and functionally it belongs in its own category as a fundamental part of cellular energy metabolism.
NAD+ levels are thought to decline with age, and that observation is a large part of why it has drawn so much interest in the longevity world. The idea is that supporting NAD+ might support the cellular processes that depend on it.
Here is where honesty matters most. The science on NAD+ is genuinely interesting, and it is also still early. Much of the most exciting research has been done in cells and in animals, and while some human studies exist, we do not yet have large, long-term trials proving that NAD+ IV therapy slows aging or reverses disease in people.
So we will not claim that. What we can say fairly is that some people report improvements in energy, mental clarity, and recovery, and that NAD+ is central to processes that clearly matter for how cells function. Those are reasonable, measured reasons to be interested. They are not the same as a cure, and any clinic in Los Gatos or the South Bay promising dramatic guaranteed results from an NAD+ drip is getting ahead of the evidence. We would rather tell you the truth and let you decide.
NAD+ IV therapy is not for everyone, and it is not a substitute for the fundamentals of health. That said, some people are more likely to find it worthwhile than others.
Individuals dealing with persistent fatigue, those focused on recovery and cellular health as part of a broader longevity effort, and people who have addressed the basics of sleep, nutrition, movement, and stress but want to explore additional support sometimes consider it. The people least likely to benefit are those hoping an IV will make up for habits that need attention first. NAD+ works best, if it works for you, as one piece of a larger plan rather than a standalone fix.
This is the part that separates responsible care from a drip on a menu. At Lifetime Performance Medicine, our IV therapy, including NAD+, recovery, immune, and cognitive protocols, is medically prescribed based on your labs. It is not something we hand to anyone who walks in and asks.
That matters for real reasons. Your fatigue or brain fog might have a cause that an IV would mask rather than address, such as a thyroid issue, a nutrient deficiency, or a metabolic problem worth treating directly. Testing first means we understand what is actually going on before we recommend anything. It also means the therapy is delivered under clinical supervision, with attention to how NAD+ infusions are dosed and paced, since they can feel uncomfortable if given too quickly. Morgan Carmean, ARNP leads our wellness clinic and oversees IV protocols, and our founder, Dr. Richard Nguyen, DO, a board-certified surgeon with more than twenty years of experience, sees members twice a year as part of their plan.
We think of NAD+ IV therapy the way we think of every tool in our clinic, as one input into a complete picture rather than the point of the picture. New members receive an 80-plus biomarker panel, biological age testing through PhenoAge, body composition analysis, a calculated VO2 max, and a Lifetime Body Score across six domains, all feeding a physician-built twelve-month plan, with full DEXA scanning and direct VO2 max testing in the Optimization and Executive tiers.
Within that context, an IV protocol can make sense when the data supports it. On its own, disconnected from testing and a real plan, it is just a bag of fluid with a lot of marketing attached. Members and a la carte visitors across San Jose and the South Bay come to us precisely because we place therapies like this inside a measured, honest framework. That is where they do their best work, if they are right for you at all.
Yes. Lifetime Performance Medicine is in Los Gatos and serves patients from San Jose, Saratoga, Campbell, and across the South Bay and Silicon Valley.
No. NAD+ is a coenzyme involved in cellular energy metabolism, not a peptide. It belongs to its own category of molecules.
We cannot honestly promise that. The research is still early, and while some people report more energy and clarity, there is no proof that NAD+ reverses aging. We treat it as one measured option within a larger plan.
Yes. Our IV therapy is physician-prescribed based on your labs, so we understand what is actually going on before recommending anything.
Every membership begins with the same baseline panel and the same two visits: an intake with Morgan, then your Body Score reveal with me. If you have been guessing about your health for years, the first step is to stop guessing.
Dr. Nguyen has practiced in Los Gatos since 2007. He leads every membership: the Body Score reveal, the 90-day plan, and the annual review.
Book a consultation with Dr. Nguyen and Morgan. We'll walk you through your options and answer every question.
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