Why Your NAD+ Supplement Might Not Be Working: The Truth About Absorption

Oral NAD+ or its precursors may have limited absorption, as digestive processes can reduce the fraction that reaches systemic circulation [1]. Injections work better because they bypass the stomach entirely, delivering the molecule directly into fatty tissue. For guaranteed absorption without the hassle of IV drips, subcutaneous injections (like Vivere) are the gold standard.

• Pills may be less efficient: A portion of orally ingested NAD+ or its precursors is metabolised before entering the bloodstream.

• The Liver "Tax": Your liver filters out what little survives the stomach (First-Pass Metabolism).

• Injections skip the queue: Injections bypass the digestive system, potentially increasing NAD+ availability in the bloodstream.

• Vivere is different: We use easy-to-apply, pain-free injections.

Imagine trying to mail an ice cream to a friend.

If you put it in a standard paper envelope (a pill) and drop it in the postbox, it will be a melted mess by the time it arrives. The journey is too harsh for something so fragile.

If you put it in a freezer truck (an injection), it arrives perfect.

NAD+ is a large, fragile molecule. When you swallow it, you are asking it to survive a bath of acid and enzymes. That is why you might have spent months taking NMN or NR capsules without feeling a significant boost in energy or focus.

Your stomach is designed to break things down. That is great for food, but terrible for sensitive supplements.

When you swallow a NAD+ pill, it hits a pool of gastric acid. This acid attacks the molecule, breaking it into smaller parts like nicotinamide.

Even if some NAD+ survives the acid, it faces a second hurdle: the liver.

This is called First-Pass Metabolism [2]. Think of your liver as a border. It inspects everything absorbed from your gut. It grabs most of the remaining NAD+ and breaks it down further before letting it into your main blood supply.

By the time the "supplement" actually reaches your brain or muscles to support cellular uptake, the amount of NAD+ or its precursors that is available for cellular uptake can vary.

Bioavailability simply means how much NAD+ actually enters your blood.

• IV Drip: 100% Bioavailability (Goes straight in) [3].

• Subcutaneous Injection (Vivere): ~80% Bioavailability (Absorbs through capillaries).

• Oral Pills/Capsules: Variable (Often less than 10% for NAD+ and 40% for precursors like NMN and NR).

If you pay £50 for a bottle of pills, but your body only absorbs 10% of it, you aren't really paying £50. You are paying £500 for the usable dose.

To fix the absorption problem, you have to skip the stomach.

Vivere uses subcutaneous tissue delivery. This means injecting into the fatty tissue just under your skin, usually on your stomach or thigh.

• It skips digestion: The NAD+ is absorbed directly into the tiny blood vessels (capillaries) in your fat tissue.

• It avoids the liver tax: It enters your general circulation before the liver gets a chance to break it down.

• It is steady: Unlike a sudden spike, fat tissue releases the molecule steadily into your system to support molecule stability.

This ensures the NAD+ remains stable and reaches the cells that need it, fueling your mitochondria and helping maintain the blood-brain barrier function to clear brain fog [4].

You might have seen celebrities using Intravenous (IV) drips in clinics. That works, but it is impractical for real life.

IV drips often cause "flushing" or nausea because they flood the system too fast. Vivere’s pen allows you to avoid side effects while getting the same benefits.

If you are serious about longevity and energy, you need a method that respects the science of the molecule.

Pills are convenient, but oral NAD+ precursors may have variable absorption.

Vivere offers the only British-made solution that combines the power of an injection with the ease of a morning vitamin. Don't let your investment dissolve in your stomach.

“Many people try oral NAD+ supplements and sometimes feel uncertain about the results. Oral precursors, such as NMN or NR, can support NAD+ levels in the body, but absorption can vary between individuals. Subcutaneous delivery bypasses the digestive system and may provide a more direct way to increase NAD+ availability. Injections can be a convenient option for those seeking a consistent method to boost their NAD+ levels. Ultimately, the best approach is one that fits your lifestyle while supporting your body’s cellular energy needs.”

[1] Quantitative Analysis of NAD Synthesis-Breakdown Fluxes - PubMed

[2] Nicotinamide riboside is uniquely and orally bioavailable in mice and humans | Nature Communications

[3] A Pilot Study Investigating Changes in the Human Plasma and Urine NAD+ Metabolome During a 6 Hour Intravenous Infusion of NAD+

[4] NAD+ rescues aging-induced blood-brain barrier damage via the CX43-PARP1 axis - PubMed