#37 | GMJ Podcast | NAD⁺ Injections and “NAD Boosters” — Public Health Risks and Regulatory Implications

In this episode of the GMJ Podcast — the official podcast of the Georgian Medical Journal — we present a policy-focused analysis examining the rapid rise of NAD⁺ injections and NAD-boosting supplements in the context of public health, clinical evidence, and regulatory oversight.Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD⁺) is a fundamental coenzyme involved in cellular energy metabolism, DNA repair, and immune regulation. However, its growing use in wellness markets through injections, infusions, and oral supplements such as nicotinamide riboside (NR) and nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) has significantly outpaced evidence on clinical effectiveness and long-term safety.The analysis explores how mechanistic scientific findings have been translated into large-scale consumer interventions without sufficient outcomes-based evidence.The episode examines key public health concerns, including:• The gap between biomarker changes and clinically meaningful outcomes• Adverse effects and pharmacological activity observed in human studies• Long-term safety uncertainties, including cardiovascular and cancer-related risks• Product quality issues, including supplement adulteration and regulatory limitations• The role of health misinformation in accelerating adoption• Implications for healthcare systems, including potential downstream burdenThe findings highlight that NAD⁺ interventions, while biologically active, remain unproven in terms of disease prevention, longevity, or clinical benefit. From a public health perspective, the combination of uncertain benefit, measurable risk, and increasing population exposure represents a concerning risk profile.This episode emphasizes the importance of precautionary policy, strengthened pharmacovigilance, and evidence-based communication in addressing emerging health trends.https://gmj.ge/index.php/pub/article/view/15https://gmj.ge/index.php/pub/article/view/15/10https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19051458Citation:Pkhakadze, G. (2026). NAD⁺ Injections and “NAD Boosters”: Public Health Risks, Adverse Effects, and Regulatory Implications in the Context of Rapid Consumer Adoption. The Georgian Medical Journal, 1(1), 35–43.https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19051458