Why NAD+ IV drips fall short

If you've ever been tempted by the promise of NAD+ IV therapy at a wellness clinic, you're not alone. The idea of replenishing your body’s master energy molecule, NAD+, in one swift drip sounds appealing. But here’s the catch:

You’re paying for a fully-built LEGO car you can’t actually use—when all your body needs are the bricks.

Here’s how it works:

NAD+ = the LEGO car
NR = the individual LEGO pieces

Imagine trying to shove a LEGO car (NAD+) through a tiny mail slot (your cell membrane). It doesn’t fit. So what happens? Your body has to break it down outside the cell into smaller parts—like NR—which can easily pass through the mail slot and be reassembled inside the cell into the functional NAD+ you were aiming for all along.

So, why not just take the LEGO pieces (NR) to begin with?

That’s exactly what we’ve done in HOP Box.

The science is clear: NR works better than NAD+ IV

A recent study published in Frontiers of Aging Neuroscience reveals something surprising:

Direct NAD+ infusions don't significantly raise cellular NAD+ levels until hours later, and much of it is broken down outside the cells before it can be used.

Why? Because NAD+ is too large to enter cells directly. It must be metabolized by enzymes like CD38 into smaller compounds—often NR—which your body then uses to build NAD+ internally. In other words, you’re paying for an expensive shortcut that… isn’t a shortcut.

Clinical evidence: NR > NAD+ IV

A randomized, controlled trial comparing IV NAD+, IV NR, and oral NR found:

• IV NR raised NAD+ levels faster and more efficiently than NAD+ IV
• NR was better tolerated, with 75% faster infusion times
• NR caused no inflammatory side effects, unlike NAD+ IV, which triggered immune responses in some patients (elevated white blood cell and neutrophils).  

This means:

• More comfort
• Better cellular absorption
• Less cost
• Faster results

The smart way to supplement NAD+

Your HOP Box includes high-quality nicotinamide riboside (NR)—the exact LEGO pieces your body needs to rebuild NAD+ where it counts: inside your cells.

And instead of sitting for 3+ hours in a clinic, you can take your supplement at home in seconds—no needles and no price tags in the hundreds or thousands.

TL;DR — why HOP Box’s NR beats NAD+ IV

• Better absorption. NR enters cells directly, while NAD+ must be broken down first.
• Faster uptake. Clinical studies show NR elevates NAD+ more efficiently.
• More affordable. Skip the clinic, save hundreds.
• Safer. NR avoids the inflammatory risks of NAD+ IV.
• Smarter science. You’re giving your body the parts it actually uses—not paying for the ones it discards.

Keep building better energy

At HOP, we believe better aging starts with better biochemistry—and that starts with giving your body what it needs to work smarter, not harder. NR is the science-backed, body-friendly way to recharge your cells and stay sharp.

Stick with your HOP Box, and skip the drip.