What this covers
In this video, I break down two of the buzziest topics in wellness right now—NAD+ therapy and peptides—and give you a clear, no-nonsense comparison from a real primary care doctor.
What you’ll learn in this video:
What NAD+ is, how it fuels your mitochondria, and why you might need more of it as you age
What peptides are, the most common ones being used (BPC-157, CJC-1295, ipamorelin, etc.), and what they claim to do
The truth about cost, safety, and clinical evidence
My honest take as a doctor on whether NAD or peptides are worth your money
I’ll cover benefits, risks, sourcing issues, and real-world stories so you can decide which—if any—makes sense for your goals.
***Nothing I share here is personal medical advice. Always check with your own provider before starting a new supplement or treatment.***
my preferred brand (this is an affiliate link and I earn a small comission from purchases made through this link): https://bit.ly/45DOjXF search NMN
Source description (no synthesized summary yet).
Dr. Ashley Fry argues that NAD supplementation and peptides serve distinct biological functions—NAD is an energy booster for immediate cellular health, while peptides are targeted signaling tools for long-term outcomes like strength and fat loss—and individuals must clarify their health goals before choosing between them.
- NAD levels decline with age and directly power mitochondria; supplementing addresses energy, clarity, and possibly dementia risk
- Peptides are messenger molecules that trigger specific physiological outcomes (muscle growth, fat loss, etc.) but require the user to do the actual work and aren't magic
- Cost, regulatory status, and efficacy differ substantially; NAD IVs cost $200–$500 per session while peptides range $100–$300 per vial, and most peptides lack FDA approval and human data
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Most peptides are not FDA approved and human data on them is sparse; the speaker, despite being a doctor, cannot legally prescribe most peptides.
“And here's the catch. Most peptides are not FDA approved and human data is sparse is sparse. I cannot legally prescribe most peptides. And I don't care who you are.”
Popular growth hormone-releasing peptides like ipamorelin, CJC1295, and sermorelin trigger pulses in growth hormone release, leading to increased muscle mass and strength.
“For some popular peptides like ipomorin, CJC1295 or seroralin that triggers pulses in growth hormone release and then you can get increased mass in your muscles or increased strength from that.”
As you age, NAD levels decline, especially after age 40–50, and declining NAD with age leads to more fatigue, brain fog, slower recovery, and the aging process itself.
“But here's the thing. As you age, your NAD levels decline, especially after 40, 50 years old. And researchers think that declining NAD with age leads to more fatigue, brain fog, slower recovery, and the aging process itself.”
NAD stands for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide and is present in every cell of your body, where it powers the mitochondria—the tiny engines in cells that produce energy.
“NAD stands for nicotenomide adinine ducleotide. I'm not going to pretend like I walk around saying fancy things all day. I don't. All right, NAD is in every cell of your body, and you need it to power your mitochondria, the tiny engines in your cells that make your energy.”
The viewer should not accept claims like 'NAD is a miracle' or 'peptides are the answer' at face value; instead, they should do their own research, read scientific articles if they can understand them, and fact-check popular claims made by influencers on YouTube.
“Don't just take claims like NAD is a miracle or peptides are the answer for what you need. I mean, sometimes they are, sometimes they're not. Just do your research. Read the articles if you can understand them. Watch the guys with the bro science and just fact check them. Not everybody is telling the truth on YouTube.”
Declining NAD levels have been heavily researched in the development of dementia, and studies on mice have shown that supplementing with NAD can boost their memory and prevent dementia.
“And in fact, declining NAD levels have been heavily researched in the role of developing dementia. They've even done some studies on mice and shown that supplementing with NAD can boost their memory and prevent dementia.”
Most peptides are labeled 'research use only' and carry disclaimers that the product is not for human or animal consumption of any kind, despite being marketed for human wellness use.
“See, like this one, this is BPC157 TB500, and it literally says research use only. This product is not for human or animal consumption of any kind.”
The benefits of NAD supplementation appear to come from lowering oxidative stress, reducing inflammation, and boosting mitochondrial health.
“They don't know, but benefits appear to be coming from lowering oxidative stress, reducing inflammation, and boosting mitochondrial health.”
Most primary care doctors won't talk about certain health topics (like NAD and peptides) because their income depends on insurance companies, whereas direct primary care doctors are free to discuss patient interests.
“Why? Because your doctors work for your insurance companies. They don't work for you. I don't take insurance. I don't want their money. Because I'd rather talk to you about things that you want to talk about because it's your health.”
Most oral peptides are digested by the stomach and degraded before reaching systemic circulation, which is why people use injectable peptides most of the time; oral capsules should generally be avoided.
“Try to stay away from the oral capsules, but most of the oral peptides get digested by the stomach and the peptides are degraded in the stomach before they hit the system. So that's why people use injectable peptides most of the time.”
NAD supplementation can be delivered via IV infusions (which boost levels the best and fastest), oral precursors like NMN, or injections.
“You can do IV infusions. That's going to boost your levels the best and the fastest. You can take oral precursors like NMN, or you can do injections.”
Peptides are chains of amino acids (the building blocks of proteins) that act as messengers: they enter the body, find a receptor they fit into, and when they bind to that receptor, they signal a chain of downstream events.
“Peptides are chains of amino acids, which are the building blocks of proteins, and they act like messengers. So, if you take a peptide, it's going to go into your body and find a receptor that it fits into. And when it hits that receptor, it signals the next chain of events.”
We do not yet know if supplementing with NAD actually slows down the aging process, though research is pretty promising.
“We really don't know yet if supplementing with NAD actually slows down the aging process. But research is pretty promising.”
Wellness spas that claim peptides are for human use are likely lying, except for semaglutide, tirzepatide, PT-141, sermorelin, oxytocin, and maybe a few others; these facilities operate in murky regulatory waters and know it.
“If you get your peptides from a fancy wellness spa that claims that they're for human use, they're probably lying. Unless it's semiglutide, tzepide, PT-14141, suroralin, and maybe a few others, oxytocin. Those places are treading some murky water and they know it.”
You must know your goal before picking a peptide, because peptides have different functions including muscle growth, strength, weight loss, emotional bonding and love, sleep, and skin tanning.
“Anyway, now that I've scared you, all of these peptides have different functions or purposes. muscle growth, strength, weight loss, bonding and love, sleep, tanning your skin. You have to know what your goal is before you pick one.”
Just because a doctor doesn't take insurance doesn't mean they don't care about your health outcomes (e.g., preventing heart attacks); it means they can have more honest conversations about your priorities.
“Just because I don't take insurance doesn't mean I want you to have a heart attack. But let's get back to the fun stuff.”
If you want fat loss or strength gains from peptides, you have to do the work (exercise, diet, etc.) while using the peptide for the result to come; peptides are not magic.
“And I've said this before, but if you want fat loss or strength gains, you have to do the work while using the peptide for the result to come. They're not magic.”
There are many peptides with various functions, including tessamorin, ibomorin, semaglutide, tirzepatide, BPC-157, matrixyl, melanotan, and epitalon, each targeting different outcomes like muscle growth, strength, weight loss, emotional bonding, sleep, or skin tanning.
“But there are a lot of peptides that do various things. Those are some of the growth hormone releasing hormone peptides. There's tessamorin, ibomorin, semaglutide, tursepetide, bpc 157, matsi, melanotan, epitolon. I think I'm saying these things right, but there are a lot.”
NAD is best suited for immediate energy needs (e.g., 'I need energy now'), while peptides are better for long-term outcomes like strength gains and fat loss.
“So, if your goal is I need energy now, go for NAD. If it's I need strength gains and fat loss long term, go for a peptide.”
Wellness spas and clinics that mark up peptide packages to thousands of dollars despite selling products available online at much lower cost are engaged in profiteering, knowing the regulatory status of their products.
“There's no reason for them to mark up peptide packages to thousands of dollars when they're selling you things that you can just get online.”
The speaker operates a direct primary care clinic and does not take insurance, which she argues allows her to prioritize patient interests over insurance company interests.
“I'm Dr. Ashley Fry. I run a direct primary care clinic in Mesa, Arizona. Direct primary care is basically what I've just been saying that I don't take insurance. I only work for my patients. That way, we can separate what matters to you verse what matters to insurance companies.”
The goal of this video is to help viewers get clear on their health objectives so they can choose the right injectable wellness intervention (NAD or peptides) for their needs.
“So, the goal of this video is to help you get really clear on what your objective is, what your goals are, so that you can choose the thing that's right for you.”
The metaphor of NAD as a 'battery charger' and peptides as an 'operating system upgrade' is useful for understanding their different functional roles.
“So, just to explain some things in a nutshell, NAD is like a battery charger for yourselves. Using NAD is like charging the battery on your phone. Peptides, depending on which one you're going for, are kind of like upgrading the operating system. I know that updating the system sounds more appealing up front, but you kind of need your battery charged, so it can be a little tricky to decide what you need.”
The problem for consumers is that injectable wellness is expensive and they must choose which intervention to pursue (NAD or peptides) because they cannot afford both.
“But here's the problem I hear a lot. You don't know what to go for. And all of this stuff is expensive. So, you have to pick one lane.”
People who try NAD report a boost in clarity and energy, or sometimes even better sleep, and the effect can last for days, but it does not last forever, analogous to how unplugging a phone does not allow the battery to stay charged forever.
“Sometimes people who try NAD report a boost in clarity and energy or sometimes even better sleep. And it can last for days, but it doesn't last forever, just like unplugging your phone doesn't allow the battery to stay charged forever.”
The most common uses for peptides are healing, strength gains, fat loss, and exercise capacity enhancement, as well as weight loss via appetite reduction.
“The most common uses for peptides are healing, strength gains, fat loss, and kind of energy boosting, but more in like an exercise capacity. Also, weight loss, hemoglut, appetite, etc.”
NAD IV infusions cost $200–$500 per session, depending on frequency desired.
“If you want to do NAD IVs, it's going to cost you a pretty penny. Depending on how often you want to do them, they're going to range from $200 to $500 for just one IV session.”
Oral NAD precursors like NMN cost $30–$60 per month, making them much less expensive than IV infusions.
“If you want to take something like NMN in a oral capsule, that's what I do, you're going to spend 30 to 60 bucks a month. They're not as expensive.”
Peptide vials typically cost $100–$300, depending on the peptide and vendor; shop around for better pricing.
“Peptides on the other hand, shop around, but you're going to spend around a hundred to two maybe $300 for these vials.”
The speaker personally uses oral NMN as her form of NAD supplementation.
“If you want to take something like NMN in a oral capsule, that's what I do, you're going to spend 30 to 60 bucks a month.”
NAD is the most fascinating of everything the speaker discusses in this video, reflecting her personal professional interest.
“From where I sit, NAD is the most fascinating of everything.”
If you can afford both NAD and peptides, there is no reason not to use both.
“And hey, if you can do both, why not?”
There is a lot of buzz lately about injectable wellness, with NAD and peptides being particularly popular but not being the same thing.
“Now, there's a lot of buzz lately about injectable wellness. NAD is really popular, but so are peptides, and they're not quite the same thing.”