Can NAD+ help to treat Lyme disease?

What is Lyme disease?

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi.

Symptoms of Lyme disease

Symptoms of Lyme disease include fever, rash, headaches and a bullseye rash known as erythema migrans. A circular or oval shape rash around a tick bite can be an early symptom of Lyme disease in some people. The rash can appear up to 3 months after being bitten by an infected tick, but usually appears within 1 to 4 weeks. It can last for several weeks.

However, late infection of Lyme can spread to the joints, nervous system and even the heart. 

If it’s detected early enough the disease is quite easy to treat and requires a simple course of antibiotics. But because the symptoms of Lyme disease are quite vague and people often don’t notice a tick bite on them, it can turn into a chronic problem that means many people live with Lyme disease their whole life, suffering pain, memory loss or brain fog, headaches and disturbed sleep to name just a few of the symptoms. 

It isn’t fully understood whether this is truly a persistent infection or just immune system dysfunction brought on by the initial infection.

How do you get Lyme disease?

Lyme disease usually starts with an insect bite from a tick that is carrying the virus, typically in woodland or heath-land areas, which, in the UK, include southern and northern England and the Scottish Highlands.

There are estimated to be around 3,000 cases of Lyme disease diagnosed in England each year, according to the UK Health and Security Agency.

Studies in Europe estimate that 1-5% of tick bites can lead to Lyme disease.

NAD+ and Lyme disease

Recently research has implicated oxidative stress as the possible pathogenesis of Lyme disease. Mitochondrial superoxide (a damaging free radical) was found to be significantly higher in those with Lyme as compared to healthy controls. With many other chronic conditions that affect the immune system, cause inflammation and lead to oxidative stress, NAD+ levels are usually depleted. It follows then that replenishing NAD+ levels via a NAD+ infusion in those with chronic Lyme disease may help relieve some of the unwanted symptoms.

We know that when someone is infected with Lyme, cellular functions slow and lead to the symptoms previously mentioned. NAD+ provides the building blocks that power the cells’ recovery. By flooding the body with NAD+ the cells have the integral molecules they need to make a complete recovery. This jump starting the cellular energy system can lead to decreased fatigue, reduced joint pain, increased cognitive function, improved immunity and an overall better quality of life.

If you’ve been suffering from chronic Lyme disease and would like to find out more about how NAD+ IV infusion therapy could help relieve your symptoms, contact NADclinic.