Doctor Reviews NAD+ vs Peptides - Which Does MORE?
A primary care doctor compares NAD and peptides in under seven minutes, covering what each is for, the regulatory caveats she raises, and rough costs she quotes.
With Dr. Ashley Froese
Key moments
Tap a moment to play the video from there.
- 0:00Why she skips insuranceFroese introduces herself as a primary care doctor who does not take insurance. She says that lets her discuss topics patients want to talk about.
- 0:30Battery charger versus operating systemShe says NAD and peptides are not the same thing and that cost forces a choice. She likens NAD to charging a phone and peptides to upgrading its operating system.
- 1:17What NAD is and doesShe says NAD powers mitochondria and declines with age. She describes IV, oral and injectable routes and the clarity, energy or sleep effects some people report.
- 2:38How peptides workShe describes peptides as amino acid chains that signal through receptors. She gives growth hormone releasing examples and says she has other videos on specific peptides.
- 3:36Approval status and research-use vialsShe says most peptides are not FDA approved and human data is sparse. She names a few she considers exceptions and warns about clinics claiming human use.
- 4:24Costs and oral peptidesShe quotes prices for NAD IVs, NMN capsules and peptide vials. She says most oral peptides are degraded in the stomach, so injections are typical.
- 5:23Choosing by goalShe summarizes NAD as the pick for energy now and peptides for longer-term strength and fat loss. She urges viewers to talk to someone knowledgeable and fact-check claims.
- 6:31Direct primary care modelShe closes by explaining that her clinic only works for patients rather than insurers and points to links in the description.
What the video says
Dr. Ashley Froese, who says she runs a direct primary care clinic in Mesa, Arizona and does not take insurance, compares NAD and peptides for viewers who feel they can only afford one injectable wellness option. She frames NAD as a battery charger for cells and peptides, depending on the one chosen, as an upgrade to the operating system. Her stated aim is to help viewers get clear on their goals before picking.
On NAD, she says it is present in every cell and is needed for mitochondria, and that levels decline with age, especially after 40 or 50. She says researchers link that decline to fatigue, brain fog, slower recovery and dementia, and mentions preclinical studies in which supplementing was associated with better memory. She lists IV infusions, oral precursors such as NMN, and injections as ways to take it, and says people sometimes report more clarity, energy or better sleep that lasts days. She adds that it is not yet known whether supplementing slows aging.
On peptides, she describes chains of amino acids that act as messengers by fitting into receptors. She names ipamorelin, CJC-1295 and sermorelin as examples that trigger pulses of growth hormone release, which she says can lead to more muscle or strength. Her main caution is that most peptides are not FDA approved, human data is sparse, and she says she cannot legally prescribe most of them. She names a few exceptions, says clinics claiming human use for other peptides are probably wrong, and shows a BPC-157 and TB-500 vial labeled for research use only. She also says fat loss or strength gains still require doing the work.
On cost, she quotes $200 to $500 per NAD IV session, $30 to $60 a month for NMN capsules, which she takes herself, and around $100 to perhaps $300 per peptide vial. She says oral peptides are mostly broken down in the stomach. Her rule of thumb is NAD for energy now and peptides for longer-term strength and fat loss, with a reminder to fact-check claims online. The video is a short overview, not a detailed look at any single compound.
On each compound
NAD+1:17
Froese says NAD is in every cell, powers mitochondria and declines with age. She describes IV, oral precursor (NMN) and injection routes and says it may help focus and clarity, while noting it is not known whether it slows aging.
See how your DNA reads NAD+Ipamorelin3:05
Froese names ipamorelin as a popular peptide that she says triggers pulses of growth hormone release, which she links to increased muscle mass or strength.
See how your DNA reads IpamorelinCJC-12953:05
She lists CJC-1295 alongside ipamorelin and sermorelin as popular peptides that she says trigger growth hormone pulses.
See how your DNA reads CJC-1295Sermorelin3:05
She names sermorelin as one of the growth hormone releasing peptides and, later, as one of the few she says can be legally prescribed.
See how your DNA reads SermorelinBPC-1574:06
Froese holds up a BPC-157 and TB-500 vial labeled research use only and not for human or animal consumption, using it to illustrate her point about how most peptides are sold.
See how your DNA reads BPC-157TB-5004:06
She shows a combined BPC-157 and TB-500 product whose label says it is for research use only, as an example of peptides not intended for human use.
See how your DNA reads TB-500Semaglutide3:36
She names semaglutide among the few peptides she says are not in the murky category that most peptides fall into.
See how your DNA reads SemaglutideTirzepatide3:36
She includes tirzepatide in her short list of exceptions to the rule that most peptides are not approved for human use.
See how your DNA reads TirzepatidePT-1413:36
She lists PT-141 among the peptides she says are exceptions to her warning about unapproved peptides.
See how your DNA reads PT-141“They're not magic.”
What this video doesn’t settle
- The video does not cite any specific studies, so the claims about NAD and memory or dementia cannot be checked from it.
- Froese says it is not known whether supplementing NAD slows aging, and the video offers no human outcome data for it.
- Peptide benefits such as muscle gain are described in general terms, with no doses, protocols or evidence for any named compound.
Questions this video answers
What is the difference between NAD and peptides according to Dr. Froese?
She says NAD is like a battery charger for cells, tied to energy, focus and clarity. Peptides, she says, are signaling molecules that do different things depending on the peptide, such as strength, fat loss or recovery.
Are peptides FDA approved?
Froese says most peptides are not FDA approved and human data is sparse, and that she cannot legally prescribe most of them. She names a few she treats as exceptions, including semaglutide, tirzepatide, PT-141 and sermorelin.
How much do NAD and peptides cost, according to this video?
She quotes $200 to $500 per NAD IV session and $30 to $60 a month for NMN capsules. For peptides she quotes around $100 to perhaps $300 per vial, and says to shop around.
Do oral peptides work?
Froese says most oral peptides are digested in the stomach and degraded before reaching the system. She says that is why injectable peptides are used most of the time.
Which does she suggest for energy versus strength and fat loss?
She says that if you need energy now, NAD is the one to consider, and if you want strength gains and fat loss over the long term, a peptide. She also says to talk with someone more knowledgeable than she is.
Video by This Is Not Covered - Dr. Ashley Froese on YouTube, embedded as published. The summary is written by PeptidesDNA from the video; every claim in it is the speaker’s. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the creator. Not medical advice.
