Suspected Doctor Involved in Bronx Woman’s Death After Controversial Injection

Prosecutors are investigating a doctor accused of injecting a 27-year-old Bronx woman with a trendy anti-aging molecule, often endorsed by celebrities like Hailey Bieber and Kendall Jenner, before her tragic death.

Elizabeth Barron reportedly suffered immediate cardiac arrest on Sunday, shortly after Luis Rojas Cabrera, 55, allegedly administered an intravenous treatment of NAD+. Authorities have pointed out that Rojas-Cabrera is not licensed to practice medicine in New York or anywhere in the U.S.

“Administering NAD+ through an IV requires a prescription from a qualified medical professional,” stated Assistant District Attorney Ethan Reisbaum during Rojas-Cabrera’s arraignment, where he faced charges related to reckless endangerment and unlicensed medical practice.

While Barron’s exact cause of death remains undetermined pending an autopsy, the incident has raised questions about NAD+. This substance has gained popularity in the health community but is met with skepticism from numerous experts.

Bieber, 29, seemingly lacking any need for anti-aging treatments, praised NAD+ extensively during a 2022 episode of “The Kardashians.” Alongside her friend Jenner, 30, she experienced the intravenous drip that contains coenzymes, gushing, “I’m going to spend the rest of my life in NAD and never get old.”

Podcaster Joe Rogan, well-known for endorsing questionable health trends, also claims to benefit from NAD+, asserting it improves immune function and cognitive abilities. He noted, “I feel great. I feel really good,” in a podcast episode earlier this year.

This hype has led to a surge of NAD+ products appearing in wellness clinics nationwide, especially in upscale areas like New York City.

However, many health experts argue that claims surrounding NAD+ are often overstated and lack sufficient research. The molecule, scientifically referred to as nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, is a coenzyme naturally found in cells, and some researchers believe its depletion may correlate with aging.

Michael Sagner, a clinical consultant at King’s College in the UK, has pointed out that there’s little evidence supporting the idea that injected NAD+ effectively enters cells. “From a biochemical standpoint, it’s nonsensical to inject yourself with NAD itself,” he told a media outlet.

Rojas-Cabrera operates Bereshit Lifestyle Center, a wellness facility in Riverdale that promotes “natural medicine” and various health therapies. He informed authorities that while he holds a medical license in the Dominican Republic, he lacks one in New York.

After Barron’s collapse, Rojas-Cabrera allegedly admitted, “I made a very big mistake. I need to call my family because I don’t feel like I’m going to be able to go home for a while.”

Reisbaum indicated that prosecutors await the results of the autopsy before determining whether further charges will be filed against Rojas-Cabrera in connection with Barron’s death. “Until the autopsy results are available, we cannot establish causation and charge him with a crime,” she explained in court.