FoundMyFitness · 2026-02-10 · Rhonda Patrick (host), Charles Brenner

How To Boost NAD Levels To Fight Inflammation, Improve Recovery, and Slow Aging

61 research-tied claims examined: 2 contradicted 5 overstated 2 context 46 supported 6 unverified

Overstated

0:25:35 Charles Brenneroverstatedmoderate

Oral nicotinamide riboside supplementation improves cerebral blood flow in patients with mild cognitive impairment.

"There are small clinical studies that show that oral nicotinamide riboside improves cerebral blood flow in people with mild cognitive impairment." (said at 0:25:35)

Small randomized controlled trials of oral nicotinamide riboside (NR) in older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) have not demonstrated an overall improvement in cerebral blood flow (CBF). In a 12-week pilot trial of 42 participants, NR produced no significant improvement in total CBF compared to placebo, although exploratory analyses noted potential increases in regional CBF in the hippocampus. Another 10-week pilot RCT in 20 MCI patients found that NR did not increase CBF and was associated with a reduction in CBF within the default mode network before correction for multiple comparisons.

contradicts: A randomized placebo-controlled trial of nicotinamide riboside in older adults with mild c… (GeroScience 2024) · cited 43x in the literature
"NR reduced CBF in the default mode network (DMN) with greatest differences observed in the left inferior parietal lobe (IPL) (DMN p = 0.013, μ = 0.92, 95% CI [0.23, 1.62]; left IPL p = 0.009, μ = 1.66, 95% CI [0.5, 2.82])." (abstract, results, passage verified)
pubmed full study (doi)
partial: A phase-II randomized controlled pilot study of nicotinamide riboside supplementation in o… (Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association 2026)
"There were no improvements in cognitive function (primary outcome), total CBF, or blood pressure (secondary outcomes). Exploratory analyses revealed potential increases in regional CBF, particularly in the hippocampus." (abstract, results, passage verified)
pubmed full study (doi)

1:10:42 Charles Brenneroverstatedmoderate

Eight randomized clinical trials have shown beneficial effects of NR in lowering inflammation.

"eight randomized clinical trials showing beneficial effects of NR in lowering inflammation could be broadly useful for for human aging." (said at 1:10:42)

While individual small randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have reported reductions in specific inflammatory markers following nicotinamide riboside (NR) supplementation—such as decreased circulating inflammatory cytokines in 12 aged men and reduced sputum interleukin-8 in adults with COPD—claiming that eight RCTs have established beneficial anti-inflammatory effects overstates the clinical trial landscape. Systematic synthesis of human NAD+ precursor trials shows that clinical, metabolic, and systemic outcomes in humans remain mixed, highly endpoint-specific, and frequently null.

supports: Nicotinamide Riboside Augments the Aged Human Skeletal Muscle NAD + Metabolome and Induces… (Cell reports 2019) · cited 450x in the literature
"NR also depressed levels of circulating inflammatory cytokines." (abstract, results, passage verified)
pubmed full study (doi)
partial: Nicotinamide riboside and pterostilbene reduces markers of hepatic inflammation in NAFLD: … (Hepatology (Baltimore, Md.) 2023) · cited 51x in the literature
"This study demonstrates that NRPT at the recommended dose is safe and may hold promise in lowering markers of hepatic inflammation in patients with NAFLD." (abstract, conclusions, passage verified)
pubmed full study (doi)
supports: Effect of nicotinamide riboside on airway inflammation in COPD: a randomized, placebo-cont… (Nature aging 2024) · cited 38x in the literature
"The estimated treatment difference between NR and placebo in IL-8 after 6 weeks was -52.6% (95% confidence interval (CI): -75.7% to -7.8%; P = 0.030)." (abstract, results)
pubmed full study (doi)
partial: NAD⁺ supplementation for anti-aging and wellness: A PRISMA-guided systematic review of pre… (Ageing research reviews 2026) · cited 7x in the literature
"effects on functional, metabolic, vascular, and other healthspan-relevant outcomes were heterogeneous and often null or endpoint-specific." (abstract, results, passage verified)
pubmed full study (doi)

1:11:52 Charles Brenneroverstatedlow

Nicotinamide riboside has been shown to improve cerebral blood flow in patients with mild cognitive impairment.

"I'm on at least one paper on mild cognitive impairment where nicotinamide riboside is beginning to show some, you know, important signs like improving cerebral blood flow, you know, in this population." (said at 1:11:52)

Randomized controlled pilot trials evaluating nicotinamide riboside (NR) in adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) have not demonstrated significant overall improvements in cerebral blood flow (CBF). In a 12-week randomized controlled pilot trial (n=42), NR supplementation significantly raised blood NAD+ levels but showed no improvement in total CBF or cognitive function compared to placebo; exploratory post hoc analyses merely suggested potential regional increases in hippocampal CBF. Another small pilot trial (n=20) found no enhancement of CBF following 10 weeks of NR supplementation. Characterizing NR as having established improvements in cerebral blood flow overstates preliminary, exploratory findings from small pilot studies.

contradicts: A randomized placebo-controlled trial of nicotinamide riboside in older adults with mild c… (GeroScience 2024) · cited 43x in the literature
"Predefined secondary outcomes included post-treatment changes in cerebral blood flow (CBF)... While CBF was reduced by NR treatment, statistical significance would not have withstood multiple comparisons correction." (abstract, results)
pubmed full study (doi)
partial: A phase-II randomized controlled pilot study of nicotinamide riboside supplementation in o… (Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association 2026)
"There were no improvements in cognitive function (primary outcome), total CBF, or blood pressure (secondary outcomes). Exploratory analyses revealed potential increases in regional CBF, particularly in the hippocampus. NR effectively raises NAD + in people with MCI but does not improve cognitive function, total CBF, or blood pressure over 12 weeks." (abstract, results and conclusions, passage verified)
pubmed full study (doi)

1:25:50 Charles Brenneroverstatedhigh

Randomized clinical trials in Australia showed that oral nicotinamide supplementation lowers the risk of non-melanoma skin cancer.

"we know from the Australian nicotinamide trials that supplementing with, you know, the classic NAD booster nicotinamide um lowers cancer risk at the population level." (said at 1:25:50)

The landmark Australian Phase 3 randomized trial (ONTRAC) evaluated oral nicotinamide (500 mg twice daily for 12 months) specifically for secondary chemoprevention in 386 high-risk participants who had at least two nonmelanoma skin cancers in the prior 5 years. It found a 23% reduction in the rate of new nonmelanoma skin cancers (basal-cell and squamous-cell carcinomas) during active treatment. However, claiming this shows nicotinamide 'lowers cancer risk at the population level' is overstated: the trials did not evaluate broad general cancer risk or demonstrate efficacy across the general population, but rather focused specifically on nonmelanoma skin cancer recurrence in heavily sun-damaged, high-risk individuals.

partial: A Phase 3 Randomized Trial of Nicotinamide for Skin-Cancer Chemoprevention. (The New England journal of medicine 2015) · cited 641x in the literature
"At 12 months, the rate of new nonmelanoma skin cancers was lower by 23% (95% confidence interval [CI], 4 to 38) in the nicotinamide group than in the placebo group (P=0.02)... Oral nicotinamide was safe and effective in reducing the rates of new nonmelanoma skin cancers and actinic keratoses in high-risk patients." (abstract, results and conclusions)
pubmed full study (doi)

1:08:05 Rhonda Patrick (host)overstatedmoderate

Approximately 10% to 15% of Americans have peripheral artery disease.

"10 or 15% of Americans probably have peripheral artery disease." (said at 1:08:05)

The claim that 10% to 15% of all Americans have peripheral artery disease (PAD) overstates general population prevalence, though figures in that range reflect specific older demographic groups. In the United States, overall prevalence is estimated at approximately 6% to 7% among adults aged 40 and older (affecting approximately 8 to 10 million Americans, or under 4% of the total population). However, PAD prevalence rises markedly with age, reaching approximately 10% around ages 55 to 59 and exceeding 15% to 20% in older age cohorts, with an estimated lifetime risk of 20% to 30% depending on race and risk factor profiles.

context: Lifetime Risk of Lower-Extremity Peripheral Artery Disease Defined by Ankle-Brachial Index… (Journal of the American Heart Association 2019) · cited 103x in the literature
"In the United States, ≈30% of blacks are estimated to develop PAD during their lifetime, whereas the corresponding estimate is ≈20% for whites and Hispanics." (abstract, conclusions, passage verified)
pubmed full study (doi)
partial: Epidemiology of Peripheral Artery Disease, Risk Factors, and Trends. (The International journal of angiology : official publication of the International College of Angiology, Inc 2026)
"PAD is more common in the elderly population; prevalence increases significantly from about 10% in individuals aged 55 to 59 years to 60% among people aged ≥ 85 years." (abstract, results, passage verified)
pubmed full study (doi)

Unverified means no publication matching the claim was located; it does not prove the claim false. Spotted an error? See the corrections policy - disputes from the people quoted are prioritized.