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
6 No source found (not proven false)
Normal healthy human males and females have an average blood NAD+ concentration of approximately 20 micromolar calculated on a volumetric basis.
"We get normal people, male and female, who have 20 micromolar NAD+ calculated on a volumetric basis in their blood." (said at 0:02:44)
No published record matching the claim that normal healthy human males and females have an average blood NAD+ concentration of approximately 20 micromolar calculated on a volumetric basis was located; this does not prove the claim false.
The nicotinamide riboside kinase genes NMRK1 and NMRK2 are upregulated in damaged neurons and the failing heart.
"the NR kinase pathway gets upregulated in a lot of conditions of metabolic stress. So in the failing heart, in a um damaged neuron, nicotinamide riboside kinase 1 and 2 genes get upregulated" (said at 0:53:37)
No published record matching the claim that nicotinamide riboside kinase genes NMRK1 and NMRK2 are upregulated in damaged neurons and the failing heart was located; this does not prove the claim false.
Intact NAD and NMN molecules cannot cross the cell membrane because they contain phosphate groups.
"compounds with phosphates don't get into cells. Um so the biggest piece of NAD that can get into a cell is nicotinamide riboside." (said at 0:51:24)
No published record matching the claim that intact NAD and NMN molecules cannot cross the cell membrane because they contain phosphate groups was located; this does not prove the claim false.
Intravenous infusions of NAD trigger an innate immune response in patients during the infusion.
"it's a it's delivered over a several hour period in which the people experience an innate immune response because the NAD can't get into cells." (said at 0:54:56)
No published record matching the claim that intravenous NAD infusions trigger an innate immune response was located; this does not prove the claim false. Clinical studies evaluating intravenous NAD+ administration document transient infusion-related side effects such as gastrointestinal distress, elevated heart rate, and chest tightness, alongside rapid extracellular enzymatic clearance (PMID 31572171, PMID 41704678). However, systemic inflammatory markers such as high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) showed no significant changes following IV NAD+ infusion (PMID 41704678), and no published evidence demonstrates that the symptoms experienced during infusion are mediated by innate immune activation.
The pathway to NAD synthesis through nicotinic acid (niacin) was discovered in 1938.
"They had a pathway through nicotinic acid, niacin, that was discovered uh 1938" (said at 1:35:47)
No published record matching the claim that the pathway to NAD synthesis through nicotinic acid was discovered in 1938 was located; this does not prove the claim false.
The liver can synthesize NAD from tryptophan, nicotinamide riboside, nicotinamide, and nicotinic acid, whereas neurons generally lack the pathway to make NAD from nicotinic acid or tryptophan.
"certain tissues like the liver can make NAD from tryptophan, nicotinamide riboside, nicotinamide, and nicotinic acid. So any precursor, they can make NAD... But um the more concerning thing is in cells like neurons, right, where if they don't have a pathway to make NAD from tryptophan and they generally don't have a pathway to make NAD from nicotinic acid" (said at 1:52:43)
No published record matching the claim that the liver can synthesize NAD from tryptophan, nicotinamide riboside, nicotinamide, and nicotinic acid, whereas neurons generally lack the pathway to make NAD from nicotinic acid or tryptophan was located; this does not prove the claim false.
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.