HoldsUp

Charles Brenner

Charles Brenner is a researcher working in the fields of biochemistry and cellular metabolism. His research focuses on NAD+ homeostasis, metabolic regulation, and the physiological effects of nicotinamide riboside supplementation in conditions such as mild cognitive impairment, long-COVID, and cancer survivorship. He also investigates metabolic signaling nodes in cancer, liver disease, and genetic metabolic disorders.

56 claims checked on air: 2 context 2 contradicted 4 overstated 42 supported 6 unverified

What they said on air - overstated

22 citing their own research

0:25:35overstatedmoderatetheir own paperHow To Boost NAD Levels To Fight Inflammation, Improve Recov

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.

1:10:42overstatedmoderatetheir own paperHow To Boost NAD Levels To Fight Inflammation, Improve Recov

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.

1:11:52overstatedlowtheir own paperHow To Boost NAD Levels To Fight Inflammation, Improve Recov

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.

1:25:50overstatedhighHow To Boost NAD Levels To Fight Inflammation, Improve Recov

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.

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