FoundMyFitness · Rhonda Patrick, Ph.D.

#109 How To Boost NAD Levels To Fight Inflammation, Improve Recovery, and Slow Aging | Dr. Charles Brenner

February 9, 2026·1 hr 59 min
1. FoundMyFitness episode #109 centers on Dr. Charles Brenner and nicotinamide riboside as a precursor to NAD. 2. Dr. Charles Brenner is described as a distinguished biochemist and the scientist who discovered nicotinamide riboside, while the host frames him as a leading expert on NAD biology. 3. The episode asks what nicotinamide riboside is for: raising NAD levels in a way that matters for inflammation, recovery, and aging-related biology. 4. The host says NAD is fundamental to cellular energy, DNA repair, gene regulation, and immunity. 5. Brenner and the host discuss why nicotinamide riboside is positioned differently from other NAD precursors for effectively boosting NAD levels. 6. They cite clinical evidence for anti-inflammatory benefits at 500 to 1,000 milligrams per day. 7. The conversation connects NAD to obesity, insulin resistance, peripheral artery disease, and age-related complications. 8. The host says inflammation profoundly taxes the NAD system across different tissues, not only in blood. 9. The episode also links nicotinamide riboside and NAD to exercise recovery. 10. The discussion points to lifestyle factors as part of addressing the inflammation that affects NAD biology. 11. One practical point is supplement timing, with the host explaining why morning dosing is aligned with circadian biology. 12. Another topic is the comparison between intravenous NAD therapies and oral supplementation. 13. The conversation raises emerging data on fertility and improved maternal lactation. 14. The host also mentions enhanced developmental outcomes in offspring, including lean muscle mass and cognitive function. 15. Brenner’s perspective appears in a strongly mechanistic frame, with repeated attention to how NAD is used by cells and organs. 16. The episode treats the inflammation-NAD link as systemic, extending beyond one tissue or a single lab marker. 17. The tone is expert-driven and explanatory, with the host summarizing evidence and Brenner supplying biochemical context. 18. The format is a direct interview with a focus on practical application rather than abstract theory. 19. Best for listeners interested in NAD, supplements, inflammation, and recovery. 20. Not for listeners who want a light conversation or broad health advice without biochemical detail.
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