The Ultimate Human with Gary Brecka
The Ultimate Human with Gary Brecka

Why CD38 Destroys NAD+ Faster Than You Produce It

September 17, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

Why CD38 Destroys NAD+ Faster Than You Produce It

The $4.5 billion NAD industry exploded after Hayley Beaver sat next to Gary Brecka on national television, hooked up to an IV bag, and declared she would take NAD for the rest of her life and never age. Clinics now charge $2,000 per bag for IV drips, while patches, nasal sprays, pills, and powders crowd the market with promises of reversing aging, curing hangovers, and fixing jet lag. Brecka's goal in this episode is simple: separate what is true about NAD from what is not.

NAD Is Real — and It Has Two Jobs

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide exists in every cell in the human body. Its first job is energy conversion. Every calorie from fat, carbohydrate, or protein must pass through NAD on its way to becoming ATP, the energy currency of cells. Without NAD, that conversion simply does not happen. Its second job is as fuel for critical enzymatic processes. The proteins that regulate metabolism and cellular stress response run on NAD. The enzymes that repair DNA damage burn through NAD every time they go to work. So the hype was never about whether NAD matters — it clearly does. The real question is how you get it back.

Your NAD Levels Do Crash — But Not Because You Stop Making It

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What you'll learn

  • 1 (00:08) **NAD+ Industry Origins and Episode Mission** - Gary Brecka opens by recounting the moment Hayley Beaver went viral on national TV with an NAD+ IV, sparking a $4.5 billion industry. He announces the episode will separate fact from fiction about NAD+.
  • 2 (01:50) **Claim #1: "NAD is just another over-hyped supplement fad" - Fiction** - Brecka explains that NAD+ is fundamental to cellular biology, making the "fad" label inaccurate.
  • 3 (02:43) **Claim #2: "Your NAD levels crash 50% by age 40" - True** - Brecka confirms that scientific studies across skin, brain, liver, and muscle tissue show a measurable decline in NAD+ with age.
  • 4 (03:04) **Claim #3: "Your NAD drops because your body stops making it" - Fiction** - Brecka introduces the key mechanism: NAD+ decline is driven by accelerated destruction, not reduced production.
  • 5 (03:42) **Claim #4: "NMN and NR are better than taking NAD itself" - It Depends** - Brecka explains that the answer hinges entirely on the delivery and formulation of the NAD+.
  • 6 (04:43) **Claim #5: "Any of these supplements are completely risk-free" - Fiction** - Brecka warns that while short-term safety data is good, NAD+ supplements are not for everyone.
  • 7 (05:26) **Claim #6: "All NAD supplements are the same, so buy the cheapest" - Fiction** - Brecka explains why form and delivery are critical for NAD+ effectiveness.

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Guests on this episode

Gary Brecka

Show Notes

NAD+ became a $4.5 billion industry of IV drips, patches, nasal sprays and powders almost overnight, with clinics charging $2,000 a bag to reverse your age and cure your hangover. Some of what you have been told about NAD+ is true. Some of it is complete nonsense. Gary Brecka runs seven of the biggest NAD+ claims against the research and tells you exactly which is which.


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Timestamps

00:00 – Intro of Show

02:05 – Every calorie passes through NAD+ to become ATP

02:15 – The enzymes that burn NAD+ for metabolism and DNA repair

02:45 – Liver tissue runs 30% lower after 60

03:15 – CD38 and chronic inflammation destroy the NAD+ pool

03:40 – Replenish, slow the drain, support recycling

03:52 – NMN and nicotinamide riboside as precursors

04:35 – Why raw NAD+ is torn apart in the gut

05:00 – Cancer history, pregnancy and who should not take it

06:35 – Sunlight, sleep and movement come first


Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not provide medical advice. It is not intended for diagnosing or treating any health condition. Always consult a licensed healthcare professional before making health or wellness decisions.

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