ChromaDex Corp. shared results from a landmark phase II clinical study showing promising effects of nicotinamide riboside (NR) supplementation for people suffering from peripheral arterial disease (PAD). This study was part of the ChromaDex External Research Program (CERP), which donated ChromaDex’s patented NR ingredient Niagen, the most effective and highest quality NAD+ precursor, for the advancement of this research .
About PAD and the NAD+ connection: PAD is a common disease that affects more than 200 million people worldwide. It is characterized by a narrowing or blockage of the arteries that reduces blood flow to the limbs, causing severe pain and walking disabilities due to insufficient blood flow and reduced oxygen supply. The effectiveness of existing treatments for PAD is often limited, highlighting the need for new therapeutic approaches. As the most effective NAD+ precursor, NR has been shown to be safe and effective in increasing NAD+ levels in humans (Conze et al., 2019, Martens et al., 2018, Trammell et al., 2016 ).
Preclinical and clinical studies have shown that increasing NAD+ levels with NR can improve skeletal muscle health, mitochondrial performance, and vascular health (Lapatto et al., 2023, Elhassan et al., 2019, Zhang et al., 2016). As NAD+ levels decline with age and given the high incidence of PAD in older adults, increasing NAD+ with NR may reduce oxidative stress and improve mitochondrial and endothelial cell function in older adults. people with PAD (Elhassan et al., 2019, Zhang et al., 2016, Chen et al., 2010). Study Overview: This six-month, randomized, double-blind, phase II clinical study analyzed the effects of increasing NAD+ by NR supplementation alone and in combination with resveratrol. on the six-minute walking distance in people suffering from PAD.
This is a phase II, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-assignment study involving 90 patients with PAD over a six-month period. Participants were aged 50 years or older and were randomly assigned to one of three groups: NR (1000 mg), NR (1000 mg), and NR (1000 mg): NR (1000 mg), NR ( 1000 mg) combined with resveratrol (125 mg), or placebo. Highlights: At six-month follow-up, NR significantly improved treadmill walking time and six-minute walking distance (by 17.6 meters), a clinically meaningful change.
NRs effectively improved walking performance in people with PAD, while resveratrol did not enhance the benefits of NRs. The combination of NR and resveratrol did not significantly improve six-minute walking distance compared to placebo at six-month follow-up. Relevance: This innovative study is the first to demonstrate that NR supplementation can significantly improve walking performance in people with PAD, and highlights the benefits of NR in terms of functional mobility.
Highlighting the therapeutic potential of NRs, the results open new avenues for improving vascular health and mobility in patients with PAD. Notably, the addition of resveratrol did not provide additional benefits compared to NRs alone, highlighting the unique role of NRs. These promising results highlight the need for further research in larger randomized clinical trials to fully explore the benefits of NR in the management of PAD and potentially other age-related conditions. .
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