ChromaDex Corp. shared results from a milestone phase II clinical study showcasing the promising effects of nicotinamide riboside (NR) supplementation for people with peripheral artery disease (PAD). This study was part of the ChromaDex External Research Program (CERP), which donated ChromaDex?s patented NR ingredient, Niagen, the most efficient and high-quality NAD+ precursor, for the advancement of this research.

About PAD and the NAD+ connection: A prevalent condition impacting over 200 million people worldwide, PAD is characterized by a narrowing or blockage of arteries that reduces blood flow to the limbs, causing severe pain and walking disabilities due to insufficient blood flow and reduced oxygen supply. Existing treatments for PAD are often limited in their effectiveness, underscoring the need for novel therapeutic approaches. As the most efficient NAD+ precursor, NR has been proven safe and effective in elevating NAD+ levels in humans (Conze et al., 2019, Martens et al., 2018, Trammell et al., 2016).

Preclinical and clinical studies have shown that boosting NAD+ levels with NR can enhance 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 among older individuals, increasing NAD+ with NR may reduce oxidative stress and improve mitochondrial and endothelial cell function in those with PAD (Elhassan et al., 2019, Zhang et al., 2016,Chen et al., 2010). Study overview: This six-month phase II randomized, double-blind clinical study analyzed the effects of elevating NAD+ with NR supplementation alone and in combination with resveratrol on the six-minute walking distance in individuals with PAD.

This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase II, parallel assignment study on 90 PAD patients over a six-month period. Participants were 50 years of age or older and randomly assigned to one of three groups: NR (1000 mg), NR (1000 mg) combined with resveratrol (125 mg), or placebo. Highlights: At the six-month follow-up, NR significantly improved treadmill walking time and the six-minute walking distance (by 17.6 meters), a clinically meaningful change.

NR effectively improved walking performance in individuals with PAD, while resveratrol did not enhance the benefits of NR. NR combined with resveratrol did not significantly improve the six-minute walk distance compared to placebo at the six-month follow-up. Relevance: This groundbreaking study is the first to demonstrate NR supplementation can significantly enhance walking performance in humans with PAD, and underscores the functional mobility benefits of NR.

By highlighting the therapeutic potential of NR, the findings open new avenues for improving vascular health and mobility in PAD patients. Notably, the addition of resveratrol did not yield further benefits over NR alone, emphasizing NR's unique role. These promising results underscore the need for further investigation in larger, randomized clinical trials to fully explore the benefits of NR in managing PAD and potentially other age-related conditions.