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Nicotinamide riboside-A missing piece in the puzzle of exercise therapy for older adults?

Experimental gerontology
August 1, 2020
Carlo Custodero et al. (9 authors)
Journal ArticleResearch Support, N.I.H., ExtramuralResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tReviewHuman Study
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to examine the preclinical and clinical evidence on the effects of NR supplementation, alone and combined with physical activity, on mobility, skeletal muscle, and cardiovascular function.

Results Summary

NR showed potential to improve NAD+ metabolome homeostasis and restore energy metabolism in animals, but its effects on physical performance in humans remain unclear. The study suggests NR is safe for older humans, but efficacy data are mixed.

Population

Older adults and preclinical animal models.

Effective Dosage

Not specified

Duration

Not specified

Interactions

None mentioned

Extracted Claims (5)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
Endurance and resistance training
decrease
mobility loss
older adults
-
prevent
#1
exercise
no change
physical and cardiopulmonary function
-
-
does not always achieve the expected improvements
#2
nicotinamide riboside (NR)
increase
NAD+ metabolome homeostasis
animals
-
showed an ability to improve
#3
nicotinamide riboside (NR)
increase
energy metabolism and cellular function
animals
-
restoring
#4
NR supplementation
no change
physical performance
older humans
-
effects are unclear
#5
Abstract

Maintaining physical mobility is important for preventing age-related comorbidities in older adults. Endurance and resistance training prevent mobility loss in aging, but exercise alone does not always achieve the expected improvements in physical and cardiopulmonary function. Recent preclinical evidence suggests that a reason for the variability in exercise training responses may be the age-related dysregulation of the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) metabolome. NAD+ is an essential enzymatic cofactor in energetic and signaling pathways. Endogenous NAD+ pool is lower in several chronic and degenerative diseases (e.g., cardiovascular diseases, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, muscular dystrophies), and also in aging. Exercise requires a higher energy expenditure than a resting state, thus a state of NAD+ insufficiency with reduced energy metabolism, could result in an inadequate exercise response. Recently, the NAD+ precursor nicotinamide riboside (NR), a vitamin B3 derivate, showed an ability to improve NAD+ metabolome homeostasis, restoring energy metabolism and cellular function in various organs in animals. NR has also been tested in older humans and is considered safe, but the effects of NR supplementation alone on physical performance are unclear. The purpose of this review is to examine the preclinical and clinical evidence on the effect of NR supplementation strategies alone and in combination with physical activity on mobility and skeletal muscle and cardiovascular function.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
AgedAnimalsExercise TherapyHumansMuscle, SkeletalNADNiacinamidePyridinium Compounds
Study Links
Quality Scores
Safety80
Efficacy60/10
Quality75/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations14
Citations/Year2.8
Relative Citation Ratio0.90
NIH Percentile46.4%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.50
Weight Score1.14
Normalized Score0.71
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