Nicotinamide riboside supplement shows promise as a potential therapy for Parkinson’s disease
Nicotinamide riboside (NR) is a member of the vitamin B3 family, which can be
found in foods like fruits, vegetables, meat, and milk. It is also used as a
nutritional supplement to boost cellular levels of NAD (nicotinamide adenine
dinucleotide).
NAD is an essential metabolic factor, which is vital to a multitude of cellular
processes, including energy metabolism, DNA damage repair, and control of
gene expression. Increased cellular NAD levels have been linked to a longer and
healthier life in animals and have been shown to protect neuronal cells against
various forms of stress. The study shows for the first time that the NAD levels
of the human brain can be increased by ingesting NR.
-- A potential new treatment --
The goal of this randomized, double-blinded phase I trial was to establish
whether NAD-metabolism can be augmented in the brain of individuals with
Parkinson's disease, by ingesting NR, an NAD-precursor. A total of 30
individuals with early Parkinson's disease received either 1000mg NR or placebo
for a total of 30 days. The study showed that NR supplementation significantly
increased NAD levels in the patient brain, and resulted in altered cerebral
metabolism and decreased markers of inflammation in the fluid surrounding the
brain and spinal cord. Moreover, a mild but significant improvement of
Parkinson's disease symptoms was seen in participants who showed
substantially increased brain NAD levels, and this correlated with the change in
the brain's energy metabolism pattern.
The study was led by Prof. Charalampos Tzoulis, at Haukeland University
Hospital and the University of Bergen.
Reviewed by Emily Henderson, B.Sc. Mar 2 2022
We are very excited about these results. This trial represents a
novel approach in experimental PD-therapy."
Nicotinamide riboside supplement shows promise as a potential therapy for Parkinson’s disease
Saved from URL: news-medical.net/news/20220...
"We believe that augmenting the brain's NAD metabolism will not only target
and rectify disease-related processes specific to PD, but may also optimize
neuronal metabolism and fortify neurons, rendering them more resilient against
age-related stress and neurodegenerative diseases. The results of the trial are
highly encouraging and nominate NR as a potential neuroprotective therapy for
PD, warranting further investigation in larger trials. A phase II study is already
ongoing at our Center", the Professor comments.
The study was conducted by scientists at Haukeland University Hospital and the
University of Bergen, Norway, in collaboration with the The Feinstein Institutes
for Medical Research in New York, USA.
Source:
University of Bergen
Journal reference:
Brakedal, B., et al. (2022) The NADPARK study: A randomized phase I trial of
nicotinamide riboside supplementation in Parkinson’s disease. Cell Metabolism.
doi.org/10.1016/j.cmet.2022.02.001.
Prof. Charalampos Tzoulis, Haukeland University Hospital and
University of Bergen
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