Article: Effects of Nicotinamide Riboside on Exercise Performance: Preclinical Findings

PrevNext
Metabolic Health Preclinical

Effects of Nicotinamide Riboside on Exercise Performance: Preclinical Findings

Synopsis

This proof-of-concept study tested whether chronic nicotinamide riboside (NR) supplementation, a precursor of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+), could enhance physical performance in healthy rats. NAD+ and its phosphorylated form NADP+ are central to energy metabolism and redox balance, and boosting their levels has been proposed to support overall metabolic health. In this study, rats were administered either saline or NR, followed by an incremental swimming performance test. Contrary to expectations, NR-treated rats showed a 35% reduction in endurance compared to controls, though the difference approached but did not reach statistical significance. These results suggest that chronic NR supplementation may not enhance—and might even impair—exercise performance, possibly due to complex effects of NAD+ and NADP+ on metabolic and redox signaling pathways. Further studies are needed to clarify the dose- and context-dependent impacts of NR on physical endurance.

Journal

Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition

Share

Read more

Cardiovascular Health

Nicotinamide Riboside Restores Mitochondrial Balance and Protects the Diabetic Heart: Preclinical Findings

Synopsis In diabetes, heart damage often occurs because of mitochondrial imbalance, where the cell’s energy-producing structures become fragmented and dysfunctional. This study found that nicotina...

Read more
Cardiovascular Disease

Nicotinamide Riboside Improves Vascular Health and Reduces Inflammation in Atherosclerosis: Preclinical Findings

Synopsis Atherosclerosis, the buildup of plaques in arteries, begins with endothelial cell dysfunction and inflammation triggered by high cholesterol. This study found that loss of SIRT3, a mitoch...

Read more