Intravenous Nicotinamide Riboside Protects the Heart from Chemotherapy-Induced Damage: Preclinical Findings

Synopsis

Doxorubicin, a widely used chemotherapy drug, is effective against many cancers but often causes dose-dependent heart damage, leading to chronic heart failure. This study evaluated the cardioprotective effects of nicotinamide riboside (NR)—a vitamin B3 derivative and NAD+ precursor—in a rat model of doxorubicin-induced cardiomyopathy. Researchers compared different intravenous NR administration strategies, including preventive and combined (with doxorubicin) treatments. Both approaches improved cardiac structure and function, reducing fibrosis, oxidative stress, and declines in fractional shortening, an indicator of heart performance. The preventive NR treatment showed the strongest protective effects, resulting in better vascular health, higher physical activity, and overall improved systemic recovery compared to other regimens. These findings suggest that nicotinamide riboside supplementation, particularly when administered before chemotherapy, may help prevent or reduce doxorubicin-induced heart damage, offering a promising strategy for protecting cardiovascular health during cancer treatment.

Journal

International Journal of Molecular Sciences