Maternal Nicotinamide Riboside Protects Against Cardiac Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Supports Fetal Growth: Preclinical Findings

Synopsis

Gestational hypoxia reduces fetal growth and impairs heart and placental mitochondrial function, partly by limiting NAD+ and energy production. In this study, pregnant guinea pigs were exposed to low oxygen late in gestation and given nicotinamide riboside (NR), an NAD+ precursor. Hypoxia reduced fetal body weight and disrupted mitochondrial function in the fetal heart, including lower complex IV activity, Sirt3 activity, and ATP levels, as well as increased mitochondrial protein acetylation. Maternal NR treatment restored NAD+ levels in the placenta, normalized fetal heart mitochondrial function and ATP production, and prevented growth restriction. These findings show that maternal NR supplementation can reverse mitochondrial dysfunction in hypoxic fetal hearts.

Journal

Reproductive Sciences