Nicotinamide Riboside Delays Mitochondrial Myopathy Disease Progression: Preclinical Findings

Synopsis

Mitochondrial diseases disrupt the body’s ability to produce energy, leading to muscle weakness and other serious health problems. Because these disorders impair the balance of key energy molecules like NAD+ and ATP, researchers explored whether restoring NAD+ could improve mitochondrial function. In a mouse model of mitochondrial myopathy, treatment with nicotinamide riboside (NR)—a form of vitamin B3 and NAD⁺ precursor—significantly delayed disease progression. NR boosted NAD+ levels, stimulated the creation of new mitochondria in muscle and brown fat tissue, and prevented the structural damage and DNA deletions typically seen in diseased mitochondria. It also activated the mitochondrial unfolded protein response, a protective mechanism that helps maintain cellular health. These findings suggest that vitamin B3–based therapies like NR could strengthen mitochondrial function and offer a promising treatment strategy for mitochondrial myopathy and related energy metabolism disorders.

Journal

EMBO Molecular Medicine