Nicotinamide Riboside Improves DNA Repair, Inflammation, and Atherosclerosis: Preclinical Findings

Synopsis

Atherosclerosis, the buildup of fatty plaques in arteries, is a leading cause of heart disease. Beyond cholesterol and inflammation, new research shows that DNA damage in blood vessels also drives disease progression—and that nicotinamide riboside (NR), a vitamin B3 derivative, may help prevent it. Scientists discovered a protective RNA molecule called SNHG12 that helps repair DNA in vascular cells. In mice prone to high cholesterol, loss of SNHG12 caused DNA damage, cellular aging, and a 2.4-fold increase in arterial plaque formation. This occurred because SNHG12 supports the activity of a key DNA-repair enzyme, DNA-PK. When researchers treated these mice with nicotinamide riboside, the damage was reversed—DNA repair improved, inflammation decreased, and atherosclerosis slowed. Similar results were seen in human and pig artery samples, where low SNHG12 levels were linked to more severe disease. These findings reveal a new mechanism behind vascular aging and suggest that boosting NAD+ with nicotinamide riboside could be a promising strategy to protect arteries and prevent heart disease.

Journal

Science Translational Medicine