%E2%80%94the%20neurons%20that%20carry%20visual%20information%20to%20the%20brain.%20One%20key%20cause%20of%20this%20damage%20is%20glutamate%20excitotoxicity,%20whe...){kind=link}
Nicotinamide Riboside Protects Retinal Ganglion Cells: Preclinical Findings
Synopsis
Glaucoma causes vision loss by damaging retinal ganglion cells (RGCs)—the neurons that carry visual information to the brain. One key cause of this damage is glutamate excitotoxicity, where excessive stimulation by glutamate triggers oxidative stress and cell death. This study explored how nicotinamide riboside (NR), a vitamin B3–derived NAD+ booster, protects RGCs from glutamate-induced injury using cultured retinal cells. NR treatment significantly improved cell survival, reduced apoptosis, and lowered oxidative stress by decreasing both reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial ROS levels. It also restored NAD+ content and reactivated the SIRT1/PGC1α signaling pathway, which supports mitochondrial function and energy metabolism. The findings show that NR shields retinal neurons from glutamate toxicity, suggesting it may help slow or prevent optic nerve degeneration and protect vision in patients with glaucoma.
Journal
Experimental Eye Research