Nicotinamide Riboside Supports Pancreatic β-Cell Function During Aging and Diet Stress: Preclinical Findings

Synopsis

Disturbances in NAD+ metabolism have been linked to many age-related and metabolic diseases like type 2 diabetes. Pancreatic β-cells play a key role in controlling blood sugar, but how NAD+ affects these cells is not well understood. This study looked at how nicotinamide riboside (NR), a NAD+ precursor, supports β-cell function. Using mice lacking the enzyme NRK1 needed to use NR, researchers found that while NR didn't affect insulin release in healthy young mice, mice without NRK1 showed poor glucose control and weaker β-cell responses when exposed to high-fat diets or aging. However, these problems weren't caused by β-cell defects alone but also by failures in other organs like liver and kidney. This work highlights that NR metabolism helps maintain blood sugar balance and β-cell function, especially during stress from aging or diet.

Journal

Molecular Metabolism