Carlijn M E Remie, Kay H M Roumans, Michiel P B Moonen, Niels J Connell, Bas Havekes, Julian Mevenkamp, Lucas Lindeboom, Vera H W de Wit, Tineke van de Weijer, Suzanne A B M Aarts, Esther Lutgens, Bauke V Schomakers, Hyung L Elfrink, Rubén Zapata-Pérez, Riekelt H Houtkooper, Johan Auwerx, Joris Hoeks, Vera B Schrauwen-Hinderling, Esther Phielix, Patrick Schrauwen
Journal: The American journal of clinical nutrition 2020;112(2):413-426
PMID: 32320006
Nicotinamide riboside (NR) is a member of the vitamin B3 family, which is naturally found in the diet and may improve metabolic functions. Improved metabolism can improve several diseases such as type 2 diabetes and obesity. This 6-week randomised control trial of 13 overweight and obese men and women aimed to investigate the effect of NR supplementation on metabolism. The results showed that supplementation improved muscle metabolism and body fat percentage, although total body weight remained unchanged. Supplementation did not improve markers for pre-diabetes or heart function. It was concluded that NR supplementation may improve muscle metabolism, however no other health effects were observed. This study could be used by healthcare professionals to understand that supplementation with NR may improve muscle function in overweight and obese individuals.
BACKGROUND
Nicotinamide riboside (NR) is an NAD+ precursor that boosts cellular NAD+ concentrations. Preclinical studies have shown profound metabolic health effects after NR supplementation.
OBJECTIVES
We aimed to investigate the effects of 6 wk NR supplementation on insulin sensitivity, mitochondrial function, and other metabolic health parameters in overweight and obese volunteers.
METHODS
A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, crossover intervention study was conducted in 13 healthy overweight or obese men and women. Participants received 6 wk NR (1000 mg/d) and placebo supplementation, followed by broad metabolic phenotyping, including hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamps, magnetic resonance spectroscopy, muscle biopsies, and assessment of ex vivo mitochondrial function and in vivo energy metabolism.
RESULTS
Markers of increased NAD+ synthesis-nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide and methyl nicotinamide-were elevated in skeletal muscle after NR compared with placebo. NR increased body fat-free mass (62.65% ± 2.49% compared with 61.32% ± 2.58% in NR and placebo, respectively; change: 1.34% ± 0.50%, P = 0.02) and increased sleeping metabolic rate. Interestingly, acetylcarnitine concentrations in skeletal muscle were increased upon NR (4558 ± 749 compared with 3025 ± 316 pmol/mg dry weight in NR and placebo, respectively; change: 1533 ± 683 pmol/mg dry weight, P = 0.04) and the capacity to form acetylcarnitine upon exercise was higher in NR than in placebo (2.99 ± 0.30 compared with 2.40 ± 0.33 mmol/kg wet weight; change: 0.53 ± 0.21 mmol/kg wet weight, P = 0.01). However, no effects of NR were found on insulin sensitivity, mitochondrial function, hepatic and intramyocellular lipid accumulation, cardiac energy status, cardiac ejection fraction, ambulatory blood pressure, plasma markers of inflammation, or energy metabolism.
CONCLUSIONS
NR supplementation of 1000 mg/d for 6 wk in healthy overweight or obese men and women increased skeletal muscle NAD+ metabolites, affected skeletal muscle acetylcarnitine metabolism, and induced minor changes in body composition and sleeping metabolic rate. However, no other metabolic health effects were observed.This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02835664.
Copyright © The Author(s) on behalf of the American Society for Nutrition 2020.
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