Cell Metabolism: The NADPARK study: A randomised phase 1 trial of nicotinamide riboside supplementation in Parkinson's disease, Brakedal et al 2022

Summary

We conducted a double-blinded phase I clinical trial to establish whether nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) replenishment therapy, via oral intake of nicotinamide riboside (NR), is safe, augments cerebral NAD levels, and impacts cerebral metabolism in Parkinson’s disease (PD).

Thirty newly diagnosed, treatment-naive patients received 1,000 mg NR or placebo for 30 days. NR treatment was well tolerated and led to a significant, but variable, increase in cerebral NAD levels—measured by 31phosphorous magnetic resonance spectroscopy—and related metabolites in the cerebrospinal fluid.

NR recipients showing increased brain NAD levels exhibited altered cerebral metabolism, measured by 18fluoro-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography, and this was associated with mild clinical improvement.

NR augmented the NAD metabolome and induced transcriptional upregulation of processes related to mitochondrial, lysosomal, and proteasomal function in blood cells and/or skeletal muscle.

Furthermore, NR decreased the levels of inflammatory cytokines in serum and cerebrospinal fluid.

Our findings nominate NR as a potential neuroprotective therapy for PD, warranting further investigation in larger trials.

https://www.cell.com/cell-metabolism/fulltext/S1550-4131(22)00045-6

 

inews Pill that could slow progression of Parkinson's Disease could be available within five years

quote:
Trial participants found that taking nicotinamide riboside (NR), a form of vitamin B3, reduced inflammation in the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord, boosted the brain’s metabolism, and produced a “mild but significant” improvement in their symptoms.

The finding has raised hopes that the vitamin, which is found in fruit, vegetables, meat and milk, could form the basis of the first drugs to successfully slow the development of Parkinson’s – as well as help manage its symptoms.

 

I think a lot of folks trialed NR with not much positive effect.

Some potential conflict of interest:

“C.T. and C.D. have filed a patent application relating to the use of NR in PD. All other authors declare no competing interests.”