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Inhaltsstoff-Glossar
Nicotinamide Riboside
What Is Nicotinamide Riboside?
Nicotinamide riboside (NR) is a form of vitamin B3 and a precursor of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, or NAD+. NAD+ is essential for mitochondrial energy metabolism and many cellular enzyme reactions. Research is investigating whether increasing NAD+ availability through NR can influence metabolic and age-related processes.
Where Does Nicotinamide Riboside Occur Naturally?
Nicotinamide riboside occurs naturally in yeasts, bacteria and mammals. Its concentration in foods has not been characterized comprehensively. Trace amounts have been reported in milk and may also occur in foods involving yeast.
Researchers assume that dietary concentrations are low. The development of reliable chemical production methods made it possible to study standardized NR preparations in greater detail and to use them in food supplements.
Researchers assume that dietary concentrations are low. The development of reliable chemical production methods made it possible to study standardized NR preparations in greater detail and to use them in food supplements.
What Is Nicotinamide Riboside’s Primary Function in the Body?
Nicotinamide riboside is converted through several enzymatic steps into NAD+. The reduced form is NADH. Together, NAD+ and NADH transfer electrons in metabolic reactions and contribute to ATP production in the mitochondrial respiratory chain.
NAD+ is indispensable for aerobic energy production from nutrients, including glucose, fatty acids and amino acids. These pathways generate ATP, the principal immediately usable energy carrier of cells. The body can synthesize NAD+ from several vitamin B3 precursors, and nicotinamide riboside is one of these precursors.
NAD+ is indispensable for aerobic energy production from nutrients, including glucose, fatty acids and amino acids. These pathways generate ATP, the principal immediately usable energy carrier of cells. The body can synthesize NAD+ from several vitamin B3 precursors, and nicotinamide riboside is one of these precursors.
What Are the Potential Benefits of Nicotinamide Riboside Supplementation?
NR is of scientific interest for two main reasons. First, NAD+ availability can decline with age and metabolic stress. Second, supplementation with NAD+ precursors can raise NAD+ metabolites in blood and tissues, although the resulting clinical benefits are still being investigated.
Age-related changes in NAD metabolism may affect mitochondrial energy production and enzymes that depend on NAD+. These enzymes include sirtuins, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerases and other proteins involved in metabolic regulation, cellular stress responses and DNA repair.
Sirtuins are one example of NAD+-dependent enzymes. They regulate processes including metabolic adaptation, gene expression, DNA maintenance and cellular responses to stress. Researchers are studying whether reduced NAD+ availability can limit sirtuin activity and thereby contribute to age-associated dysfunction.
Human studies show that NR can increase NAD+-related metabolites. Effects on insulin sensitivity, mitochondrial function, muscle performance, inflammation and other clinical outcomes have been inconsistent or modest, and larger long-term trials are still needed.
NR has been evaluated as a food ingredient and has generally shown good tolerability in clinical studies at the doses investigated. This does not mean that it is appropriate for everyone. People with medical conditions, pregnant or breastfeeding individuals and those taking medication should seek professional advice before use.
Sources
Further information and scientific studies on nicotinamide riboside can be found below.
NAD+ and sirtuins in aging and disease
www.pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24786309