A NEW clinical trial has shown that nicotinamide riboside (NR), a precursor of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+), significantly reduces airway inflammation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The findings open the door to novel therapeutic approaches targeting cellular aging and inflammation in this progressive lung disease.
The randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involved 40 patients with stable COPD who received NR treatment for six weeks, followed by a 12-week observation period. The primary outcome was a change in sputum interleukin-8 (IL-8), a key marker of airway inflammation.
Results revealed a 52.6% reduction in IL-8 levels after six weeks of NR treatment compared to placebo (95% CI: −75.7% to −7.6%; P = 0.030). This effect persisted even 12 weeks after the end of treatment, with a 63.7% reduction in IL-8 (95% CI −85.7% to −7.8%; P = 0.034). Additionally, NR treatment doubled NAD+ levels in whole blood, although no changes were observed in plasma interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels.
Exploratory analyses suggested that NR might also enhance genomic integrity in airway cells and reduce epigenetic aging by mitigating cellular senescence. These findings provide intriguing evidence for the broader anti-aging effects of NR, though further trials are needed to confirm these benefits.
Given COPD’s global burden and its ties to aging and inflammation, this study shows NR’s potential as a promising therapy to improve patient outcomes and slow disease progression.
Reference
Norheim KL et al. Effect of nicotinamide riboside on airway inflammation in COPD: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Nat Aging. 2024;DOI: 10.1038/s43587-024-00758-1.
