NR on skeletal muscle metabolism and exercise performance
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The effect of Nicotinamide Riboside on skeletal muscle metabolism and exercise performance
IRAS ID
218992
Contact name
Andrew Philp
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Birmingham
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Mitochondria are often referred to as 'the powerhouses of the cell' for their role in energy production. As the site of aerobic energy production in the cell, mitochondria are therefore crucial in the utilisation of carbohydrates and fats for the production of energy. The content and function of skeletal muscle mitochondria declines during ageing and with inactivity. Importantly, this occurs concurrently with the development of chronic diseases such as type II diabetes, which is partially due to a reduced capacity of mitochondria to breakdown fat for energy production.
Encouragingly, mitochondrial content and function is enhanced following endurance exercise training. One of the mechanisms by which mitochondrial content and function is increased following exercise is through NAD+-dependent sirtuin signalling. NAD+ is one of the most abundant metabolites in the human body, and requires ongoing replenishment due to its high rate of turnover through NAD+-consuming activities. Nicotinamide Riboside is a bioavailable B3 vitamin NAD+ precursor and can therefore elevate NAD+ concentration in skeletal muscle. Importantly, the first clinical trial investigating the effects of nictotinamide riboside supplementation in humans has reported no adverse effects of 1000 mg/d nicotinamide riboside (Trammell et al, 2016). Furthermore, nicotinamide riboside is commercially available, branded as Niagen, and has had no adverse effects reported. Trammell et al (2016) also demonstrated that nicotinamide riboside is the favoured NAD+ precursor vitamin, increasing blood NAD+ concentrations following supplementation of 1000 mg/d nicotinamide riboside.As NAD+ levels are enhanced with energy stress, exercise also has the potential to increase NAD+ metabolism in skeletal muscle. Thus synergistic/additive effects of exercise and nicotinamide riboside supplementation in elevating NAD+ levels should, in theory, further enhance the adaptive responses to endurance exercise. To date, there are no known nutritional ingredients shown to increase mitochondrial function in skeletal muscle. Thus nicotinamide riboside supplementation has great potential to be an important nutritional aid for health and endurance performance.
In this respect, we will investigate the hypothesis that exercising following nicotinamide riboside supplementation will increase molecular signalling and mRNA expression of proteins involved in expanding mitochondrial content and improving mitochondrial function. Furthermore, it is hypothesised that increased availability of NAD+ will increase fatty acid oxidation and time trial performance. The expected outcomes will help determine if combining nicotinamide riboside supplementation with exercise could be used to optimise the increase in skeletal muscle mitochondrial content and function following exercise.
REC name
West Midlands - Black Country Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/WM/0321
Date of REC Opinion
11 Oct 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion