Nicotinamide riboside reduces inflammation in healthy controls, patients with psoriasis

Key takeaways:

• Nicotinamide riboside (NR) reduced inflammation in healthy controls and those with psoriasis.
• NR blunted T helper (Th) 1 and Th17 immune cell responsiveness and lessened interferon-gamma and IL-17 secretion.

Elevating nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide with nicotinamide riboside supplementation reduced inflammation in both healthy controls and patients with psoriasis, according to findings from a clinical study.

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD⁺), a critical coenzyme for cells, plays a vital role in cellular and metabolic processes, including adenosine triphosphate production and DNA repair. Research has shown that low NAD⁺ levels are associated with inflammatory responses and the impairment of immune cells, according to press release issued by ChromaDex, the NAD⁺ research organization that supplied its Niagen NR ingredient for the study.

Nicotinamide riboside (NR) is “one of the most efficient and superior NAD⁺ precursors,” according to the release, and has been proven to increase NAD⁺ safely and effectively.

“Inflammation is part of the body’s response to infection. However, chronic inflammation becomes damaging,” Charles Brenner, PhD, discoverer of the pathway to NAD+ and chief scientific advisor at ChromaDex, told Healio. “This is the seventh positive study confirming the anti-inflammatory activity of oral Niagen NR in a variety of human populations.”

The study was split into two parts. In the first, researchers analyzed the effects of ex vivo NR supplementation on adaptive immunity in CD4⁺ T cells. These cells were extracted from patients with mild to moderate psoriasis and compared with healthy controls.

The second part included the analysis of CD4⁺ T cell function from a prior randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in which 25 healthy participants received 1,000 mg of NR or placebo daily for 1 week.

Results showed that the supplementation of NR in both healthy participants and those with psoriasis reduced T-helper (Th) 1 and Th17 immune cell responsiveness and depressed the secretion of interferon-gamma and IL-17, which contribute to inflammation and the overactivation of CD4⁺ T cells.

According to the release, NR treatment upregulated genes related to antioxidant defense pathways in CD4⁺ T cells. NR also decreased the production of harmful reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation, all of which contribute to the damage and death of various healthy cells.

The study showed the psoriatic T cells demonstrated a propensity to reduce NAD⁺ and produce more NAD⁺ consuming enzymes. Therefore, the supplementation of NR is important for boosting those NAD⁺ levels, according to the release.

“The study shows that NR can be used to control inflammation in healthy people and in those with psoriasis, [and that] by helping to control reactive oxygen species and lowering circulation of IL-17, NR may help people with psoriasis better control their condition,” Brenner told Healio.

Reference:

• A milestone clinical study reveals that elevating nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) with nicotinamide riboside (NR) supplementation effectively reduces inflammation in both healthy subjects and immune cells derived from psoriasis patients. https://investors.chromadex.com/news/news-details/2023/A-Milestone-Clinical-Study-Reveals-that-Elevating-Nicotinamide-Adenine-Dinucleotide-NAD-with-Nicotinamide-Riboside-NR-Supplementation-Effectively-Reduces-Inflammation-in-Both-Healthy-Subjects-and-Immune-Cells-Derived-from-Psoriasis-Patients/default.aspx. Published Oct. 2, 2023. Accessed Oct. 24, 2023.