Phase II Study Shows Niagen® Enhances Mobility in PAD Patients

ChromaDex, Inc. (NASDAQ:CDXC), a leading authority on nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) research, recently announced promising findings from a phase II clinical study regarding the supplementation of nicotinamide riboside (NR) for individuals with peripheral artery disease (PAD). This study, conducted under the ChromaDex External Research Program (CERP®), utilized ChromaDex’s patented NR ingredient, Niagen®, renowned for its efficiency and high quality as an NAD+ precursor.

The peer-reviewed journal Nature Communications published the study, led by Dr. Mary M. McDermott from the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. The results revealed that NR supplementation significantly improved functional mobility in PAD patients, demonstrated by an enhancement in treadmill walking time and a meaningful improvement in the six-minute walking distance.

Dr. McDermott remarked, “In this Phase II clinical trial, NR improved 6-minute walk distance and treadmill walking time in people with PAD, compared to placebo. These promising results require confirmation in a larger definitive randomized clinical trial.”

Peripheral artery disease, affecting over 200 million people globally, is characterized by the narrowing or blockage of arteries, leading to reduced blood flow and oxygen supply to the limbs. This results in severe pain and walking disabilities. Current treatments are often of limited effectiveness, emphasizing the need for innovative therapeutic strategies.

NR, recognized as the most efficient NAD+ precursor, has been validated for its safety and efficacy in raising NAD+ levels in humans. Studies have indicated that increasing NAD+ levels with NR can improve skeletal muscle health, mitochondrial performance, and vascular health. Given that NAD+ levels decline with age, and considering the high incidence of PAD among older adults, NR could potentially alleviate oxidative stress and enhance mitochondrial and endothelial cell function in PAD patients.

Dr. Andrew Shao, Vice President of Scientific Affairs at ChromaDex, highlighted the broader implications of these findings, noting, “Elevating NAD+ levels using NR could have profound effects on muscle mitochondrial function. This study reinforces the potential of NR to support vascular health and improve functional mobility in patients with PAD.”

The study was a six-month, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase II trial involving 90 PAD patients aged 50 and above. Participants were randomly divided into three groups: one receiving NR (1000 mg), another receiving NR (1000 mg) combined with resveratrol (125 mg), and a placebo group.

Key outcomes at the six-month follow-up included a significant improvement in treadmill walking time and a 17.6-meter increase in the six-minute walking distance for the NR group, a change deemed clinically meaningful. The addition of resveratrol to NR did not confer additional benefits.

This pioneering study is the first to demonstrate that NR supplementation can significantly enhance walking performance in PAD patients, underscoring the functional mobility benefits of NR. The findings highlight NR's therapeutic potential and suggest further research in larger, randomized clinical trials to fully explore NR's benefits in managing PAD and potentially other age-related conditions. The study also indicated that resveratrol did not significantly augment NR’s effects, reinforcing the unique role of NR alone.