Nicotinamide Riboside and Mitochondrial Metabolism

Vitamin B3 has recently been found to be a potent modifier of energy metabolism, especially the function of mitochondria. Mitochondria power up all cells in our bodies, by generating fuel, ATP, for cellular functions. In previous studies, it has been discovered that mitochondrial biogenesis and oxidative metabolism in adipose tissue is severely impaired in obesity, already at a young adult age. Here the investigators describe a proposal where they use nicotinamide riboside (NR), a form of vitamin B3 naturally found in milk, to activate dysfunctional mitochondria, in particular the SIRT/NAD+ pathway, and to rescue signs of obesity-related diseases. The investigators use a unique human study design: monozygotic twins either discordant or concordant for obesity, to examine the effects of NR on mitochondrial function in muscle, adipose tissue and the metabolism of the whole body. The upcoming upcoming results are important for understanding the links between mitochondrial dysfunction and chronic metabolic diseases in humans, as well as for clarifying mechanisms of the novel nutritional therapeutic approaches.