Nicotinamide riboside (NR), a form of vitamin B, was shown to be effective at boosting metabolism. Now, researchers are adding organ protection to its list of benefits, spotlighting the its ability to stop organ aging.
In a study published in the journal Science, Hongbo Zhang and colleagues detailed using several markers to identify a molecular chain responsible for regulating how the mitochondria functions and change with age. The powerhouse of the cell, the mitochondria has a role to play in the body's metabolism, but this is the first time that its ability to properly function was shown to be important to stem cells.
Typically, stem cells work to repair damaged organs by creating new but specific cells after receiving signals from the body. The researchers were able to demonstrate that stem cell fatigue is one of the primary causes of poor organ regeneration, or even degeneration, giving them the idea that revitalizing stem cells with NR could improve the regeneration process.
"This substance ... is a precursor of NAD+, a molecule that plays a key role in mitochondrial activity," said Zhang.
According to results, which the researchers deemed as promising, administering NR led to better muscular regeneration and life longevity in mice compared to those that didn't receive the vitamin.
For the researchers, it's not about introducing foreign substances to the body to address aging issues. Rather, the focus is on restoring the body's own ability to repair itself using a product that can easily be taken with food.
No negative side effects, so far, have been reported after NR is used, even when the vitamin is administered at high doses. Still, the researchers want to take caution using NR because it appears to have the capacity to boost the function of all cells, meaning including pathological ones. As such, they suggest further studies to strike a balance between harnessing the benefits of NR and managing its potential side effects.
Aside from Zhang, Johan Auwerx, Keir J. Menzies, Kristina Schoonjans, Ruedi Aebersold, Matthias Lutolf, Eduardo Ropelle, Davide D'Amico, Peiling Luan, Xu Wang, Karim Gariani, Yibo Wu and Dongryeol Ryu also contributed to the study.
Photo: Kyrre Gjerstad | Flickr
