Over-the-counter supplement enhances walking capacity in individuals with Peripheral Artery Disease
Peripheral Artery Disease: Could a Common Supplement Improve Walking Ability?
For individuals over the age of 40 experiencing leg pain while walking, potentially indicating peripheral artery disease (PAD), it is advisable to consult a healthcare provider. PAD develops due to the obstruction of fatty deposits in the arteries, causing a decrease in blood flow to the limbs, particularly the legs.
This condition often leads to painful and laborious walking, with fatigue manifesting in the feet, calves, or thighs. Though these symptoms subside during rest, the ability to walk may gradually deteriorate among PAD patients over time.
Researchers from the United States recently announced a promising discovery that could potentially pave the way for an affordable and readily available therapy for PAD patients. The focus of their investigation was nicotinamide riboside, a supplement belonging to the vitamin B3 family that also includes niacin and niacinamide.
Nicotinamide riboside serves as a precursor for NAD (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide), an essential compound connected to energy production, improved blood flow, and DNA repair within the body. NAD plays a crucial role in powering mitochondria, often referred to as the "powerhouse" of cells.
Given that PAD is connected to issues with energy generation within muscle cells, the researchers hypothesized that nicotinamide riboside might help enhance walking abilities in those with the disease.
The study enrolled 90 PAD patients, with an average age of 71, to explore the effects of nicotinamide riboside. Over the course of six months, participants who took nicotinamide riboside daily on average walked 23 feet more during a six-minute walking test, compared to those taking a placebo who walked 34 feet less. Interestingly, those taking at least three-quarters of the prescribed pills exhibited a significant improvement, walking more than 100 feet further than the placebo group.
One mechanism responsible for the improvements observed was the support nicotinamide riboside provides for the production of nitric oxide, a signaling molecule that acts as a natural vasodilator in the endothelial lining of arteries.
"This suggests that nicotinamide riboside could potentially aid these patients," says Dr. Christiaan Leeuwenburgh, a University of Florida professor and senior author of the clinical trial report. "We are planning a larger follow-up trial to corroborate our findings."
While further research is necessary before recommending nicotinamide riboside to healthy individuals to boost walking performance, particularly in older adults, the supplement is currently available for purchase. Participants in the study took 1,000 mg of nicotinamide riboside a day without encountering severe side effects. Previous studies indicate that nicotinamide riboside is generally well-tolerated, even at high doses.
Apart from nicotinamide riboside, beets have been shown to increase the body's natural production of nitric oxide, which supports blood flow by signaling arteries to widen. PAD is associated with conditions like diabetes, smoking, kidney disease, and heart disease. Additionally, if you are of African American descent, your risk for PAD is twice as high.
Adopting a healthy lifestyle, including regular exercise and a balanced diet, can potentially help prevent PAD. However, there is currently no known cure for PAD once it has developed.
"Safe and natural methods for reducing the risk of blood clots are readily available, including a common vitamin that functions as a natural blood thinner and a powerful herb that aids in plaque clearance," according to an editor's note.
[Sources: ScienceDaily, Nature Communications]
- The study of nicotinamide riboside, a supplement that boosts NAD production, may hold promise for improving the walking ability of individuals with peripheral artery disease (PAD).
- Researchers discovered that PAD patients who took nicotinamide riboside daily walked an average of 23 feet more in a six-minute walking test compared to those who took a placebo.
- Apart from nicotinamide riboside, beets have been found to increase the body's natural production of nitric oxide, a molecule that supports blood flow and could potentially be beneficial for PAD patients.
- Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including regular exercise and a balanced diet, can potentially help prevent PAD, but there is currently no known cure for PAD once it has developed.
