NAD⁺ precursor increases aerobic performance in mice.

Area of Science:

• Mitochondrial Metabolism and Exercise Physiology
• Nutritional Supplementation and Performance

Background:

• Nicotinamide riboside (NR) is a NAD+ precursor known to enhance mitochondrial function.
• The impact of NR supplementation on aerobic performance in conjunction with exercise remains largely uninvestigated.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of NR supplementation on muscle metabolism and aerobic capacity in mice.
• To determine if NR enhances aerobic performance in sedentary and aerobically trained mice.

Main Methods:

• Male C57BL/6J mice received NR (400 mg/Kg/day) for 5 or 10 weeks.
• A 5-week treadmill aerobic exercise protocol was implemented.
• A combination of bioinformatic, physiological, biochemical, and molecular assays were employed.

Main Results:

• NR alone did not improve aerobic performance, but increased skeletal muscle NAD+ levels after 5 weeks.
• Combined NR supplementation and aerobic training significantly enhanced aerobic performance compared to training alone.
• This enhancement was associated with increased NMNAT3, mitochondrial proteins (MTCO1, ATP5a), and type I muscle fibers.

Conclusions:

• Nicotinamide riboside supplementation, particularly when combined with aerobic training, shows promise for improving mitochondrial metabolism.
• NR may be a viable strategy to enhance aerobic capacity and exercise performance through improved muscle energetics.