A study published in Nature Aging has revealed that vitamin B3 supplementation can benefit the quality of life of those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
During the six-week trial run by researchers from the University of Copenhagen, 40 patients with COPD and 20 healthy control subjects were given either a placebo or 2g of nicotinamide riboside per day.
By the end of the study period, patients with COPD exhibited a 53% drop in interleukin-8 (IL-8) — a notable marker of inflammation.
This effect was also pronounced during a 12-week time period, where IL-8 levels dropped by 63%.
COPD and its unmet needs
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a common side effect associated with ageing, and can significantly impact an affected individual's quality of life.
It is characterised by a shortness of breath, persistent coughing, wheezing and a vulnerability to respiratory infections, which can cause significant issues on a daily basis for those that have the disease.
It's estimated that 600 million people worldwide suffer with the condition, so there is a need to find solutions that can assist patients in feeling their best.
"Vitamin B3 has been shown to reduce lung inflammation in COPD patients,” stated Associate Professor Morten Scheibye-Knudsen from the Center for Healthy Aging at the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Copenhagen.
“This is significant, because inflammation can lead to reduced lung function in these patients,” he commented.
The potential of vitamin B3 in reducing COPD symptoms
As vitamin B3 — particularly in the form of nicotinamide riboside — has been proven to reduce the presence of inflammatory biomarkers in the lungs, researchers highlight its potential in managing the condition alongside existing pharmaceutical interventions.
With a significant reduction in lung inflammation experienced over a long period of supplementation, it may be sensible to encourage the long-term use of the vitamin to support health.
However, more studies will have to be conducted to determine the true effect of long-term supplementation on an individual's health — both in a healthy and COPD patient population.
Although more needs to be done to understand the benefits of vitamin B3 in this context, the solution could still be considered as a cost-effective and accessible solution for those looking to lower inflammation.
COPD and NAD
Interestingly, throughout the study, patients with COPD were also observed to have lower blood levels of NAD compared to their healthy counterparts.
Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide is a coenzyme that is intimately involved in cellular metabolism, and its deficiency can have profound negative impacts on the body.
Lowered NAD levels has also been associated with accelerated ageing, owing to increased DNA methylation levels within the body.
As vitamin B3 is a natural precursor to NAD, it has the potential to contribute to the delaying of cellular ageing.
This might be particularly useful in patients with COPD, as they are prone to low NAD levels and supplementation with vitamin B3 was seen to reverse this impact.
“The loss of NAD is often seen during the ageing process and after DNA damage — for instance, the type of damage associated with smoking,” Morten Scheibye-Knudsen added.
Though it's important not to jump to conclusions about the role of NAD in the ageing process, it would be good to fully understand the implications and possibilities of the coenzyme in promoting healthy ageing."
“We hope this research will pave the way for new treatment options for COPD patients, but first we need to continue to analyse and validate the results in larger and more comprehensive studies. Only through thorough research will we be able to offer the best and most effective treatment to people suffering from this difficult disease." He concluded.