Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Jun 12, 2025 3 weeks, 5 days, 6 hours, 3 minutes ago
Medical News: Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide Found to Help Reverse Heart Failure by Targeting Mitochondrial Damage
A group of Chinese researchers has uncovered a promising new approach to treating heart failure by using nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, or NAD+, a natural molecule found in our cells that plays a vital role in energy metabolism.
NAD Supplementation Emerges as New Fix for Heart Failure
The researchers, from the School of Exercise and Health and the School of Athletic Performance at Shanghai University of Sport, and the Department of Anesthesiology at the EYE & ENT Hospital of Fudan University in Shanghai, have shown that NAD+ supplementation may help repair the damaged mitochondria in heart cells, potentially reversing or slowing the progression of heart failure.
Heart failure affects more than 60 million people globally and is often the final stage of several heart-related diseases like hypertension, heart attacks, or arrhythmias. It happens when the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs. Despite various drugs used in treatment, many patients experience side effects, and long-term outcomes remain poor. This
Medical News report explores how boosting levels of NAD+, a compound naturally present in the body, can provide a new pathway to combat this serious condition.
Why Mitochondria Matter in Heart Failure
The heart is one of the most energy-demanding organs in the human body, and its function relies heavily on mitochondria—the tiny structures within cells often referred to as the cell’s "power stations." In heart failure, these mitochondria become dysfunctional. They fail to produce enough ATP (the body’s energy currency), accumulate harmful reactive oxygen species (ROS), and lose the ability to maintain proper calcium balance. These issues contribute to the death of heart cells and the thickening and stiffening of heart tissue.
How NAD+ Can Help Restore the Heart’s Power Supply
NAD+ is crucial for keeping mitochondria healthy. It activates enzymes called sirtuins, particularly SIRT1 and SIRT3, which help regulate energy production, reduce oxidative stress, and promote the removal of damaged mitochondria. By improving these key mitochondrial processes, NAD+ restores the heart’s ability to generate energy, fight inflammation, and maintain proper cell function.
The study highlighted that low NAD+ levels are commonly seen in people with heart failure, especially as they age. Supplementing with NAD+ or its precursors—like nicotinamide riboside (NR), nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), and niacin (NA)—can replenish depleted stores. These precursors are found in foods like milk, broccoli, tomatoes, and meat. When taken as supplements, they can increase cellular NAD+ levels and improve mitochondrial function, leading to better heart performance.
Key Study Findings in Detail
-Mitochondrial Dynamics: NAD+ helps balanc
e mitochondrial fission and fusion, processes essential for maintaining healthy mitochondria. An imbalance leads to fragmentation and dysfunction, which worsens heart failure.
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Autophagy Activation: NAD+ enhances the removal of damaged mitochondria via autophagy, particularly by activating the Pink1/Parkin pathway—an important quality control mechanism in heart cells.
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Oxidative Stress Control: Supplementation boosts antioxidants like superoxide dismutase and catalase, neutralizing excessive ROS that damage mitochondria and DNA.
-Calcium Balance: NAD+ helps regulate calcium levels within cells, preventing mitochondrial swelling and cell death caused by calcium overload.
-Additionally, the study found that inhibiting enzymes that degrade NAD+, such as CD38 and PARP, further helped maintain high NAD+ levels. Natural compounds like quercetin and apigenin were shown to block these enzymes and could serve as supportive therapies.
Clinical Implications and the Road Ahead
While the results are encouraging, most of the data come from animal studies or preclinical models. Clinical trials in human patients with heart failure are still limited. However, the findings provide a strong foundation for developing new treatments aimed at restoring mitochondrial health by boosting NAD+.
Conclusion
The research offers compelling evidence that NAD+ supplementation may represent a breakthrough approach in managing heart failure. By restoring energy balance, reducing oxidative damage, and improving mitochondrial health, NAD+ could slow or potentially reverse heart failure progression. Still, more human trials are needed to confirm these effects and assess long-term safety. The approach is especially appealing due to the body’s natural ability to produce and recycle NAD+, making supplementation a relatively low-risk and accessible intervention. If successful, this strategy could transform heart failure treatment and greatly improve quality of life for millions around the world.
The study findings were published in the peer-reviewed journal: Nutrients
https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/17/11/1855
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Read Also:
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/german-study-finds-that-nicotinamide-supplement-found-to-help-speed-up-covid-19-recovery-and-restore-gut-health
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/mitochondrial-function-and-energy-production-in-mtdps-liver-like-cells-can-be-restored-by-nicotinamide-adenine-dinucleotide--nad
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/nad-precursors-like-nicotinamide-riboside-and-nicotinamide-mononucleotide-can-help-fight-against-covid-19
https://www.thailandmedical.news/articles/cardiology
https://www.thailandmedical.news/pages/thailand_doctors_listings
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