If you’re over 40 and find you’re having trouble walking because of pain in your legs, you may want to check with your doctor to see if you have peripheral artery disease (PAD).  

PAD is caused by the buildup of fatty deposits in arteries and reduces blood flow to the limbs, particularly the legs.

Because of this, walking often becomes painful and difficult due to fatigue in the feet, calves or thighs. These symptoms should dissipate with rest, but over time, people with PAD become less able to walk.

The good news is researchers recently made a startling discovery that could result in an inexpensive, readily available therapy for PAD…

PAD patients on nicotinamide riboside walked farther

U.S.-based investigators recruited 90 people with PAD and an average age of 71 to explore the effects of the over-the-counter supplement nicotinamide riboside, a member of the vitamin B3 family that also includes niacin and niacinamide.

Nicotinamide riboside is a precursor for NAD (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide), an essential compound that is related to energy generation, improved blood flow and DNA repair in the body. NAD helps power mitochondria, which are often referred to as the “powerhouse” of the body’s cells.

Because PAD is associated with problems generating energy within muscle cells, the researchers theorized that nicotinamide riboside could help improve walking in people with the disease.

Results showed exactly that. After six months, participants taking nicotinamide riboside daily walked an average of 23 feet more in a six-minute walking test, while those taking a placebo walked 34 feet less. Interestingly, those who took at least three-quarters of the pills they were supposed to take walked even farther, adding more than 100 feet to their walking distance compared to those taking a placebo.

The researchers discovered one mechanism of the improvement was because nicotinamide riboside supports the production of nitric oxide, a signaling molecule and natural vasodilator, in the endothelial lining of the arteries.

“This is a signal that nicotinamide riboside could help these patients,” says Dr. Christiaan Leeuwenburgh, a University of Florida professor and senior author of the clinical trial report. “We are hoping to conduct a larger follow-up trial to verify our findings.”

Supporting your body’s energy production

The researchers want to do more research before recommending that healthy people take NAD, especially older adults to improve walking performance.

But nicotinamide riboside is currently available as a supplement to anyone that chooses to take it.  

Participants in the study were taking 1,000 mg of nicotinamide riboside a day. They didn’t experience any severe side effects, and most studies show that nicotinamide riboside is well-tolerated, even at high doses.

But if you looking for an energy boost, we observed in an earlier issue that many people notice an immediate energy boost after taking just 250 mg of nicotinamide riboside twice daily.

If you want to get an extra boost of nitric oxide, which was shown to be one mechanism of the improvements seen in the study, just eat beets. Beets support the body’s natural production of nitric oxide, known to support blood flow by signaling arteries to expand.

PAD is associated with diabetes and smoking, as well as kidney disease and heart disease. Plus, if you’re African American, your risk of PAD is twice as high.

Lifestyle changes such as regular exercise and following a healthy diet can go a long way toward helping you avoid PAD. But there is presently no cure for PAD once you have it.

Sources:

Over-the-counter supplement improves walking for peripheral artery disease patients — ScienceDaily

Nicotinamide riboside for peripheral artery disease: the NICE randomized clinical trial — Nature Communications