Mechanistic Study of Nicotinamide Riboside on NAD+ Biology in Individuals With Combined Pulmonary Hypertension

Overview

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a serious condition that puts strain on the heart and lungs and often leads to frequent hospital stays and shortened life expectancy. The most common cause is heart disease affecting the left side of the heart. A particularly high-risk form, called combined pre- and post-capillary pulmonary hypertension (CPH), occurs in about one in four people with heart failure. There are currently no approved treatments for CPH, and many patients develop right-sided heart failure and die earlier than expected. This study is based on a new approach that uses advanced computer methods to analyze a patient's unique biology and identify potential drug targets. Using this method, we identified nicotinamide riboside (NR) as a promising option for people with CPH. NR is a form of vitamin B3 that helps the body make NAD⁺, a substance essential for how cells produce energy and stay healthy. NAD⁺ plays an important role in how heart and blood vessel cells function. Previous research in animals suggests NR may help improve blood vessel changes in the lungs and support heart function. NR has also shown potential benefits in human studies related to cell energy, mitochondrial health, and reducing oxidative stress. In this study, NR is used only as a dietary supplement that supports normal body processes, not as a proven treatment. The investigators will conduct a small, carefully controlled study in which participants receive NR and a placebo at different times. The goal is to understand how NR affects biological and biochemical markers in the body, not to test whether it improves symptoms or outcomes. Any clinical measurements are included only to help interpret the biological effects.

Interventions

• Dietary supplement Nicotinamide Riboside (NR)
  Participants will be randomized to receive either 1000mg NR Daily or a placebo for 6 weeks, followed by a 3-week washout period. After this, they will receive the alternate treatment for an additional 6 weeks.
• Drug Placebo
  Participants will be randomized to receive either NR or a placebo for 6 weeks, followed by a 3-week washout period. After this, they will receive the alternate treatment for an additional 6 weeks.

Primary outcome measures

• Biochemical: Change in NADH:Ubiquinone Oxidoreductase Subunit B7 [Time frame: Baseline, Week 6, Week 9, Week 15]
• Exploratory physiological measure: Change in 6-minute walk distance [Time frame: Baseline, Week 6, Week 9, Week 15]

Secondary outcome measures (12)

• Change in N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide Values [Time frame: Baseline, Week 6, Week 9, Week 15]
• Change in New York Heart Association Functional classification (NYHA) [Time frame: Baseline, Week 6, Week 9, Week 15]
• Change in Empahsis-10 score [Time frame: Baseline, Week 6, Week 9, Week 15]
• Change in SF-36 Score [Time frame: Baseline, Week 6, Week 9, Week 15]
• Change in Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire [Time frame: Baseline, Week 6, Week 9, Week 12]
• Change in Tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion [Time frame: Baseline, Week 6, Week 9, Week 15]
• Change in RV Fractional Area [Time frame: Baseline, Week 6, Week 9, Week 15]
• Change in RV Longitudinal Strain [Time frame: Baseline, Week 6, Week 9, Week 15]
• Incidence of Treatment-Emergent Adverse Event [Time frame: Baseline, Week 6, Week 9, Week 15]
• Number of patients with an incidence of death [Time frame: Week 16]
• Change in NAD+ [Time frame: Baseline, 6-weeks, 9-weeks, 12-weeks]
• ,Change in NADH. [Time frame: Baseline, 6-week, 9-week, 12-week]

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion criteria

• Aged >/= 18 to 85 years of age
• Diagnosis of Combined pre-/post-capillary PH (CPH) defined as mean pulmonary artery pressure >20mmHg, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure >15mmHg, and pulmonary vascular resistance ³3 Wood units
• NYHA Class I - III
• A qualifying Baseline RHC performed within 2 years of consent Clinical echocardiogram within the prior year with LVEF>/= 45%
• Stable PH-specific and/or HF medication regimen and ≤1 diuretic adjustment within the three months prior to enrollment.
• Ambulatory - able to perform the walk test

Exclusion criteria

• Pulmonary hypertension due to congenital heart disease, connective tissue disease, or heritable pulmonary arterial hypertension
• Prohibited from regular activity due to wheelchair bound status, bed-bound status, reliance on a cane/walker, activity-limiting angina, activity-limiting osteoarthritis, or other conditions that limit activity
• Pregnancy
• Drug and toxin-associated PAH patients with active drug use
• Prior or active diagnosis of cirrhosis
• Active Malignancy
• Patients with evidence of moderate to severe hepatic impairment, defined as Child-Pugh Class B or C, or with alanine aminotransferase (ALT) or aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels greater than 3 times the upper limit of normal (ULN), should be excluded
• eGFR by MDRD <30mL/mi
• FEV1< 60% predicted with more than mild abnormalities on lung imaging Current enrollment in or completion of any other investigational product study within 30 days of Screening.
• Hospitalization for any indication within 30 days of Day 1.
• History of severe allergic or anaphylactic reaction or hypersensitivity to NR
• No known mutation in NDUFB7

Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.

Healthy volunteers: No

Study design

Allocation

Randomized

Model

Crossover

Masking

Double blind

Primary purpose

Treatment

Study locations

United States · 1 center

• Vanderbilt University Medical Center — Nashville

Identifiers

NCT: NCT07563322 · 260020 · R01HL163960

Primary sources (government registries)

• ClinicalTrials.gov (US NIH)

View this study on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗