A recent study involving adult twins suggests that nicotinamide riboside (NR), a form of vitamin B3, may help increase the number and density of energy-producing power plants known as mitochondria.¹ NR is a precursor of NAD+, a coenzyme found in every cell, that supports cellular energy production. Unfortunately, NAD+ levels decline over time—and, so, too, do our energy levels.

More potential good news: the study also found that NR increased the abundance of a beneficial bacterial species in the gut.

The trial is the first to demonstrate an increase in new mitochondria formation in humans who increased their intake of NR. The researchers found similar effects following NR intake regardless of the participants’ body mass index (BMI).

“NR…is a potential treatment option to be tested in individuals with decreased muscle mitochondrial biogenesis and dysbiosis,” authors Helena A. K. Lapatto and colleagues wrote.

The study included 16 sets of twins who received NR. Twins within each set differed in body mass (BMI). Four additional sets of twins, among whom both members of each set had similar BMIs, received NR or a placebo. This design allowed the researchers to investigate the potential effects of body mass index on NR response among people with the same genetic background. The participants received a daily dose of 250 mg of NR starting at the beginning of the study, gradually increasing to 1,000 mg per day after one month. That dosage was continued for four more months.

The researchers obtained blood, muscle tissue and other samples from all participants at the beginning and end of the trial. The findings were reported on January 13, 2023, in Science Advances.

“Our findings are a great advance in the field of muscle mitochondrial research, and they encourage us and others to continue to test the impact NR may have on muscle mitochondrial dysfunction,” concluded Elja Pirinen of the University of Helsinki, lead investigator in this trial.