Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 1

Nicotinamide riboside (NR) is a form of vitamin B3 and a precursor to nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+), a coenzyme involved in cellular metabolism and repair. While NR is not a traditional remedy for Inflammatory Bowel Disorders (IBD) such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, there has been emerging scientific interest in its potential therapeutic effects due to its role in cellular energy metabolism and inflammation modulation.

Preclinical studies in animal models of colitis have demonstrated that NR supplementation can increase NAD+ levels in gut tissues, improve epithelial barrier function, and reduce intestinal inflammation. For example, a 2020 study in Cell Reports showed that NR supplementation reduced colitis severity in mice by enhancing intestinal stem cell function and decreasing inflammatory cytokines. The proposed mechanisms include activation of sirtuins (NAD+-dependent enzymes with anti-inflammatory properties) and improved mitochondrial function.

However, clinical evidence in humans with IBD is currently lacking. No large-scale, peer-reviewed clinical trials have confirmed efficacy or safety of NR supplementation in IBD patients. Most available data are limited to preclinical experiments and a few early-phase human studies focused on other inflammatory conditions. Therefore, while there is a scientific rationale and some promising animal data, the overall level of evidence supporting NR use for IBD remains low (rated 1 out of 5), and its use in this context cannot be recommended outside of clinical trials.

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