Can Nicotinamide Riboside Boost Your Aging Dog's Health?

Written by Ozzy Fitoria
·11 mins read
Can Nicotinamide Riboside Boost Your Aging Dog's Health?

As devoted dog parents, watching our beloved furry friends slow down with age can be heartbreaking. But what if a simple supplement could help turn back the clock on aging and restore some of that youthful vitality? Enter nicotinamide riboside chloride (NR), a promising compound that's been making waves in the anti-aging research world.

A growing body of scientific evidence suggests that NR supplementation may offer a host of benefits for aging dogs, from improving muscle strength and reducing inflammation to supporting brain health and boosting overall physical performance. Let's dive into the research to understand how NR works and whether it could help your senior pup live their golden years to the fullest.

The Science Behind NR: Boosting NAD+ Levels

NR is a precursor to nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+), an essential coenzyme that plays a crucial role in cellular energy production. NAD+ is involved in hundreds of metabolic processes, but its levels naturally decline with age, contributing to many of the physical changes we associate with getting older.

By providing the building blocks for NAD+ production, NR supplementation aims to boost NAD+ levels and support the cellular processes that keep our dogs feeling fit and energetic. In a 2019 human study, researchers found that just 21 days of oral NR supplementation significantly increased NAD+ levels in skeletal muscle tissue [1].

Potential Benefits for Aging Dogs

So what could higher NAD+ levels mean for your aging pup? Here are some of the key potential benefits of NR supplementation, based on the latest scientific research:

  1. Enhanced muscle function and physical performance
    Multiple animal studies suggest that NR can improve muscle strength, endurance and overall physical function in aging subjects. In a 2021 study on middle-aged mice, 4 weeks of NR supplementation led to better treadmill endurance, grip strength, and cellular energy production in muscle tissue compared to a placebo [2].
  2. Reduced inflammation and joint pain
    Chronic low-grade inflammation is a hallmark of aging that can contribute to achy joints and overall discomfort in senior dogs. Human research indicates that NR may help reduce circulating inflammatory markers - in one trial, 21 days of NR supplementation significantly decreased inflammatory cytokine levels in older adults [1].
  3. Improved brain function and cognitive health
    Studies in mouse models of Alzheimer's disease have shown that NR supplementation can prevent cognitive decline and improve memory by reducing the accumulation of harmful proteins in the brain [3]. This suggests NR could potentially support healthy brain aging in senior dogs too.
  4. Better metabolic health and weight management
    NR may help optimize your dog's metabolism and cellular energy processes. A 2022 study found that mice given NR during early life had improved lipid metabolism and reduced liver fat in adulthood, even when fed a high-fat diet [4]. This hints at the potential for NR to support a healthy weight and metabolism as dogs age.
  5. Enhanced regenerative capacity and healthspan
    By attenuating age-related changes in stem cell function, NR could help maintain your dog's ability to repair and regenerate tissue throughout their lifespan. In a 2021 mouse study, NR supplementation restored youthful metabolic function in hematopoietic stem cells, the building blocks of blood and immune cells [6].

Is NR Right For Your Dog?

While the bulk of NR research to date has been in rodent models or human subjects, the underlying biological mechanisms are likely relevant for our canine companions too. And so far, the evidence suggests that NR is generally well-tolerated with a solid safety profile.

A 2018 human trial found no serious adverse effects after 6 weeks of NR supplementation in healthy middle-aged and older adults [8]. However, it's still a good idea to check with your vet before starting your pup on any new supplement, especially if they have pre-existing health conditions or take medications.

If you do decide to give NR a try, be patient - benefits may take several weeks or months to appear, as the supplement works to gradually increase NAD+ levels and optimize cellular function. Consistency is key, so aim to give the supplement daily as directed for the best results.

The Bottom Line

While more research is needed to fully understand the effects of NR in dogs specifically, the current scientific evidence points to its exciting potential as a healthy aging supplement. By boosting NAD+ levels and supporting cellular energy production, NR may help improve muscle function, cognitive health, metabolism, and overall physical performance in our senior furry friends.

Of course, no supplement is a silver bullet against aging. To give your pup the best shot at a long, healthy life, make sure to prioritize a balanced diet, regular exercise, and plenty of mental stimulation too. With a combination of good nutrition, physical and mental enrichment, and targeted supplementation when appropriate, you can help your loyal companion make the most of their golden years by your side.

References

  1. Elhassan, Y., Kľučková, K., Fletcher, R., Schmidt, M., Garten, A., Doig, C., Cartwright, D., Oakey, L., Burley, C., Jenkinson, N., Wilson, M., Lucas, S., Akerman, I., Seabright, A., Lai, Y., Tennant, D., Nightingale, P., Wallis, G., Manolopoulos, K., Brenner, C., Philp, A., & Lavery, G. (2019). Nicotinamide Riboside Augments the Aged Human Skeletal Muscle NAD+ Metabolome and Induces Transcriptomic and Anti-inflammatory Signatures. Cell Reports, 28, 1717 - 1728.e6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2019.07.043
  2. Seldeen, K., Shahini, A., Thiyagarajan, R., Redae, Y., Leiker, M., Rajabian, N., Dynka, A., Andreadis, S., & Troen, B. (2021). Basic nutritional investigationShort-term nicotinamide riboside treatment improves muscle quality and function in mice and increases cellular energetics and differentiating capacity of myogenic progenitors.. Nutrition, 87-88, 111189 . https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nut.2021.111189
  3. Gong, B., Pan, Y., Vempati, P., Zhao, W., Knable, L., Ho, L., Wang, J., Sastre, M., Ono, K., Sauve, A., & Pasinetti, G. (2013). Nicotinamide riboside restores cognition through an upregulation of proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator 1α regulated β-secretase 1 degradation and mitochondrial gene expression in Alzheimer's mouse models. Neurobiology of Aging, 34, 1581-1588. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2012.12.005
  4. Serrano, A., Palou, A., Bonet, M., & Ribot, J. (2022). Nicotinamide Riboside Supplementation to Suckling Male Mice Improves Lipid and Energy Metabolism in Skeletal Muscle and Liver in Adulthood. Nutrients, 14. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14112259
  5. Dolopikou, C., Kourtzidis, I., Margaritelis, N., Vrabas, I., Koidou, I., Kyparos, A., Theodorou, A., Paschalis, V., Paschalis, V., & Nikolaidis, M. (2019). Acute nicotinamide riboside supplementation improves redox homeostasis and exercise performance in old individuals: a double-blind cross-over study. European Journal of Nutrition, 59, 505-515. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-019-01919-4
  6. Sun, X., Cao, B., Naval-Sánchez, M., Pham, T., Sun, Y., Williams, B., Heazlewood, S., Deshpande, N., Li, J., Kraus, F., Rae, J., Nguyen, Q., Yari, H., Schröder, J., Heazlewood, C., Fulton, M., Hatwell-Humble, J., Gupta, K., Kapetanovic, R., Chen, X., Sweet, M., Parton, R., Ryan, M., Polo, J., Nefzger, C., & Nilsson, S. (2021). Nicotinamide riboside attenuates age-associated metabolic and functional changes in hematopoietic stem cells. Nature Communications, 12. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-22863-0
  7. Braidy, N., & Liu, Y. (2020). Can nicotinamide riboside protect against cognitive impairment?. Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care, 23, 413 - 420. https://doi.org/10.1097/MCO.0000000000000691
  8. Martens, C., Denman, B., Mazzo, M., Armstrong, M., Reisdorph, N., McQueen, M., Chonchol, M., & Seals, D. (2018). Chronic nicotinamide riboside supplementation is well-tolerated and elevates NAD+ in healthy middle-aged and older adults. Nature Communications, 9. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-018-03421-7
  9. Geng, L., Zhang, B., Liu, H., Wang, S., Cai, Y., Yang, K., Zou, Z., Jiang, X., Liu, Z., Li, W., Wu, Z., Liu, X., Chu, Q., Liu, G., Qu, J., & Zhang, W. (2022). A comparative study of metformin and nicotinamide riboside in alleviating tissue aging in rats. Life Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1093/lifemedi/lnac045
  10. Mehmel, M., Jovanović, N., & Spitz, U. (2020). Nicotinamide Riboside—The Current State of Research and Therapeutic Uses. Nutrients, 12. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12061616
 

This article is for informational purposes only. It is not, nor is it intended to be, a substitute for professional medical or veterinary advice, diagnosis, or treatment and should never be relied upon or perceived as specific medical or veterinary advice.

 

 

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