Increasing ovarian NAD + levels improve mitochondrial functions and reverse ovarian aging.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Preclinical animal (mouse) interventional study
PubMed 32492457 · doi:10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2020.05.003
What was done
Researchers measured ovarian nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) levels across age in female mice and evaluated the effects of supplementation with the NAD+ precursor nicotinamide riboside (NR) in vivo and in vitro. They assessed ovarian NAD+ concentration, follicle counts, ovulatory capacity, live birth rates, oocyte reactive oxygen species levels, spindle abnormalities, mitochondrial membrane potential, mitochondrial clustering, and mitochondrial energy metabolism.
What was found
The abstract reports no exact numerical values or confidence intervals. It states that ovarian NAD+ declined with age, and NR supplementation restored ovarian NAD+ content in aging mice. NR treatment resulted in increased follicle counts, enhanced ovulatory potential, higher live birth rates, reduced reactive oxygen species, decreased spindle anomalies, increased mitochondrial membrane potential, decreased mitochondrial clustering, and improved mitochondrial energy metabolism.
Why it matters
This study provides preclinical mechanistic evidence that age-related decline in ovarian NAD+ impairs oocyte quality and mitochondrial function, suggesting NAD+ precursor supplementation as a candidate strategy for female age-related infertility.
Limits
The study was conducted entirely in mice, so findings cannot be directly extrapolated to human reproductive outcomes. The abstract does not report sample sizes, dosage, duration of NR administration, statistical effect sizes, or quantitative outcome metrics.
Cited by
- supports Nicotinamide riboside (NR) is involved in improving fertility, sperm health, and egg health by improving mitochondrial health.