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Nicotinamide Riboside Supplementation in Chronic Kidney Disease

Pilot Randomized Crossover Trial of Nicotinamide Riboside in Chronic Kidney Disease (NR-CKD Trial)

Status
Not yet recruiting
Phases
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT07693543
Acronym
NR-CKD
Enrollment
30
Registered
2026-07-09
Start date
2026-10-01
Completion date
2028-09-30
Last updated
2026-07-15

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Chronic Kidney Disease

Keywords

Nicotinamide riboside, Chronic kidney disease, Microvascular function, Physical function, Cell-free mitochondrial DNA

Brief summary

This study is testing whether a dietary supplement called nicotinamide riboside, (NR), can be used in adults with moderate chronic kidney disease. NR is a form of vitamin B3 that may help support cellular energy metabolism. The main goal of this study is to see whether it is feasible for people with chronic kidney disease to take NR daily, complete study visits, and follow the study procedures. The study will also explore whether NR chloride affects markers of mitochondrial health, small blood vessel function, and physical function. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two treatment orders. One group will take NR first and placebo second. The other group will take placebo first and NR second. Placebo looks like NR but does not contain active NR. Each treatment period lasts 12 weeks, with an approximately 2-week washout period between treatments. Neither participants nor the study team will know which treatment participants are taking during each period. Study visits will include blood and urine collection, physical function testing, and noninvasive tests of small blood vessel function. The study will enroll up to 36 adults with moderate chronic kidney disease at the University of California, San Diego.

Detailed description

Chronic kidney disease is associated with impaired mitochondrial function, vascular dysfunction, reduced physical function, and increased risk of cardiovascular and functional decline. Nicotinamide riboside is a vitamin B3 derivative and NAD+ precursor that may support cellular energy metabolism and vascular health. This pilot study will evaluate the feasibility of using nicotinamide riboside in adults with moderate chronic kidney disease. The study uses a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover design so that each participant receives both nicotinamide riboside chloride and placebo during separate treatment periods. In addition to feasibility measures, the study will collect exploratory data on mitochondrial, microvascular, and physical function outcomes. These data will help determine whether a larger clinical trial of nicotinamide riboside in chronic kidney disease is practical and scientifically justified.

Interventions

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENTNicotinamide Riboside (NR)

Nicotinamide riboside will be administered orally at a target dose of 1000 mg/day for 12 weeks during the active treatment period.

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENTMatched Placebo (Capsules)

Matched placebo will be administered orally for 12 weeks during the placebo treatment period. The placebo will be identical or substantially similar in appearance to the active nicotinamide riboside study product to maintain blinding.

Sponsors

University of California, San Diego
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
TRIPLE (Subject, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)

Intervention model description

Participants will be randomized 1:1 to one of two blinded crossover sequences: NR followed by placebo, or placebo followed by NR. Each treatment period will last 12 weeks, separated by an approximately 14-day washout/crossover period.

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
30 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Moderate chronic kidney disease not treated with dialysis, defined as eGFR 30-59 mL/min/1.73 m2 using the CKD-EPI equation. * Urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (uACR) \<300 mg/g. * Able to provide informed consent. * Able to walk unassisted from room to room, with usual assistive device allowed if approved by study safety assessment. * Willing and able to comply with study procedures, visits, and study product administration.

Exclusion criteria

* Pregnancy. * Expectation to start dialysis within 6 months. * Unable to walk unassisted from room to room. * Institutionalization or inability to consent. * End-stage liver disease with cirrhosis. * HIV. * Oxygen-dependent COPD. * Baseline systolic blood pressure \>170 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure \>100 mmHg. * Current participation in another interventional trial. * Use of immunosuppressive medications, including steroids or calcineurin inhibitors. * Malignancy requiring active treatment or currently under surveillance at the discretion of the investigator. * Hospitalization for myocardial infarction, unstable angina, cerebrovascular accident, or unstable cardiac chest pain within the prior 3 months.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change in plasma cell-free mitochondrial DNABaseline, Week 12, and Week 26Change in plasma cell-free mitochondrial DNA concentration, measured as mitochondrial DNA copies per mL of plasma using droplet digital PCR.
Change in urine cell-free mitochondrial DNABaseline, Week 12, and Week 26Change in urine cell-free mitochondrial DNA concentration, measured using droplet digital PCR and reported as mitochondrial DNA copies normalized to urine osmolarity.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change in skin fingernail capillary densityBaseline, Week 12, and Week 26Change in skin capillary density, measured as capillaries per mm2 using capillaroscopy.
Change in skin blood flowBaseline, Week 12, and Week 26Change in skin blood flow, measured in laser Doppler perfusion units using laser Doppler flowmetry.
Change in six-minute walk distanceBaseline, Week 12, and Week 26Change in distance walked during the six-minute walk test, measured in meters.
Change in Handgrip StrengthBaseline, Week 12, and Week 26Change in handgrip strength, measured in kilograms using handheld dynamometry.
Change in Timed Up and GoBaseline, Week 12, and Week 26Change in Timed Up and Go test performance, measured in seconds.
Change in 30-second sit-to-standBaseline, Week 12, and Week 26Change in the number of chair stands completed during the 30-second sit-to-stand test, measured as repetitions completed in 30 seconds.

Countries

United States

Contacts

CONTACTArmin Ahmadi, PhD
a3ahmadi@ucsd.edu619-543-6248
CONTACTRakesh Malhotra, MD, MPH
r3malhotra@health.ucsd.edu
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORArmin Ahmadi, PhD

University of California, San Diego

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Jul 16, 2026