Peripheral artery disease, or PAD, is a common condition that reduces blood flow to the legs.
It develops when fatty deposits slowly build up inside the arteries, making them narrow and stiff. As a result, the leg muscles do not receive enough oxygen and nutrients, especially during walking or other physical activity.
PAD affects millions of people worldwide and is particularly common in older adults. In the United States alone, more than 8.5 million people over the age of 40 are living with the condition.
Many people experience pain, cramping, or a heavy feeling in their legs after walking only a short distance, forcing them to stop and rest.
Because PAD makes it difficult to stay active, it can reduce independence and quality of life.
Doctors often recommend supervised exercise programs, especially regular walking, because research has shown that these programs can help people walk farther before pain begins. Unfortunately, many patients cannot attend these programs because of travel, cost, time, or other barriers.
A new study by researchers from Northwestern University and the University of Florida suggests that a nutritional supplement may offer another way to help.
The researchers tested nicotinamide riboside, a form of vitamin B3 that has become popular in recent years because of its possible effects on healthy aging and energy production.
The study included 90 adults with PAD whose average age was about 71 years. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either nicotinamide riboside or a placebo pill with no active ingredient. Neither the volunteers nor the researchers knew who received the real supplement during the six-month trial, helping make the results more reliable.
At the end of the study, people taking nicotinamide riboside performed better on walking tests. On average, they walked 57 feet farther than those taking the placebo. During a six-minute walking test, the supplement group improved by 23 feet, while the placebo group walked 34 feet less than at the beginning of the study. People who took at least 75 percent of their assigned tablets improved by more than 100 feet.
The researchers believe the supplement works by raising levels of NAD, a natural molecule that helps cells produce energy and repair damage. NAD levels normally fall with age, and this may make muscles less efficient. In people with PAD, whose muscles already receive less blood, increasing NAD may help the muscles use the available energy more effectively.
The team also tested whether adding resveratrol, a natural compound found in red wine, would provide extra benefits. However, the combination did not improve walking ability any more than nicotinamide riboside alone.
The research was published in the peer-reviewed journal Nature Communications. Professor Christiaan Leeuwenburgh from the University of Florida said the findings are encouraging, but larger studies are needed to confirm the benefits and long-term safety of the supplement. Dr. Mary McDermott of Northwestern University said future research will also examine whether the supplement could help healthy older adults stay mobile as they age.
Although more research is still needed, the findings offer hope for people living with PAD. If larger studies confirm these results, a simple daily supplement could become an affordable way to improve walking ability, maintain independence, and support healthier aging.
If you care about health, please read studies about how Mediterranean diet could protect your brain health, and the best time to take vitamins to prevent heart disease.
For more health information, please see recent studies about plant nutrients that could help reduce high blood pressure, and these antioxidants could help reduce dementia risk.
Copyright © 2026 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
