Peripheral artery disease, often called PAD, is a common condition that affects blood flow to the legs. It happens when fatty deposits build up inside the arteries, making it harder for blood to reach the leg muscles.
Without enough oxygen-rich blood, walking can become painful, and many people experience cramping, weakness, or tiredness after only a short distance.
PAD is especially common in older adults and increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, and other circulation problems. More than 8.5 million people over the age of 40 in the United States are living with the condition. Doctors often recommend supervised walking programs because regular exercise can improve blood flow and help people walk farther with less pain.
Unfortunately, many patients cannot attend these special exercise programs because of cost, travel, or limited availability. As a result, researchers have been looking for new treatments that are easier to use and can improve everyday life for people with PAD.
A new study from Northwestern University and the University of Florida suggests that a supplement called nicotinamide riboside may offer some help. The findings were published in the journal Nature Cardiovascular Research. Nicotinamide riboside is a form of vitamin B3 and has become well known as an anti-aging supplement.
In the study, 90 adults with PAD, whose average age was about 71, were randomly assigned to take either nicotinamide riboside or a placebo every day for six months. Neither the participants nor the researchers knew who was receiving the real supplement until the study ended. This type of double-blind study helps produce reliable and unbiased results.
After six months, people taking nicotinamide riboside were able to walk about 57 feet farther than those taking the placebo. During a six-minute walking test, the supplement group improved their walking distance by about 23 feet. In comparison, people taking the placebo walked about 34 feet less than they had at the beginning of the study.
The biggest improvements were seen in participants who took at least 75% of their supplements as directed. These individuals increased their walking distance by more than 100 feet. The results suggest that taking the supplement regularly may provide the greatest benefit.
The researchers believe the supplement works by raising levels of a natural substance called NAD. NAD plays an important role in producing energy inside cells and helping them repair damage. Because the leg muscles of people with PAD often struggle to produce enough energy, increasing NAD may help muscles work better during exercise.
The scientists also tested nicotinamide riboside together with resveratrol, a natural compound found in red grapes and red wine that has also been studied for healthy aging. However, adding resveratrol did not improve the results beyond those seen with nicotinamide riboside alone.
The researchers say the findings are encouraging, but larger clinical trials are still needed to confirm that the supplement is safe and effective for people with PAD. They also hope to study whether it can help healthy older adults stay active for longer.
If future research confirms these early results, this simple vitamin supplement could become a useful new way to help people with poor circulation walk farther and maintain their independence as they age.
If you care about nutrition, please read studies about the best time to take vitamins to prevent heart disease, and vitamin D supplements strongly reduce cancer death.
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