Journal of Redox Biology Volume 17, July 2018, Pages 89-98
Nicotinamide riboside attenuates alcohol induced liver injuries via activation of SirT1/PGC-1α/mitochondrial biosynthesis pathway
Highlights
•NR could reverse ethanol induced hepatic steatosis and oxidative stress.
•Boosting NAD+, NR enhanced mitochondrial functions by regulating SirT1/ PGC-1α.
•SirT1 played an important role in NR's protection against alcohol liver injuries. Nicotinamide riboside (NR) is a nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) precursor which is present in foods such as milk and beer.
It was reported that NR can prevent obesity, increase longevity, and promote liver regeneration. However, whether NR can prevent ethanol-induced liver injuries is not known.
This study aimed to explore the effect of NR on ethanol induced liver injuries and the underlying mechanisms. Results We found that ethanol significantly decreased the expression and activity of hepatic SirT1 and induced abnormal expression of enzymes of lipid metabolism in mice.
Both in vivo and in vitro experiments showed that NR activated SirT1 through increasing NAD+ levels, decreased oxidative stress, increased deacetylation of PGC-1α and mitochondrial function. In SirT1 knockdown HepG2 cells, NR lost its ability in enhancing mitochondrial function, and its protection against lipid accumulation induced by ethanol.
Conclusions
NR can protect against ethanol induced liver injuries via replenishing NAD+, reducing oxidative stress, and activating SirT1-PGC-1α-mitochondrial biosynthesis. Our data indicate that SirT1 plays an important role in the protection of NR against lipid accumulation and mitochondrial dysfunctions induced by ethanol.
I’m taking 2000 mg/day of niacin to reduce cholesterol (I get muscle aches from every statin on the market, and niacin is cheaper) I wonder if nicotinamide riboside will also reduce cholesterol?