As a public company, Chromadex has few opportunities each year to talk openly with the public about Nicotinamide Riboside “NR” (FAQs) (Reviews). Last evening was one of those times. The following are key quotes from Chromadex CEO Rob Fried and Chairman Frank Jaksch during management’s Q4 2020 earnings call.

NR Improves Health

“…So, we understand that it is our mission to get as many people exposed to Tru Niagen as possible, and hopefully, getting as many taking it as possible.

We think it improves their health, particularly, as they age or when they’re under physiological stress.

And of course, as many of us know, growing older is a physiological stress.”

The NR Customer

“So, there are some people that buy Tru Niagen specifically for aging.

There are some that purchase it for fitness.

There are some that purchase it for energy metabolism.

There are some cohort groups that believe that it is therapeutic for a specific condition that they are managing and they purchase it for that reason.”

On the New Walmart Partnership

“We plan to have a SKU with a lower dose and lower price point for Walmart.

…We don’t yet know exactly what the Walmart customer is looking for when they purchase Tru Niagen and the likelihood is aging and energy metabolism, but we will test that thesis and find out.”

Safety

“11 peer-reviewed published clinical studies to-date have validated the safety and/or efficacy of Nicotinamide Riboside or NR as an NAD precursor.”

NAD Precursors Better than NR

“..as you know, ChromaDex has a very deep understanding of NAD, and we have a fairly developed patent portfolio on precursors besides NR and we are investing in R&D in developing those next generation precursors that we think are complimentary to NR that perhaps in combination with NR or perhaps even better than NR.”

NR Combination Products

“In addition, we are investigating combination products of NR in addition to something else and the purpose of that would be to either to create a more therapeutic benefit or to improve health claims.

If it’s an ingredient that comes with it some significant efficacy, as well as health claims, we are studying it and researching it.”

Alternative Ways of Delivering NR

“…we’re also looking at alternative ways of delivering NR as just — as opposed to simply just capsules.

These are all product extensions that we’re looking at.

As you know, we do have a powder form of NR presently.

We’re looking at other delivery mechanisms as well.”

Current State of NR Research

“We now have over 225 research agreements collaborations…

They are studying cardiovascular and neurological immunity health issues as well as many other areas, all associated with aging.

This research has led to over 100 published preclinical studies and 11 published clinical studies.”

NR Studies in 2020-21

“In 2020 and in early 2021, the published clinical studies extended to important areas of human health including a pilot study indicating that NR may reduce inflammatory cytokines in the white blood cells of Stage D heart failure patients…

…the second clinical study focused on potential cardiovascular benefits of NR supplementation.

A Phase 2 study demonstrating a nutritional protocol, including NR reduces liver fat and improves liver function, and the double-blind placebo-controlled Phase 3 study of 309 patients in Turkey with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 symptoms finding that the same nutritional protocol, including NR reduced recovery time by 38% in that population.”

On Nicotintinamide Riboside and COVID-19

“So, there is work being done — a fair amount of work being done on Nicotinamide Riboside (NR) in COVID-19.

The studies that we made public last year indicate what we had expected, which is when COVID-19 — when the virus attaches to a cell, NAD levels, dramatically go down right away.

And this is intuitive, because the cell is fighting off the invader.

And what we’ve also shown is that when Nicotinamide Riboside (NR) is added to the solution — it shows a protective benefit.

So, we weren’t surprised by the Phase 2 or Phase 3 results that came out of Turkey.

Of course, that study was done in conjunction that the cocktail that was offered was Tru Niagen plus three other dietary supplements.

So, we can’t say that it was Tru Niagen per se that caused such a dramatic result. (NOTE: NAD and NR Expert Dr Brenner believes so.)

But the result is consistent with the preclinical studies that we’ve seen thus far.

The standard of care in Turkey, in the Phase 2 was hydroxychloroquine and during the Phase 3 was hydroxychloroquine and plus one other…”

On New NR Studies Relating to COVID-19 Long Haulers

“…the only one I think we can talk about is the one that posted with Harvard which is basically looking at long haulers.

So that’s not necessarily looking at COVID itself, but it is looking at the potential of Nicotinamide Riboside (NR) to repair NAD function related to these people that are having these long haul or sort of side effects post COVID.

So that’s one area and we are exploring a couple other trials.”

Two Newly Registered Clinical Studies Looking at the Potential Impact of NR in Other Health Areas

“First, in November, a study was initiated to investigate the impact of NR supplementation on mother’s milk production in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. The clinical study is being conducted at the University of California, Davis, with lead investigator, Dr. Bruce German, who is a member of the ChromaDex Scientific Advisory Board.

This study follow encouraging preclinical results published in Cell Reports which showed that NR supplementation benefited both mothers and newborn rodents published by our Chief Scientific Adviser Dr. Charles Brenner. This is a promising area of research that could benefit a high-risk population.

In December, a study was registered by the Veterans Health Administration Office of Research and Development in collaboration with the University at Buffalo to investigate the impacts of NR on functional capacity and muscle physiology in older veterans.

Investigators will study 144 patients in the double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial.

Nearly 9 million veterans are now 65 years of age or older with impairments and functional capacity reduction in quality of life, and an increase in the use of healthcare services and associated costs.

An estimated 45% to 50% of those over the age of 85 are frail, which could represent well over one million veterans.

According to the researchers, frailty is increasingly seen within the aging population and is driven largely by musculoskeletal declines.

This study will provide greater insight into NR supplementation as a nutritional therapeutic strategy to stave off frailty and maintain resilience during aging.”

NOTE:

  • You can read the full transcript HERE.
  • FAQs on taking NAD boosting vitamin supplement Nicotinamide Riboside (NR) can be found HERE.
  • NR supplementation may have helped sufferers of these diseases & conditions (Consumer Reviews)

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