In a recent Nutrition 2021 Conference presentation entitled “Potential Impact of Nicotinamide Riboside (NR) on Maternal Health Outcomes“, UC Davis professor and lactation expert Bruce German PhD explained why vitamin supplement NR (FAQs) (Reviews) might show dramatic effects on human mothers and their offspring in clinical trials he’s currently conducting. The following are key quotes from Dr German:

From Dr Bruce German’s Nutrition Conference Presentation:

“…Mothers are desperate to improve their milk supply (to their newborns) — and they are searching for ways to do that.

…We’re realizing now that there’s remarkable diversity in lactation due to the age of the mother, lifestyle of the mother, genetics of the mother, and her diet.

…If we can understand how lactation and milk work to nourish infants — to make healthy infants healthier — we can understand how to nourish mothers and infants, and all of us”

N.A.D. = Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide

“…NAD is fundamental to all of our transformation of energy — literally, the engines in all of us are highly dependent on NAD.

…Charlie Brenner made a remarkable set of discoveries showing that the ability to drive NAD up is aided by a remarkable pathway — the pathway of Nicotinamide Riboside (NR).

So this unique molecule (NR) coming from the diet is actually able to support the increase in NAD in this pathway.

This is a remarkable discovery — and provides diet the means to enhance energy metabolism when we’re under stress” (in this case postpartum stress)

Giving NR to Lactating Rodents

“…A landmark study that was published by Charlie Brenner’s group just 2 years ago, in which they provided NR to lactating rodents — and followed the success of lactation and the success of the pups.

…What they found — and this was unanticipated — that when NR was supplemented to these mothers — and remember that rodents have large litters of offspring — the metabolism of lactation in these dams changed profoundly.

They had, in essence, greater milk production.

They had higher quality milk — more protein, fat, lactose.

And the pups responded appropriately.

They even saw consequences in the outcome of these pups”

What else did NR do for the mothers?

“It augmented postpartum weight loss.

The mobilization of peripheral stores of adipose was increased in these mothers…

In fact, fuel metabolism in the mother and the offspring was improved when the mothers were on NR.

High quality milk production was increased, maternal metabolic status was increased, and there were lasting physical, anatomical, and behavioral advantages to the pups”

Why Use Nicotinamide Riboside (NR)?

“It’s a uniquely bioavailable form of Niacin.

It drives NAD levels up throughout tissues — especially in the liver.

There are no dose dependent adverse events associated with long term use”

Can NR Supplementation in Human Mothers have the Same Effect as Seen in Rodents?

“Data in humans have shown increased levels of blood NAD with as little as 100 mg of NR a day.

And rodent models have demonstrated the potential for whole body metabolic benefits.

…Will NR assist with lactation?

…We have a clinical trial ongoing on supplementing mothers in the NICU to test if NR can improve milk production to mothers whose babies are in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit because they were born premature.

Why the NICU?

This is a convergence of challenges.

Premature births are up and are continuing to rise.

Over 10% of babies this year were born premature — and it’s rising.

Those mothers who have premature infants — less than 50% of these mothers are successful at providing enough milk for their infants.

So, the inability to provide milk to premature babies is a clear and present threat to these babies.

If mothers can provide their own milk to their infants, there are multiple benefits both short and long term.

So, it’s vitally important that mothers can produce enough milk.

But, remember, the infant is born premature.

What that means is the mammary gland is premature.

Lactogenesis has to accelerate and drive milk production quickly.

So, the question is: Can we use NR to test that?

Well, it’s very difficult to test whether anything can boost milk production.

Why?

Because babies dictate how much milk can be produced.

And every baby is different, draws a different amount of milk.

So, you can’t tell — Is the diet of the mother, metabolic status of the mother, or the infant driving milk production, milk volume, milk composition?

In the NICU, premature infants are too young, too immature to breastfeed.

So, mothers don’t provide milk to baby.

They provide milk to a breast pump, and the breast pump is the constant presence of obtaining milk.

So it can not only be measured but standardized.

So, it’s now possible to measure accurately the effect of a diet, a metabolic intervention on the quantity and quality of milk from a mother independent of her infant.

Compliance is high and mothers can be their own controls in a cross over design.

..What energy metabolism and NR have revealed is the liver is central to lactation.

We have to understand how the liver and its function can control mammary gland production and milk composition — and how the mammary gland is able to do that.

And, of course, energy status.

Lactation is a massive demand on fuels.

And it now appears that it may be possible to change the energy status of mothers while they’re stressed” (using NR)

Conclusion:

“…The realization that intervention with NR during lactation has a major effect on the whole body’s ability to mobilize resources for milk shouldn’t come as a surprise.

…We need to understand this particular subset of the population (mothers of premature babies) much better.

We’re having babies in this condition.

We don’t know how to nourish them.

And if NR can help the mothers, that would be wonderful”

Comment: Below is a recent Tweet from Dr Brenner who’s work Dr German referenced above.

Related:

1) Watch the full presentation HERE.

2) More on NR and Postpartum can be found HERE.

3) FAQs on taking NAD boosting vitamin supplement Nicotinamide Riboside (NR) can be found HERE.

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