Nicotinamide Riboside Supplementation in Chronic Kidney Disease
United States30 participantsStarted 2026-10-01
Plain-language summary
This study is testing whether a dietary supplement called nicotinamide riboside, (NR), can be used in adults with moderate chronic kidney disease. NR is a form of vitamin B3 that may help support cellular energy metabolism.
The main goal of this study is to see whether it is feasible for people with chronic kidney disease to take NR daily, complete study visits, and follow the study procedures. The study will also explore whether NR chloride affects markers of mitochondrial health, small blood vessel function, and physical function.
Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two treatment orders. One group will take NR first and placebo second. The other group will take placebo first and NR second. Placebo looks like NR but does not contain active NR. Each treatment period lasts 12 weeks, with an approximately 2-week washout period between treatments. Neither participants nor the study team will know which treatment participants are taking during each period.
Study visits will include blood and urine collection, physical function testing, and noninvasive tests of small blood vessel function. The study will enroll up to 36 adults with moderate chronic kidney disease at the University of California, San Diego.
Who can participate
Age range
30 Years
Sex
ALL
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AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Moderate chronic kidney disease not treated with dialysis, defined as eGFR 30-59 mL/min/1.73 m2 using the CKD-EPI equation.
* Urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (uACR) \<300 mg/g.
* Able to provide informed consent.
* Able to walk unassisted from room to room, with usual assistive device allowed if approved by study safety assessment.
* Willing and able to comply with study procedures, visits, and study product administration.
Exclusion Criteria:
* Pregnancy.
* Expectation to start dialysis within 6 months.
* Unable to walk unassisted from room to room.
* Institutionalization or inability to consent.
* End-stage liver disease with cirrhosis.
* HIV.
* Oxygen-dependent COPD.
* Baseline systolic blood pressure \>170 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure \>100 mmHg.
* Current participation in another interventional trial.
* Use of immunosuppressive medications, including steroids or calcineurin inhibitors.
* Malignancy requiring active treatment or currently under surveillance at the discretion of the investigator.
* Hospitalization for myocardial infarction, unstable angina, cerebrovascular accident, or unstable cardiac chest pain within the prior 3 months.
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.