Diet and NAD breakdown products linked to heart and blood vessel health
Nutrition, terminal NAD metabolites and cardiovascular disease
This project looks at whether certain blood chemicals made when the body breaks down vitamin B3 are linked to higher risk of heart attack, stroke, and other cardiovascular events in adults.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cleveland, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11311816 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would have blood samples measured for two related NAD breakdown products (called 2PY and 4PY) that were discovered using broad metabolomics testing. Researchers will compare these marker levels in people who later develop heart disease or major cardiovascular events to those who do not, and will use lab and animal models to study how 4PY may promote blood-vessel inflammation and clotting. The team will also examine how diet (including vitamin B3 and tryptophan) and a specific genetic variant influence levels of these metabolites. Some analyses use stored human samples from cohorts while other experiments use cells and animal models to understand biological mechanisms.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults at risk for cardiovascular disease or people willing to provide blood samples, dietary information, and possibly genetic testing would be appropriate candidates.
Not a fit: People without cardiovascular risk concerns or those unable or unwilling to give blood samples or share diet/genetic information are unlikely to benefit directly.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to a blood test to identify people at higher risk for cardiovascular events and point to dietary or genetic-based ways to reduce that risk.
How similar studies have performed: Other metabolomics studies have linked blood markers to heart disease and helped with risk prediction, but the focus on 4PY and its potential causal role is relatively new and less-tested.
Where this research is happening
Cleveland, United States
- Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru — Cleveland, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hazen, Stanley L — Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru
- Study coordinator: Hazen, Stanley L
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.