How heart NAD levels and vitamin-like supplements might help people with heart failure
Understanding the roles of cardiac NAD pools and therapeutic effects of precursor supplements in heart failure
Seeing whether boosting heart cell NAD using precursor supplements and different delivery methods can improve heart function in people with heart failure.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11092203 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
We will study a molecule called NAD that helps heart cells produce energy and is often low in failing hearts. The team will use lab models, human heart tissue, and dosing experiments to compare oral versus intravenous delivery of NAD precursors and to measure how much actually reaches the heart. Because very high oral doses work in animals but may not be tolerable in people, researchers will focus on doses and delivery methods that are realistic for patients. The goal is to learn whether raising heart NAD safely could help people with heart failure and guide future clinical treatments.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with diagnosed heart failure—especially those with reduced heart pumping function—would be the most likely candidates for related clinical participation.
Not a fit: People without heart failure or whose symptoms are driven primarily by non-cardiac problems are unlikely to benefit from this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new treatments that improve heart pumping ability and symptoms in people with heart failure.
How similar studies have performed: High-dose NAD precursors helped heart function in animal studies, but human evidence is limited and this approach remains experimental.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- University of Pennsylvania — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Baur, Joseph a. — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Baur, Joseph a.
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.