A protocol study to investigate the acute vascular and metabolic effects of nicotinamide riboside and pterostilbene co-supplementation

Feron, Jack (2022). A protocol study to investigate the acute vascular and metabolic effects of nicotinamide riboside and pterostilbene co-supplementation. University of Birmingham. M.Sc.

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Abstract

Effective mitochondrial and vascular function are key to maintaining general health and optimising endurance exercise performance. This thesis aims to discuss some key players regulating these functionalities, and a promising strategy to upregulate these pathways. Specifically, the supplementation of nicotinamide riboside (NR), an NAD+ precursor, and pterostilbene (PT), a polyphenol (together referred to as NRPT). Clinical data regarding the independent and combined metabolic and vascular actions of NR, PT, and NRPT supplementation are reviewed in detail. The possible beneficial effects of co-supplementation on glycaemic control will also be discussed, as well as the role of post-exercise hypoxic exposure on post-exercise glucose uptake. The review discusses the use of two stimuli, acute hyperglycaemia and acute hypoxic exposure, which could potentiate the vascular effects of NRPT. Within this, an in-depth summation of literature regarding the impact of a standardised glucose load on flow-mediated dilation in healthy populations is provided.

Currently, only four clinical trials have investigated NRPT supplementation (chronic and short-term), either in vulnerable or elderly populations with a limited range of metabolic and vascular outcome measures. Consequently, no data exists regarding acute dosages, supplementation in younger cohorts, or its impact during exercise. The original aim of this thesis was to address this gap in the literature; however, due to COVID-19 the research could not take place. Therefore, this thesis contains the rationale for this study and the proposed methodology that planned to utilise a randomised, double-blind, and placebo-controlled design. Briefly, the impact of acute NRPT supplementation on vascular function, substrate utilisation during exercise, and post-exercise glycaemic control were going to be assessed, with the primary outcome measure being brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD). The relatively underexplored area of post-exercise hypoxic exposure on post-exercise glucose uptake was also included in the investigation.

Lastly, this thesis also contains results of an FMD repeatability study conducted prior to COVID-19. Completion of this was required before the start of experimental testing to demonstrate a certain degree of sonography competence to ensure FMD measurements would be reliable. Each participant (n=8) attended three lab visits, where FMD was measured twice, 1 hr apart, totalling six measurements. Analysis showed an inter- and intra-day coefficient of variation of 13.7% and 9.0%, respectively.

Type of Work:

Thesis (Masters by Research > M.Sc.)

Award Type:

Masters by Research > M.Sc.

Supervisor(s):