Chronic Kidney DiseasePhase 2NR-CKDNCT07693543
Nicotinamide Riboside Supplementation in Chronic Kidney Disease
A Phase 2 study testing Nicotinamide Riboside (NR) in people with Chronic Kidney Disease, run by University of California, San Diego at 1 site in United States.
Trial 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. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 30 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Chronic Kidney Disease
- What is being tested?
- Nicotinamide Riboside (NR)
- Type of treatment
- Pill or oral medicine
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 30 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 1 Oct 2026to 30 Sep 2028
- Phase
- Phase 2
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 30 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- 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.
Who cannot join
- 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.
Show all 12Show fewer
- 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.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Rakesh Malhotra, MD, MPH contact
United States1 site
Altman Clinical and Translation Research Institute
San Diego, California, 92093
Armin Ahmadi, PhD, (619) 543-6248, a3ahmadi@ucsd.edu
About this study
Official title: Pilot Randomized Crossover Trial of Nicotinamide Riboside in Chronic Kidney Disease (NR-CKD Trial)
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.
Read more
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.
Read the detailed description
Chronic kidney disease is associated with impaired mitochondrial function, vascular dysfunction, reduced physical function, and increased risk of cardiovascular and functional decline. Nicotinamide riboside is a vitamin B3 derivative and NAD+ precursor that may support cellular energy metabolism and vascular health.
This pilot study will evaluate the feasibility of using nicotinamide riboside in adults with moderate chronic kidney disease. The study uses a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover design so that each participant receives both nicotinamide riboside chloride and placebo during separate treatment periods.
In addition to feasibility measures, the study will collect exploratory data on mitochondrial, microvascular, and physical function outcomes. These data will help determine whether a larger clinical trial of nicotinamide riboside in chronic kidney disease is practical and scientifically justified.
- Conditions
- Chronic Kidney Disease
- Being tested
- Nicotinamide Riboside (NR), Matched Placebo (Capsules)
- Keywords
- Nicotinamide riboside, Chronic kidney disease, Microvascular function, Physical function, Cell-free mitochondrial DNA
- Medical subject headings
- Renal Insufficiency, Chronic
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Nicotinamide Riboside (NR)Dietary supplement
Nicotinamide riboside will be administered orally at a target dose of 1000 mg/day for 12 weeks during the active treatment period.
Matched Placebo (Capsules)Dietary supplement
Matched placebo will be administered orally for 12 weeks during the placebo treatment period. The placebo will be identical or substantially similar in appearance to the active nicotinamide riboside study product to maintain blinding.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Placebo Then NR | Experimental | Participants assigned to this arm will receive matched placebo for 12 weeks, followed by an approximately 14-day washout/crossover period, then nicotinamide riboside 1000 mg/day for 12 weeks. Receives: Dietary Supplement: Matched Placebo (Capsules) |
| NR Then Placebo | Experimental | Participants assigned to this arm will receive nicotinamide riboside 1000 mg/day for 12 weeks, followed by an approximately 14-day washout/crossover period, then matched placebo for 12 weeks. Receives: Dietary Supplement: Nicotinamide Riboside (NR) |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change in plasma cell-free mitochondrial DNA
Change in plasma cell-free mitochondrial DNA concentration, measured as mitochondrial DNA copies per mL of plasma using droplet digital PCR.
Measured: Baseline, Week 12, and Week 26
Change in urine cell-free mitochondrial DNA
Change in urine cell-free mitochondrial DNA concentration, measured using droplet digital PCR and reported as mitochondrial DNA copies normalized to urine osmolarity.
Measured: Baseline, Week 12, and Week 26
Secondary outcomes (6)
Change in skin fingernail capillary density
Change in skin capillary density, measured as capillaries per mm2 using capillaroscopy.
Measured: Baseline, Week 12, and Week 26
Change in skin blood flow
Change in skin blood flow, measured in laser Doppler perfusion units using laser Doppler flowmetry.
Measured: Baseline, Week 12, and Week 26
Change in six-minute walk distance
Change in distance walked during the six-minute walk test, measured in meters.
Measured: Baseline, Week 12, and Week 26
Change in Handgrip Strength
Change in handgrip strength, measured in kilograms using handheld dynamometry.
Measured: Baseline, Week 12, and Week 26
Change in Timed Up and Go
Change in Timed Up and Go test performance, measured in seconds.
Measured: Baseline, Week 12, and Week 26
Change in 30-second sit-to-stand
Change in the number of chair stands completed during the 30-second sit-to-stand test, measured as repetitions completed in 30 seconds.
Measured: Baseline, Week 12, and Week 26
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted9 Jul 2026
- Study start1 Oct 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion30 Sep 2028 (estimated)
- Study completion30 Sep 2028 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (3)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Chronic Kidney DiseaseStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by University of California, San DiegoThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase 2
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Model description
- Participants will be randomized 1:1 to one of two blinded crossover sequences: NR followed by placebo, or placebo followed by NR. Each treatment period will last 12 weeks, separated by an approximately 14-day washout/crossover period.
- Masking
- Triple blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 30 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of California, San Diego
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Armin Ahmadi, PhD, University of California, San Diego
- Investigators
- Armin Ahmadi, PhD, Principal investigator, University of California, San Diego
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07693543
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- UCSD-NR-001
- Other IDs
- 1K01DK147652
- Acronym
- NR-CKD
- Status last verified
- Jul 2026
- First submitted
- 29 Jun 2026
- Last updated
- 15 Jul 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
Trammell SA, Schmidt MS, Weidemann BJ, Redpath P, Jaksch F, Dellinger RW, Li Z, Abel ED, Migaud ME, Brenner C. Nicotinamide riboside is uniquely and orally bioavailable in mice and humans. Nat Commun. 2016 Oct 10;7:12948. doi: 10.1038/ncomms12948.
PubMed 27721479Martens CR, Denman BA, Mazzo MR, Armstrong ML, Reisdorph N, McQueen MB, Chonchol M, Seals DR. Chronic nicotinamide riboside supplementation is well-tolerated and elevates NAD+ in healthy middle-aged and older adults. Nat Commun. 2018 Mar 29;9(1):1286. doi: 10.1038/s41467-018-03421-7.
PubMed 29599478Conze D, Brenner C, Kruger CL. Safety and Metabolism of Long-term Administration of NIAGEN (Nicotinamide Riboside Chloride) in a Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-controlled Clinical Trial of Healthy Overweight Adults. Sci Rep. 2019 Jul 5;9(1):9772. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-46120-z.
PubMed 31278280
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 15 Jul 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Pilot Randomized Crossover Trial of Nicotinamide Riboside in Chronic Kidney Disease (NR-CKD Trial)
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07693543
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- NR-CKD / UCSD-NR-001
- Conditions
- Chronic Kidney Disease
- Keywords
- Nicotinamide riboside, Chronic kidney disease, Microvascular function, Physical function, Cell-free mitochondrial DNA
- Phase
- Phase 2
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 30 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- University of California, San DiegoUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Oct 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 30 Sep 2028 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 30 Sep 2028 (estimated)
- First posted
- 9 Jul 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
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.
Detailed description
Chronic kidney disease is associated with impaired mitochondrial function, vascular dysfunction, reduced physical function, and increased risk of cardiovascular and functional decline. Nicotinamide riboside is a vitamin B3 derivative and NAD+ precursor that may support cellular energy metabolism and vascular health.
This pilot study will evaluate the feasibility of using nicotinamide riboside in adults with moderate chronic kidney disease. The study uses a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover design so that each participant receives both nicotinamide riboside chloride and placebo during separate treatment periods.
In addition to feasibility measures, the study will collect exploratory data on mitochondrial, microvascular, and physical function outcomes. These data will help determine whether a larger clinical trial of nicotinamide riboside in chronic kidney disease is practical and scientifically justified.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Masking
- Triple blind (participant, investigator, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- Participants will be randomized 1:1 to one of two blinded crossover sequences: NR followed by placebo, or placebo followed by NR. Each treatment period will last 12 weeks, separated by an approximately 14-day washout/crossover period.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Placebo Then NR | Experimental | Dietary Supplement: Matched Placebo (Capsules)Participants assigned to this arm will receive matched placebo for 12 weeks, followed by an approximately 14-day washout/crossover period, then nicotinamide riboside 1000 mg/day for 12 weeks. |
| NR Then Placebo | Experimental | Dietary Supplement: Nicotinamide Riboside (NR)Participants assigned to this arm will receive nicotinamide riboside 1000 mg/day for 12 weeks, followed by an approximately 14-day washout/crossover period, then matched placebo for 12 weeks. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 30 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- 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.
Key exclusion criteria (12 listed)
- 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.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Nicotinamide Riboside (NR)Nicotinamide riboside will be administered orally at a target dose of 1000 mg/day for 12 weeks during the active treatment period. | Dietary supplement | NR Then Placebo |
| Matched Placebo (Capsules)Matched placebo will be administered orally for 12 weeks during the placebo treatment period. The placebo will be identical or substantially similar in appearance to the active nicotinamide riboside study product to maintain blinding. | Dietary supplement | Placebo Then NR |
Primary outcome
Change in plasma cell-free mitochondrial DNA
Time frame: Baseline, Week 12, and Week 26
Change in plasma cell-free mitochondrial DNA concentration, measured as mitochondrial DNA copies per mL of plasma using droplet digital PCR.
Change in urine cell-free mitochondrial DNA
Time frame: Baseline, Week 12, and Week 26
Change in urine cell-free mitochondrial DNA concentration, measured using droplet digital PCR and reported as mitochondrial DNA copies normalized to urine osmolarity.
6 secondary outcomes
Change in skin fingernail capillary density
Time frame: Baseline, Week 12, and Week 26
Change in skin blood flow
Time frame: Baseline, Week 12, and Week 26
Change in six-minute walk distance
Time frame: Baseline, Week 12, and Week 26
Change in Handgrip Strength
Time frame: Baseline, Week 12, and Week 26
Change in Timed Up and Go
Time frame: Baseline, Week 12, and Week 26
Change in 30-second sit-to-stand
Time frame: Baseline, Week 12, and Week 26
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 15 Jul 2026.
- Background: PubMed 27721479Trammell SA, Schmidt MS, Weidemann BJ, Redpath P, Jaksch F, Dellinger RW, Li Z, Abel ED, Migaud ME, Brenner C. Nicotinamide riboside is uniquely and orally bioavailable in mice and humans. Nat Commun. 2016 Oct 10;7:12948. doi: 10.1038/ncomms12948.
- Background: PubMed 29599478Martens CR, Denman BA, Mazzo MR, Armstrong ML, Reisdorph N, McQueen MB, Chonchol M, Seals DR. Chronic nicotinamide riboside supplementation is well-tolerated and elevates NAD+ in healthy middle-aged and older adults. Nat Commun. 2018 Mar 29;9(1):1286. doi: 10.1038/s41467-018-03421-7.
- Background: PubMed 31278280Conze D, Brenner C, Kruger CL. Safety and Metabolism of Long-term Administration of NIAGEN (Nicotinamide Riboside Chloride) in a Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-controlled Clinical Trial of Healthy Overweight Adults. Sci Rep. 2019 Jul 5;9(1):9772. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-46120-z.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Rakesh Malhotra, MD, MPH contact
Armin Ahmadi, PhD principal investigator
University of California, San Diego
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A Phase 2 study testing Nicotinamide Riboside (NR) in people with Chronic Kidney Disease, run by University of California, San Diego at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 12 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 15 Jul 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
What does this phase mean?
Phase 2 studies give the treatment to a larger group to see whether it has the intended effect and to keep checking safety.
Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Armin Ahmadi, PhD (619-543-6248, a3ahmadi@ucsd.edu), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Change in plasma cell-free mitochondrial DNA (time frame: Baseline, Week 12, and Week 26). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07693543, which also lists 3 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 15 Jul 2026.