Nicotinamide Riboside in Systolic Heart Failure

Aim 1: Determine the safety and tolerability of NR in patients with clinically stable, systolic heart failure (LVEF <40%). To accomplish this Aim:

A) a total of 30 participants with clinically stable, systolic heart failure (LVEF <40%) will undergo 2:1 randomization to NR 250mg PO twice daily or matching placebo B) NR (or matching placebo), will be increased weekly by 250mg/dose (500mg/day) to a final dose of 1000mg PO twice daily. Clinic visits with labs bi-weekly during dose escalation will assess HF symptoms and monitor labs [B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), complete blood count (CBC), glycosylated hemoglobin, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), creatine kinase (CK), insulin/glucose, uric acid, electrolytes, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine (Cr).

C) to ensure intermediate-term safety and tolerability, participants will continue on their maximum tolerated dose (of NR or placebo) through Study Week 12

Aim 2: Determine whether, at the doses employed, NR and NAD are detectable in whole blood.

Aim 3 (Exploratory): Assess the range of potential effect sizes of NR on HF surrogate endpoints using:

A) Six-minute walk tests (6MWTs) at each visit (including Screening) to assess functional capacity B) Echocardiography at Baseline and Week 12 to assess LV systolic function (by real-time, 3D echocardiography) and diastolic function (by integrated Doppler and tissue Doppler imaging)

Inclusion criteria

• Men and women aged 18 and older with systolic heart failure [left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) by standard 2D echocardiography or radionuclide ventriculography of ≤40%] deemed, in the clinical opinion of their treating cardiologist to be non-ischemic or ischemic in origin.
• Clinically stable (no cardiac procedures or hospitalizations for hospitalizations for cardiac causes, including HF, ischemia or arrhythmia) within the previous 3 months
• Ability to undergo study procedures, including scheduled visits, blood draws and six-minute walk test (6MWT)
• Willingness/ability to provide informed consent

Exclusion criteria

• Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (LVEF greater than 40%)
• Heart failure due, in the opinion of their treating cardiologist, to etiologies other than non-ischemic or ischemic. Examples of exclusionary heart failure etiologies include primary valvular disease, or infiltrative or inflammatory cardiomyopathies.
• Cardiac surgery, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or cardiac device implantation within the previous 3 months
• Hospitalizations for cardiovascular causes, including heart failure, chest pain, stroke, transient ischemic attack or arrhythmias within the previous 3 months
• Inability to perform Study visits or procedures (e.g., physical inability to perform 6MWT)
• Unwillingness/inability to provide informed consent
• ALT greater than 3 times the upper limit of normal, hepatic insufficiency or active liver disease
• Recent history of acute gout
• Chronic renal insufficiency with creatinine ≥2.5mg/dL
• Pregnant (or likely to become pregnant) women
• Significant co-morbidity likely to cause death in the 6 month follow-up period
• Significant active history of substance abuse within the previous 5 years
• Current participation in another long-term clinical trial
• History of intolerance to NR precursor compounds, including niacin or nicotinamide