Salvaging hope: Is increasing NAD+ a key to treating mitochondrial myopathy?

• Published in: EMBO molecular medicine Vol. 6; no. 6; pp. 705 - 707
• Main Authors: Lightowlers, Robert N, Chrzanowska‐Lightowlers, Zofia MA
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 01.06.2014; John Wiley & Sons, Inc; EMBO Press; Blackwell Publishing Ltd; Springer Nature
• Subjects: Animals; Biosynthesis; Closeup; Dietary supplements; Disease; EMBO16; EMBO21; Fatty acids; Kinases; Male; Metabolism; Metabolites; Mitochondria - drug effects; Mitochondrial DNA; Mitochondrial Myopathies - drug therapy; Musculoskeletal system; Myopathy; NAD; Niacin; Niacinamide; Niacinamide - analogs & derivatives; Niacinamide - therapeutic use; Nicotinamide; Proteins; Tryptophan; Vitamin B Complex - therapeutic use; Vitamin deficiency
• ISSN: 1757-4676; 1757-4684
• DOI: 10.15252/emmm.201404179

Mitochondrial diseases can arise from mutations either in mitochondrial DNA or in nuclear DNA encoding mitochondrially destined proteins. Currently, there is no cure for these diseases although treatments to ameliorate a subset of the symptoms are being developed. In this issue of EMBO Molecular Medicine , Khan et al ( 2014 ) use a mouse model to test the efficacy of a simple dietary supplement of nicotinamide riboside to treat and prevent mitochondrial myopathies. Graphical Abstract Chrzanowska‐Lightowlers and Lightowlers comment on an article by Khan et al in this issue demonstrating the efficacy of a simple dietary supplement of nicotinamide riboside to treat and prevent mitochondrial myopathies.