NCT03973203

Brief Summary

The most frequent form of adult-onset mitochondrial disorders is mitochondrial myopathy, often manifesting with progressive external ophthalmoplegia (PEO), progressive muscle weakness and exercise intolerance. Mitochondrial myopathy is often caused by single heteroplasmic mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) deletions or multiple mtDNA deletions, the former being sporadic and latter caused by mutations in nuclear-encoded proteins of mtDNA maintenance. Currently, no curative treatment exists for this disease. The investigators have previously observed that supplementation with an NAD+ precursor vitamin B3, nicotinamide riboside, prevented and delayed disease symptoms by increasing mitochondrial biogenesis in a mouse model for mitochondrial myopathy. Vitamin B3 exists in several forms: nicotinic acid (niacin), nicotinamide, and nicotinamide riboside, and it has been demonstrated to give power to diseased mitochondria in animal studies by increasing intracellular levels of NAD+, the important cofactor required for the cellular energy metabolism. In this study, the form of vitamin B3, niacin, was used to activate dysfunctional mitochondria and to rescue signs of mitochondrial myopathy. Of the vitamin B3 forms, niacin, is employed, because it has been used in large doses to treat hypercholesterolemia patients, and has a proven safety record in humans. Phenotypically similar mitochondrial myopathy patients are studied, as the investigator's previous expertise indicates that similar presenting phenotypes predict uniform physiological and clinical responses to interventions, despite varying genetic backgrounds. Patients either with sporadic single mtDNA deletions or a mutation in a Twinkle gene causing multiple mtDNA deletions were recruited. In addition, for every patient, two gender- and age-matched healthy controls are recruited. Clinical examinations and collection of muscle biopsies are performed at the time points 0, 4 and 10 months (patients) or at 0 and 4 months (controls). Fasting blood samples are collected every second week until 4 months and thereafter every six weeks until the end of the study. The effects of niacin on disease markers, muscle mitochondrial biogenesis, muscle strength and the metabolism of the whole body are studied in patients and healthy controls. The hypothesis is that an NAD+ precursor, niacin, will increase intracellular NAD+ levels, improve mitochondrial biogenesis and alleviate the symptoms of mitochondrial myopathy in humans.

Trial Health

100
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
15

participants targeted

Target at below P25 for not_applicable

Timeline
Completed

Started Jun 2014

Longer than P75 for not_applicable

Status
completed

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

Study Start

First participant enrolled

June 1, 2014

Completed
3.6 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

December 31, 2017

Completed
1 year until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

December 31, 2018

Completed
5 months until next milestone

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

May 24, 2019

Completed
11 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

June 4, 2019

Completed
Last Updated

May 11, 2023

Status Verified

May 1, 2023

Enrollment Period

3.6 years

First QC Date

May 24, 2019

Last Update Submit

May 10, 2023

Conditions

Keywords

vitamin B3niacinmitochondrial myopathymitochondriamusclemuscle strengthNAD+ precursorNAD+NAD-booster

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • NAD+ and related metabolite levels in blood and muscle

    Change in concentrations of NAD+ and related metabolites such as: nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate, nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide, nicotinamide, and nicotinamide mononucleotide measured using high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry

    Baseline, 4 months and 10 months

Secondary Outcomes (8)

  • Number of diseased muscle fibers

    Baseline, 4 months and 10 months

  • Mitochondrial biogenesis

    Baseline, 4 months and 10 months

  • Muscle mitochondrial oxidative capacity

    Baseline, 4 months and 10 months

  • Muscle metabolomic profile

    Baseline, 4 months and 10 months

  • Core muscle strength

    Baseline, 4 months and 10 months

  • +3 more secondary outcomes

Other Outcomes (3)

  • Body weight and body composition

    Baseline, 4 months and 10 months

  • Ectopic lipid accumulation, i.e. liver and muscle lipid content

    Baseline, 4 months and 10 months

  • Circulating lipid profiles

    Baseline, 4 months and 10 months

Study Arms (2)

Niacin in controls

EXPERIMENTAL

The arm includes healthy controls supplemented with niacin.

Dietary Supplement: Niacin

Niacin in mitochondrial myopathy patients

EXPERIMENTAL

The arm includes mitochondrial myopathy patients supplemented with niacin.

Dietary Supplement: Niacin

Interventions

NiacinDIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

The dose for a slow-released form of niacin will be 750-1000 mg/day. The daily niacin dose, 250 mg/day, is gradually escalated by 250 mg/month so that the full dose is reached after 3 months. The intervention time with the full niacin dose is 1 and 7 months for controls and patients, respectively, and subsequently total intervention time 4 and 10 months, respectively. At the end of the study, the daily dose will be decreased by 250 mg/month rate.

Also known as: Nicotinic acid
Niacin in controlsNiacin in mitochondrial myopathy patients

Eligibility Criteria

Age17 Years - 70 Years
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersYes
Age GroupsChild (0-17), Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • Manifestation of pure mitochondrial myopathy, with no major other symptoms or manifestations, caused by single or multiple deletions of mtDNA
  • Age and gender matched healthy controls for every patient
  • Agreed to avoid vitamin supplementation or nutritional products with vitamin B3 forms 14 days prior to the enrollment and during the study
  • Written, informed consent to participate in the study

You may not qualify if:

  • Inability to follow study protocol
  • Pregnancy or breast-feeding at any time of the trial
  • Malignancy that requires continuous treatment
  • Unstable heart disease
  • Severe kidney disease requiring treatment
  • Severe encephalopathy
  • Regular usage of intoxicants

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Related Publications (12)

  • Suomalainen A, Battersby BJ. Mitochondrial diseases: the contribution of organelle stress responses to pathology. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol. 2018 Feb;19(2):77-92. doi: 10.1038/nrm.2017.66. Epub 2017 Aug 9.

    PMID: 28792006BACKGROUND
  • Ylikallio E, Suomalainen A. Mechanisms of mitochondrial diseases. Ann Med. 2012 Feb;44(1):41-59. doi: 10.3109/07853890.2011.598547. Epub 2011 Aug 2.

    PMID: 21806499BACKGROUND
  • Rajman L, Chwalek K, Sinclair DA. Therapeutic Potential of NAD-Boosting Molecules: The In Vivo Evidence. Cell Metab. 2018 Mar 6;27(3):529-547. doi: 10.1016/j.cmet.2018.02.011.

    PMID: 29514064BACKGROUND
  • Khan NA, Auranen M, Paetau I, Pirinen E, Euro L, Forsstrom S, Pasila L, Velagapudi V, Carroll CJ, Auwerx J, Suomalainen A. Effective treatment of mitochondrial myopathy by nicotinamide riboside, a vitamin B3. EMBO Mol Med. 2014 Jun;6(6):721-31. doi: 10.1002/emmm.201403943.

    PMID: 24711540BACKGROUND
  • Cerutti R, Pirinen E, Lamperti C, Marchet S, Sauve AA, Li W, Leoni V, Schon EA, Dantzer F, Auwerx J, Viscomi C, Zeviani M. NAD(+)-dependent activation of Sirt1 corrects the phenotype in a mouse model of mitochondrial disease. Cell Metab. 2014 Jun 3;19(6):1042-9. doi: 10.1016/j.cmet.2014.04.001. Epub 2014 May 8.

    PMID: 24814483BACKGROUND
  • Guyton JR, Bays HE. Safety considerations with niacin therapy. Am J Cardiol. 2007 Mar 19;99(6A):22C-31C. doi: 10.1016/j.amjcard.2006.11.018. Epub 2006 Nov 28.

    PMID: 17368274BACKGROUND
  • Vosper H. Niacin: a re-emerging pharmaceutical for the treatment of dyslipidaemia. Br J Pharmacol. 2009 Sep;158(2):429-41. doi: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.2009.00349.x. Epub 2009 Jul 20.

    PMID: 19627285BACKGROUND
  • Ahola S, Auranen M, Isohanni P, Niemisalo S, Urho N, Buzkova J, Velagapudi V, Lundbom N, Hakkarainen A, Muurinen T, Piirila P, Pietilainen KH, Suomalainen A. Modified Atkins diet induces subacute selective ragged-red-fiber lysis in mitochondrial myopathy patients. EMBO Mol Med. 2016 Nov 2;8(11):1234-1247. doi: 10.15252/emmm.201606592. Print 2016 Nov.

    PMID: 27647878BACKGROUND
  • Suomalainen A, Elo JM, Pietilainen KH, Hakonen AH, Sevastianova K, Korpela M, Isohanni P, Marjavaara SK, Tyni T, Kiuru-Enari S, Pihko H, Darin N, Ounap K, Kluijtmans LA, Paetau A, Buzkova J, Bindoff LA, Annunen-Rasila J, Uusimaa J, Rissanen A, Yki-Jarvinen H, Hirano M, Tulinius M, Smeitink J, Tyynismaa H. FGF-21 as a biomarker for muscle-manifesting mitochondrial respiratory chain deficiencies: a diagnostic study. Lancet Neurol. 2011 Sep;10(9):806-18. doi: 10.1016/S1474-4422(11)70155-7. Epub 2011 Aug 3.

    PMID: 21820356BACKGROUND
  • Nikkanen J, Forsstrom S, Euro L, Paetau I, Kohnz RA, Wang L, Chilov D, Viinamaki J, Roivainen A, Marjamaki P, Liljenback H, Ahola S, Buzkova J, Terzioglu M, Khan NA, Pirnes-Karhu S, Paetau A, Lonnqvist T, Sajantila A, Isohanni P, Tyynismaa H, Nomura DK, Battersby BJ, Velagapudi V, Carroll CJ, Suomalainen A. Mitochondrial DNA Replication Defects Disturb Cellular dNTP Pools and Remodel One-Carbon Metabolism. Cell Metab. 2016 Apr 12;23(4):635-48. doi: 10.1016/j.cmet.2016.01.019. Epub 2016 Feb 25.

    PMID: 26924217BACKGROUND
  • Khan NA, Nikkanen J, Yatsuga S, Jackson C, Wang L, Pradhan S, Kivela R, Pessia A, Velagapudi V, Suomalainen A. mTORC1 Regulates Mitochondrial Integrated Stress Response and Mitochondrial Myopathy Progression. Cell Metab. 2017 Aug 1;26(2):419-428.e5. doi: 10.1016/j.cmet.2017.07.007.

    PMID: 28768179BACKGROUND
  • Pirinen E, Auranen M, Khan NA, Brilhante V, Urho N, Pessia A, Hakkarainen A, Kuula J, Heinonen U, Schmidt MS, Haimilahti K, Piirila P, Lundbom N, Taskinen MR, Brenner C, Velagapudi V, Pietilainen KH, Suomalainen A. Niacin Cures Systemic NAD+ Deficiency and Improves Muscle Performance in Adult-Onset Mitochondrial Myopathy. Cell Metab. 2020 Jun 2;31(6):1078-1090.e5. doi: 10.1016/j.cmet.2020.04.008. Epub 2020 May 7.

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Mitochondrial Myopathies

Interventions

Niacin

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Muscular DiseasesMusculoskeletal DiseasesNeuromuscular DiseasesNervous System DiseasesMitochondrial DiseasesMetabolic DiseasesNutritional and Metabolic Diseases

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Nicotinic AcidsAcids, HeterocyclicHeterocyclic CompoundsPyridinesHeterocyclic Compounds, 1-Ring

Study Officials

  • Anu Suomalainen Wartiovaara, MD,PhD

    Research Programs Unit, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
NON RANDOMIZED
Masking
NONE
Purpose
BASIC SCIENCE
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Model Details: All participants (healthy controls and mitochondrial myopathy patients) receive orally administered a slow-released form of niacin.
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
Academy Professor, Professor of Clinical Molecular Medicine

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

May 24, 2019

First Posted

June 4, 2019

Study Start

June 1, 2014

Primary Completion

December 31, 2017

Study Completion

December 31, 2018

Last Updated

May 11, 2023

Record last verified: 2023-05

Data Sharing

IPD Sharing
Will not share