Boosting hepatic NAD⁺ prevents and reverses NAFLD in mice

Few therapies are approved for the treatment of NAFLD. Now, researchers have shown that treatment with nicotinamide riboside, a precursor for NAD+ biosynthesis, can protect mice against the development of diet-induced NAFLD by increasing hepatic NAD+ levels. The treatment also reversed the disease in mice with pre-existing NAFLD. Nicotinamide riboside activated the hepatic mitochondrial unfolded protein response, increasing fatty acid oxidation and mitochondrial complex activity.