Testing a skin cream with niacinamide riboside for facial aging signs

Niacinamide riboside (topical NR, also known as nicotinamide riboside) is an endogenous compound and a precursor (building block) to the essential cellular co-enzyme, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+). Research published by Maussudi et al. 2012 demonstrated that skin NAD+ levels were negatively correlated with age in both males and females, and aged skin was also correlated to an increase in DNA damage. Therefore, it is proposed that supporting skin NAD+ with precursors such as NR may be a strategy to combat DNA damage that leads to undesirable signs of skin aging, thus supporting skin cell resilience. The use of NR as a dietary supplement has produced effective, efficient, and reproducible increases in NAD+ in humans. However, the role of topically applied NR for skin aging requires further investigation.

Though not measuring NAD+ directly, this study will explore if topically applied NR reduces the signs of skin aging that may result from cellular NAD+ deficiency. It is hypothesized that the addition of NR to a general skin care regimen will result in healthier, more youthful appearing skin over 12 weeks.

The goal of this interventional clinical trial is to identify the most effective, tolerable, and efficient dose of NR for attenuating quantitative and qualitative indicators of facial skin aging in women ages 30-60. The three primary outcome measures are

• Changes in skin biological age,
• Quantitative reduction in fine lines and wrinkles near the eye, and
• Changes in skin firmness and tightening.

Secondary quantitative and qualitative outcomes include

• Changes to pores, texture, redness, skin tone evenness, radiance, plumpness, and firmness on the global face.
• Changes in skin moisture and skin barrier integrity, and
• Participant perception of perceived efficacy, acceptability, and irritation.

Skin imaging will also be employed in the study.

Participants will be randomized into one of four test product groups:

• Placebo
• 2.5% NR,
• 5% NR, or
• 10% NR.

The test product will be provided in a dry nanofiber sachet, and the percentage of NR is an estimate based on the final concentration of the applied material when mixed in serum.

Following facial cleansing with the provided cleanser, study participants will prepare the test product (immediately before application) by dissolving a single sachet in the provided standardized gel serum. Following application, participants will apply the provided moisturizer and UV serum. Product application will occur twice daily for 84 days (12 weeks). In-clinic assessments will be performed at baseline and days 28, 56, and 84. Participants will also complete at home questionnaires on days 14 and 42. Adverse events and responses will be documented in participant diaries and immediately reported to the clinical research team.