A type of vitamin B3 might treat chronic pain related to inflammation

– our bodies first line of defence against injury and pathogens – is a main driver of pain. Yet, some people continue to experience pain even after inflammation has resolved.The researchers injected a substance that triggers inflammation into the hind paws of 15 mice. They then measured the amount of oxygen consumed by mitochondria in the sensory neurons of the animals, which indicates mitochondrial function.

induced inflammation. The team found that after inflammation had resolved, mice had lower than expected levels of nicotinamide riboside in the mitochondria of their sensory neurons. This is a type of vitamin B3 critical for mitochondrial function.So, about a week after inducing inflammation in a separate group of 12 mice, Eijkelkamp and his team gave half of them a high dose of nicotinamide riboside – 500 milligrams per kilogram of body weight.

Together these findings indicate two things. First, that inflammation can impair mitochondrial function in sensory neurons and that these impairments increase the risk of chronic pain, even after inflammation has resolved. Second, that taking nicotinamide riboside supplements may help treat this chronic pain by restoring mitochondrial function.

However, people with chronic pain shouldn’t rush to take these supplements. “ is still in rodents. How does it translate to humans? We really have to see that first,” says Eijkelkamp. Clinical trials may show nicotinamide riboside has no effect or even unintended consequences, he says. Even if these findings do translate to humans, they probably only apply to certain types of chronic pain, such as that of– a chronic condition characterised by persistent joint inflammation – continue to have pain even with low levels of inflammation. As such, it would make sense to test these findings in that demographic first.

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