A complex of ribose and nicotinamide marketed by Bioenergy Life Science as RiaGev was evidenced in a recent clinical study appearing in the journal Nutrients to promote NAD+, NADP+, and NADPH levels in humans, which are studied for their benefits in cellular aging. The participants in the study also experienced a number of unexpected benefits as well, in the areas of energy, sleep, and insulin sensitivity.
 
The results of the study were published in the Nutrients Special Issue: “Vitamins: Physiological, Pathophysiological, and Pharmacological Aspects.”
 
A population of 18 participants supplemented with either 1520 mg of RiaGev twice daily or a matching placebo, for a total duration of eight days. Compared to the placebo group, the participants that supplemented with RiaGev over the duration of the study saw a 10.4% increase in NAD+.
 
Further, the supplement group had significantly higher levels of glutathione in their serum, along with significantly reduced levels of cortisol, the primary adrenal stress hormone.
 
Further, the participants who supplemented with RiaGev saw significant reductions in overall blood glucose without significant changes in insulin secretion, suggesting to the authors that the ingredient may have improved insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance.
 
Further, the RiaGev group consistently scored greater improvements on the physical fatigue, mental concentration, motivation, and physical activities, as assessed by the standard Checklist Individual Strength questionnaire.
 
“It took a while to get this trial published because the reviewers were astonished by the results and had so many follow-up questions,” said Michael Crabtree, ND, director of scientific affairs at BLS. “Most precursors can’t make the claim that they increase NADPH and NADH, as RiaGev does. And while normally with an antioxidant enhancer, you’d see NADPH and glutathione in reverse proportions, we found RiaGev actually makes both go up simultaneously, which is a huge advantage.
 
“We also weren’t prepared to see the blood glucose result. Bioenergy Ribose is known to lower blood glucose for a short time period. But we didn’t anticipate the smooth drop in glucose and insulin, which continued over a long time period. A big question from the reviewers was about the fact that in active adults, blood glucose will normally be very high after a carbohydrate meal. We didn’t find that in the RiaGev group. Instead, we found that RiaGev smooths the spike to some degree […] It did this without additional insulin.” 


Crabtree said that the sleep portion wasn’t a specific parameter for this study, but that the researchers’ observations make sense. “Ribose has a history of helping people sleep. Increasing NAD is associated with deeper, longer sleep. And if you sleep better, you feel better because that’s your body’s repair time.”