Nicotinamide Riboside Oral Supplementation in Macula Off Retinal Detachment

What Was Tested

This registered phase 4 trial tested NAD+.

Retinal detachment occurs when fluid separates the retina (a thin, light sensing tissue) from its usual attachment at the back of the eye.

If detached, these retinal cells lose their normal blood supply and begin to die, which is the primary cause of vision loss in retinal detachment.

The 'macula' refers to the very centre of the retina, with the highest density of retinal cells, most responsible for vision.

It had two arms (groups): Nicotinamide Riboside (experimental) and Placebo (placebo comparator).

The registry classes the interventions as dietary supplement, other and procedure.

Who Took Part

144 planned participants were the target.

It was open to people of any sex aged from 18 years with no upper age limit.

Healthy volunteers were not accepted; participants needed the condition being studied.

Examples of who could join: Age ≥ 18 years old. Able to give informed consent and comply with all study visits and procedures. Present within 10 days of macula-off retinal detachment (based on patient-reported history of loss of central vision). Present to the hospital with a visual acuity of hand motion or better in the study eye. Have had previous cataract surgery in the study eye.

The full record lists 7 inclusion and 9 exclusion criteria; among the exclusions: any other ocular pathology in the study eye requiring treatment with topical ophthalmic drops or intravitreal injection; participation in other clinical trials or use of any other investigational drugs or devices within 3 months prior to study participation; females who are pregnant or lactating and women of childbearing potential.

How the Study Was Run

Design: randomized, parallel-group and quadruple-blind.

The participants were allocated by chance, so the NAD+ group and the comparison group should start out alike.

Groups ran in parallel: each of the participants stayed in one arm throughout.

Neither the participants nor the staff measuring them knew who was on NAD+, so expectations could not easily colour the readings.

Those kept unaware of assignments: participant, care provider, investigator and outcomes assessor.

It started in 2025-09-19 with completion listed for 2027-10-30.

It ran at 5 sites in Australia (5).

Its stated primary purpose is treatment.

What Was Measured

Researchers chose this as the main measure: Best-corrected Visual Acuity (time frame: 20 weeks postoperatively). Microperimetry (time frame: 20 weeks postoperatively). Contrast sensitivity (time frame: 20 weeks postoperatively).

It also tracked 1 secondary outcome, for example Integrity of the photoreceptor layer on optical coherence tomography.

What This Means in Plain Language

Put simply, this is a phase 4, randomized trial of NAD+ in 144 people.

It is still recruiting; no results are posted to the registry yet, so nothing here describes outcomes.

More context: the NAD+ compound page, all human trials.