The Effect of Nicotinamide Riboside on Serum Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) Levels, Clinical Symptoms, and Sleep Quality in Patients with Neurodevelopmental Disorders at the West Java Provincial Mental Hospital
Abstract
Neurodevelopmental disorders, including Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and mental retardation, are associated with neuroplasticity disorders, cognitive deficits, and behavioral dysregulation. Nicotinamide Riboside (NR), a precursor to NAD+, is thought to enhance neuroplasticity and modulate neurotrophic factors such as Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF). This study involved 48 children diagnosed with ASD, ADHD, or mental retardation according to DSM-5, who were recruited using consecutive sampling and randomly divided into an intervention group (NR 2 mg/kg body weight per day, n=24) and a control group (placebo, n=24) for 30 days. Serum was collected for BDNF measurement using the Quantikine™ ELISA Total BDNF kit, while clinical symptoms were assessed with the Aberrant Behavior Checklist – Irritability Subscale (ABC-I) and sleep quality was measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression through Epi Info™ version 7 to assess the effect of the intervention on biological, behavioral, and sleep quality changes. Results showed that the intervention group had a significant increase in serum BDNF levels compared to the control group (p<0.001) and a higher likelihood of clinical improvement (odds ratio 5.5; 95% CI 1.03–29.45; p=0.0465), but no significant effect on sleep quality was found (p=0.9643). In conclusion, Nicotinamide Riboside supplementation in children with neurodevelopmental disorders is associated with increased serum BDNF levels and clinical improvement, suggesting potential biological and therapeutic relevance, while its effects on sleep quality remain unclear. Further research with larger samples and longer intervention durations is needed.
