Written by the Nuvirox Research Team
Key Points
- A phase 2 clinical trial combining zinc and nicotinamide riboside for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is currently recruiting participants.
- Early NR dose-finding data shows a clear, dose-dependent rise in blood NAD+ (22%, 51%, and 142% at 100, 300, and 1,000 mg respectively) — establishing the biological groundwork the trial builds on.
- There is no completed efficacy data yet on whether this combination actually slows lung scarring or improves survival in IPF.
Short answer: a real, currently recruiting phase 2 trial is testing whether zinc plus an NAD+ precursor can help idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis — but efficacy results don't exist yet, only the rationale and early dosing data. If you're researching this because of a personal or family diagnosis, that distinction between "being tested" and "proven" is the most important thing to take away.
What idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive lung disease in which lung tissue becomes scarred over time, making it increasingly difficult to breathe. It's a serious diagnosis with historically limited treatment options, which is part of why researchers are actively exploring new approaches, including ones involving cellular energy metabolism. The word "idiopathic" specifically means the underlying cause is unknown, which is part of what makes IPF a particularly difficult disease to target therapeutically — without a single identified cause, treatments tend to focus on slowing the scarring process itself (as the two currently approved antifibrotic drugs do) rather than reversing it or addressing a root cause directly.
What the trial is testing and why
The trial under way pairs zinc with nicotinamide riboside, built on research suggesting zinc may help repair lung damage and improve survival in IPF, combined with NR's established ability to raise cellular NAD+ levels, which are considered important for cellular repair processes. The trial is designed for people who can participate from home, involving lung function tests and a 6-minute walk test every 12 weeks, a CT scan at the start and end of the study, and regular video visits — a fairly typical structure for a phase 2 trial assessing both feasibility and preliminary efficacy signals. The zinc component of this combination has its own separate research thread suggesting it may help repair lung damage in IPF specifically, distinct from and in addition to zinc's more commonly known roles in immune function; the trial's design reflects a hypothesis that these two mechanisms — zinc-mediated repair and NAD+-mediated cellular energy support — might work complementarily rather than through a single shared pathway.
Study snapshot
| Trial type | Phase 2, recruiting |
| Intervention | Zinc + nicotinamide riboside vs. placebo comparison |
| Key assessments | Lung function tests, 6-minute walk test (every 12 weeks), CT scan (start/end) |
| Related dose-finding data | NR raised whole blood NAD+ by 22%, 51%, and 142% at 100/300/1,000 mg doses |
| Efficacy results | Not yet available — trial is actively recruiting |
What we know separately about NR dosing and NAD+ response
Outside the IPF-specific trial, earlier pharmacokinetic research established that NR produces a clear, dose-dependent increase in the blood NAD+ metabolome — an 8-week dose-escalation study found increases of roughly 22%, 51%, and 142% at 100 mg, 300 mg, and 1,000 mg doses respectively. This is useful context for understanding the biological plausibility behind the IPF trial's design, even though it doesn't tell us anything about lung-specific outcomes.
What this doesn't tell you yet
Because this trial is still recruiting, there is no data yet on whether the zinc-NR combination actually slows lung scarring, improves breathing capacity, or affects survival in IPF. The rationale is coherent and worth tracking, but a trial in progress is not the same as a finding. It's also worth understanding that phase 2 trials, even when they eventually report positive results, typically need to be followed by a larger phase 3 trial before a treatment becomes part of standard clinical practice — so even a positive outcome from this specific trial wouldn't immediately translate into a new treatment option becoming available to patients broadly.
What this means if you or someone you love has IPF
IPF requires ongoing management by a pulmonologist, and current FDA-approved treatments (antifibrotic medications like pirfenidone and nintedanib) remain the evidence-based standard of care. If you're interested in this trial specifically, that's a conversation to have with your pulmonology team about eligibility and appropriateness for your individual case — trial participation carries its own considerations that go beyond what a general article can address. For related respiratory research with completed human trial data, see our review of NAD+ and COPD, which found a significant reduction in airway inflammation in a completed randomized trial, and NAD+ and asthma covers a related but distinct respiratory condition still awaiting its first human trial.
FROM NUVIROX
Because of the caveats above, we'd encourage you to read this as general background rather than a treatment plan. If you're curious about the ingredient at the center of this research, here's what's in ours, alongside clinician-routing guidance for anything beyond everyday support:
- 500 mg Nicotinamide Riboside Chloride (NR) — one of the two most-researched NAD+ precursors, within the dose range used in published human trials
- 150 mg trans-resveratrol + 50 mg quercetin — polyphenols studied alongside NAD+ pathways for cellular health support
- 10 mg fenugreek galactomannans to support absorption
- Backed by a 60-day money-back guarantee — long enough to actually evaluate it the way the research says you should
Frequently asked questions
Is there proof NAD+ supplements help pulmonary fibrosis?
Not yet. There's a coherent rationale and a recruiting phase 2 trial, but no completed efficacy results specific to IPF.
Can I join this trial?
Eligibility criteria and enrollment details are managed through the trial's official listing; this is best discussed with your pulmonologist given the complexity of IPF diagnosis and management.
What dose of NR was used to raise blood NAD+ by 142%?
That result came from an 8-week dose-escalation pharmacokinetic study using 1,000 mg per day — a separate study from the IPF trial itself, included here as background on NR's dose-response profile.
Should someone with IPF stop their prescribed medication to try this?
No — FDA-approved antifibrotic medications remain the standard of care for IPF, and this research doesn't support replacing them.
Why combine zinc with nicotinamide riboside instead of testing NR alone?
The trial's design reflects a hypothesis that zinc's lung-repair-supporting properties and NR's cellular-energy-supporting properties might complement each other, though this combination approach also means the trial can't isolate which component, if either alone, drives any eventual benefit found.
How is IPF currently diagnosed and monitored?
IPF diagnosis typically involves a combination of CT imaging showing a characteristic pattern of lung scarring, lung function testing, and sometimes biopsy, with ongoing monitoring through repeat lung function tests and imaging over time — the same types of assessments used as endpoints in the trial described here, which is part of why this trial design was chosen.
The bottom line: this is an active, well-reasoned area of research with a real trial underway — and, true to the pattern across most of this batch, the honest answer today is "we're waiting to find out," not "we already know," which is exactly the kind of update worth checking back on periodically as the trial progresses.
References
- Zinc + Nicotinamide Riboside for Pulmonary Fibrosis, Phase 2 Clinical Trial (recruiting). Trial listing via Power Life Sciences trial registry aggregator.
- Dietary Supplementation With NAD+-Boosting Compounds in Humans: Current Knowledge and Future Directions (dose-escalation NAD+ metabolome data). PMC10692436.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice.