Exciting news has recently hit the supplement industry, with NMN being permitted as a legal dietary supplement! NMN stands for B-Nicotinamide Mononucleotide and is a naturally occurring compound in the body that is synthesized from vitamin B3.

How does it work?

NMN plays a role in the production of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, NAD+, which is an essential molecule used in energy metabolism and cellular function. As we age, NAD+ levels begin to decline as much as 60% by the time we reach middle age, largely affecting cellular health. Supplementation with NMN is a promising strategy to counteract this age-related decline in NAD+ and to support healthy aging and longevity (1).

Why can’t you supplement NAD+ directly?

This is a common question with a simple answer. NAD+ is poorly absorbed in the body as it is a complex molecule that must be broken down. However, NMN is a smaller and more readily absorbable molecule that is converted directly into NAD+ and allows for greater efficacy. Overall, you will be getting much more benefit from an NMN supplement than an NAD+ equivalent.

What are the benefits of NMN supplementation?

While NMN overall is very new to the supplement industry, there is a decent amount of research on the positive effects of supplementation. One study looking at NMN supplementation in healthy older men assessed muscle strength and performance, along with NAD+ levels post NMN supplementation at 250mg. The study found that along with NMN and NAD+ levels significantly increasing with treatment compared to placebo, significant improvement in gait speed and left grip test strength was also observed. Faster gait speed and better grip strength are associated with lower risk of falls, hospitalization, and mortality risk in older individuals (3).

Another study looking at NMN supplementation in postmenopausal women with prediabetes found that NMN supplementation at 250mg for 10 weeks improved muscle insulin sensitivity by 25 +/- 7% compared to placebo and that muscle AKT and mTOR phosphorylation also significantly increased. This enhanced insulin responsiveness in muscle tissues from NMN supplementation allows for better blood glucose control, as GLUT4 is activated allowing for more glucose to be taken up from the bloodstream (4).

Conclusion

Healthy aging and longevity are such prominent topics in our country- everyone wants to age well and live a long healthy life. Based on the current research, NMN is well tolerated and provides so many benefits. It is another tool Americans can add to their toolbox to promote their overall health in a way that is quite affordable.

References

1. Okabe K, et al. Oral Administration of Nicotinamide Mononucleotide Is Safe and Efficiently Increases Blood Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide Levels in Healthy Subjects. Front. Nutr. (2022) 9:868640. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2022.868640
2. 2) Shade C. The Science Behind NMN-A Stable, Reliable NAD+Activator and Anti-Aging Molecule. Integr Med (Encinitas). 2020;19(1):12-14.
3. Igarashi M, et al. Chronic Nicotinamide Mononucleotide Supplementation Elevates Blood Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide Levels and Alters Muscle Function in Healthy Older Men. Npj Aging (2022) 8:5. doi: 10.1038/s41514-022-00084-z
4. 4) Yoshino, Mihoko et al. Nicotinamide Mononucleotide Increases Muscle Insulin Sensitivity in Prediabetic Women. Science (2021). doi: 10.1126/science.abe9985