Nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) is a popular supplement that has gained attention for its potential anti-aging benefits and its role in boosting levels of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+), a critical coenzyme in various physiological processes.

Here are some key findings related to NMN supplementation:

1. Increases NAD+ Levels:

   • NMN is a precursor to NAD+, and supplementation has been shown to effectively elevate NAD+ levels in the blood¹². Elevated NAD+ levels are associated with enhanced energy metabolism, cellular repair, and activation of sirtuins, which are proteins linked to aging and longevity³.

2. Improves Physical Performance:

   • Clinical trials in middle-aged adults have demonstrated that NMN supplementation can significantly improve physical performance. For instance, participants who took NMN showed better results in the six-minute walking test compared to those who took a placebo⁴.

3. Supports Metabolic Health:

   • NMN appears to enhance insulin sensitivity and improve markers of cardiovascular health. However, more specific effects on metabolic parameters like HOMA-IR (Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance) have shown mixed results and require further investigation⁴.

4. Potential Anti-Aging Benefits:

   • NMN has shown promise in delaying aging-related declines in healthspan. In animal models, NMN supplementation has been connected to increased lifespan and enhanced metabolic health⁵. Human trials suggest that NMN might help maintain blood biological age and improve general health indicators⁴.

5. Enhances Cognitive and Neuromuscular Functions:

   • Research on NMN's impact on cognitive functions and neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) in conditions like ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) suggests potential benefits. NMN supplementation improved motor function and neuron health in mouse models⁶.

6. Safety and Tolerability:

   • Studies have generally found that NMN supplementation is safe and well-tolerated even at dosages as high as 900 mg per day⁴⁷. No significant adverse effects have been reported in the trials conducted so far.

While the emerging evidence is promising, more extensive and long-term human trials are needed to fully establish the benefits and safety of NMN supplementation.

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Footnotes

1. Lin Yi, "The efficacy and safety of β-nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) supplementation in healthy middle-aged adults," PMC, 2022. ↩

2. Masaki Igarashi, "Chronic nicotinamide mononucleotide supplementation elevates blood nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide levels," PMC, 2022. ↩

3. Christopher Shade, "The Science Behind NMN," PMC, 2020. ↩

4. Lin Yi, "The efficacy and safety of β-nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) supplementation in healthy middle-aged adults," PMC, 2022. ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴

5. Harshani Nadeeshani, "Nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) as an anti-aging health product," PMC, 2021. ↩

6. Samuel Lundt, "NMN supplementation enhances motor and NMJ function in ALS," PubMed, 2022. ↩

7. Lin Yi, "The efficacy and safety of β-nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) supplementation in healthy middle-aged adults," PMC, 2022. ↩