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Nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) is a form of vitamin B3 taken to boost levels of NAD+ and for its purported anti-aging effects. Although NMN was formerly available as a supplement, classification of NMN in the U.S. as an investigational drug has reduced its availability to consumers in the U.S.[2]
Nicotinamide Mononucleotide is most often used for
Last Updated:August 1, 2023
NMN is a naturally occurring form of Vitamin B3 that is studied for slowing aging and for preventing diseases of aging. Dietary NMN is converted to nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+), a coenzyme in all living cells which is required for numerous biological processes. NAD+ levels naturally decline with age, reaching less than 50% of youthful levels by middle age.[3] Decreased NAD+ levels have been attributed to increased inflammation and oxidative stress as well as to the development of age-related conditions such as hypertension, cognitive decline, and type 2 diabetes. While the anti-aging effects of NMN in rodents are well-established, studies are ongoing to determine whether equally impressive anti-aging effects are possible in humans.
NMN is taken as a supplement to increase levels of the coenzyme NAD+. It is unknown whether NMN will have the same therapeutic effects in humans as seen in rodent models, but emerging evidence is promising.[4][5]
So far, most randomized controlled trials in humans have focused on proving the safety of NMN supplements and their ability to increase blood NAD+ levels in different populations. Some clinical research has shown that NMN increases physical ability in aging populations,[1] improves cardiovascular disease biomarkers such as arterial stiffness,[6] and increases cellular NAD+/NADH levels.[4] Although these results have been promising, additional large-scale trials are needed to better understand the benefits in humans.
The main drawback to NMN is a lack of long-term studies in humans. NMN has been shown to be safe in doses up to 1200 mg daily for 6 weeks and 900 mg daily for 8 weeks. Doses of 2000 mg daily have been taken for up to 14 days with no adverse effects.[1] Long-term safety of chronic and/or higher doses of NMN hasn’t been tested.
It is also important to note that the effects of boosting NAD+ levels may not all be beneficial in certain contexts. For example, high-dose NMN supplementation has been linked to acute liver toxicity.[7]
As a precursor to NAD+, NMN supplementation has the potential to restore NAD+ to youthful levels, thereby restoring the function of NAD+-dependent enzymes in the body. After NMN is taken, it is absorbed into the bloodstream and rapidly converted to NAD+,[8] which is an important cofactor for many biological processes, including immune response, DNA repair, cell division, mitochondrial function, epigenetics, and redox reactions.[9] As NAD+ levels naturally decrease with age, the activity of enzymes dependent on NAD+ for their function also decreases.[10] Since reduced activity of NAD+-consuming enzymes (e.g. sirtuin 1) has been linked to the aging process, restoring NAD+ levels to more youthful levels is theorized to slow down the aging process.[11] [12]
NMN has been taken by mouth in doses of 250–1200 milligrams daily for 4–12 weeks. Higher doses of 2000 milligrams daily have been taken by mouth for 2 weeks.[1]
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FAQ and database update
We added newly published studies to our FAQs and database.