What is nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN)?
Nicotinamide Mononucleotide (NMN) and Nicotinamide Riboside (NR) serve as vital precursors to Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide (NAD+), a key molecule instrumental in converting food into energy, facilitating DNA repair, and regulating aging processes. As the body ages, NAD+ levels naturally decline, leading to metabolic and cellular function impairments. Both NMN and NR aim to replenish NAD+ levels, potentially reversing these age-related declines and enhancing longevity. While they share a common goal, NMN and NR are distinct in their biological pathways to NAD+ synthesis, with research ongoing to uncover their respective absorption rates, bioavailability, and efficacy in health improvement. Their roles in anti-aging strategies are of particular interest, with studies suggesting benefits in metabolic health, energy metabolism, and cellular repair. The exploration of NMN and NR continues to offer promising insights into their potential as supplements for promoting a healthier, more vibrant life.
NR and NMN are found in small quantities in everyday foods and play a crucial role in boosting NAD+ levels, a molecule essential for cellular health and aging. NR is present in foods like fish and mushrooms, whereas NMN is found in avocados, broccoli, cucumbers, and cabbage. Although both serve as precursors to NAD+, they follow different pathways in the synthesis of NAD+. It is speculated that NR may convert to NMN before it becomes NAD+, highlighting an area of ongoing research and suggesting NMN could be a more direct precursor. However, the smaller molecular size of NR might offer it an easier entry into cells. The 2019 discovery of an NMN transporter suggests that supplementing with NMN might be a more efficient way to enhance NAD+ levels, which is critical since NAD+ activates sirtuins such as SIRT1 and SIRT3, delivering multiple health and cognitive benefits. As NAD+ naturally declines with age, its replenishment is vital for sustaining cellular function throughout the body and brain.
Bryan Johnson — a modern day rejuvenation athlete and founder of Blueprint — tested both NMN and NR on himself. After testing, he found that both NR and NMN supplementation raised his NAD+ levels and produced beneficial outcomes.
1. Mice who consumed NMN ran twice as long.
Description
This observation underscores the notion that age plays a critical role in the crosstalk between blood vessels and muscles and points to a loss of NAD+ and SIRT1 as the reason behind loss of exercise effectiveness after middle age.
Source: Harvard
2. In 2019, the first NMN transporter was discovered.
Description
During the 2019 study, the first NMN transporter was identified and it was demonstrated that S1c12a8 has a critical role in regulating intestinal NAD+ metabolism.
3. Extend your lifespan through optimal NAD+ levels.
Description
NAD+ levels decline with age and represent a fundamental systemic cause of aging. Falling NAD+ levels mean fewer “coins” in the “parking meter” represented by SIRT enzymes, which in turn means reduced lifespan, as age-accelerating genes are expressed without regulation. Nicotinamide riboside has been scientifically proven to maintain robust levels of NAD+ in cells, thereby both supporting vital cellular energy functions and activating the anti-aging enzymes SIRT1 and SIRT3.Research has demonstrated that NR supplementation can reverse many of the age-accelerating changes induced by falling NAD+ levels. Therefore, the discovery of nicotinamide riboside is essential for any serious longevity regimen.
Source: Life Extension
4. Nicotinamide riboside can reverse some of the effects of aging.
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NR supplementation has recently been shown to return aging tissues to a younger state even after short-term treatment. It is also being used to mitigate Covid-19with essentially no side effects.
Source: Stanford
5. NMN improves key functions in the body.
Description
It increases the intracellular and mitochondrial NAD+, which plays an important role in cellular biochemical functions, cardio protection, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, and complications associated with obesity.
Source: Stanford Chemicals
6. NMN mitigates age-associated physiological decline in mice.
Description
NAD+ availability decreases with age and in certain disease conditions. Nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), a key NAD+ intermediate, has been shown to enhance NAD+ biosynthesis and ameliorate various pathologies in mouse disease models.
7. NAD+ supplementation counteracts the aging of the intestines and gut.
Description
Research indicates that NAD+ replenishment may be a sustainable strategy for counteracting the impact of aging on the gut and intestines. Stem cells often play the role of repairing other damaged cells. Mitochondrial defects can be repaired by NAD+ replenishment and SIRT1 activation.
8. Exciting NMN supplementation study underway.
Description
This study is looking at the effect of the dietary supplement “Nicotinamide mononucleotide” (NMN) on key cardiovascular and metabolic functions, specifically those that are important risk factors for diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Accordingly, the investigators will evaluate the effect of NMN on how well the hormone insulin works to control blood sugar. The investigators will also look at the effects of NMN on blood lipids; body fat and liver fat; and other blood, fat tissue, and muscle tissue markers of cardiovascular (heart) and metabolic health. Data from studies conducted in rodents have shown that NMN supplementation has beneficial effects on cardiovascular and metabolic health, but this has not yet been studied in people.