heading_title

Once the object of sighs was the mythical fountain of youth. Today, delayed aging pills are in demand. Civilization has forged in us a more practical approach to dreams. Anti-aging pills, however, are no longer an unrealistic vision. Scientists, studying substances such as NMN, are discovering more and more reports of their sensational effects on aging-related parameters. What do we know at this point, and how to put it into practice?

• What is NMN?
• Effect of NMN on metabolism and longevity
• What effects does NMN have?
• NMN dosage
• The NMN supplement can be combined with resveratrol. Or with something else?
• Summary

What is NMN?

NMN, or nicotinamide mononuclotide, is the biologically active form of niacin, or vitamin B3. It is also an effective precursor of NAD+, which has much to do with youth and vitality. NMN supplements are gaining great popularity as a means of delaying aging and weakening the characteristic signs of aging.

In the body, NMN is formed from nicotinamide riboside, which is also de facto used in anti-aging supplementation, known as Niagen, among others. NMN occurs naturally in fruits and vegetables, such as avocados, broccoli, cabbage, edamame, tomatoes and cucumbers, although in small amounts (0.25-1.88 mg/100 g). Under normal conditions, NMN is built in the body mainly from nicotinamide. New reports also talk about the role of the microbiome in NMN production - some gut bacteria have the ability to produce nicotinamide mononucleotide.

Below is the main metabolic pathway in which NMN is involved:

Niacin (nicotinamide) → Nicotinamide riboside (NR) → Nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) → NAD+ → Sirtuin activation

Effect of NMN on metabolism and longevity

Once we take a supplement with NMN, it is quickly absorbed into the body and is converted into the NAD+ molecule. And it is NAD+ that is responsible for all the magic. It is the molecule that controls the body's redox status and many enzymatic reactions, and has a very strong influence on the functioning of mitochondria, our "intracellular power plants." Its great advantage is that it stimulates the expression of SIRT genes. These are responsible for the production of sirtuins, which are often tellingly called longevity enzymes. Sirtuins are histone deacetylases that regulate gene expression.

NAD+ levels gradually decrease with advancing age. This means that NMN's function is better the older we get and the lower our NAD+ reserves. This was also the observation made in the study - the more advanced the age, the greater the responsiveness to the effects of NMN supplementation.

What effects does NMN have?

There are indications in scientific studies that NMN supplementation brings, among other things:

• inhibition of inflammation resulting from fat gain during aging,
• increased insulin secretion and more efficient insulin action,
• improved mitochondrial function,
• improved neuronal function.

That's it from a biochemical background. Among the more practical aspects cited in the literature are:

• reduction of weight gain occurring with age,
• support of energy metabolism and physical activity,
• improvement of insulin sensitivity, support in diabetic disorders and obesity,
• support of eye function,
• delaying the timing of cognitive decline occurring with age.

Other interesting properties that have been noted in various experiments include better control of oxidative stress, protection of the heart from hypoxia, or improved blood-brain barrier integrity. NMN is described as a good candidate for controlling inflammation, which normally increases with age.

In essence, scientists see NMN not only as a pill for aging, but also as a potential therapeutic tool for use in a number of metabolic disorders, such as diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease.

NMN dosage

250 - 1,000 mg is the range of optimal daily doses of NMN for most who are interested. The specific dose depends on age, baseline metabolic state and individual sensitivity. The other supplements used, which can have a synergistic effect, also matter.

Users often take NMN for about 2 months, after which a break of the same length or more is taken. A popular practice is to do such a two-month treatment regularly to refresh the effects.

The NMN supplement can be combined with resveratrol. Or with something else?

Both NMN and resveratrol are known sirtuin activators. They form a harmonious duo and often accompany each other in supplementation. However, there are more great molecules that fit as companions for NMN. Among them include:

• apigenin,
• EGCG from green tea,
• fisetin,
• quercetin,
• curcumin,
• berberine.

Summary

NMN has a mass of research on animal models, where sometimes spectacular effects have been shown. Many organisms have achieved significantly prolonged life thanks to this molecule. Now the knowledge from animal models is being translated to humans and more and more interesting studies are being conducted. There are still years of research ahead for this molecule, but already many people are benefiting from NMN supplementation and reporting great effects on health and the return of youthful vitality.

Sources:

• Shade C. The Science Behind NMN-A Stable, Reliable NAD+Activator and Anti-Aging Molecule. Integr Med (Encinitas). 2020;19(1):12-14.

• Nadeeshani H, Li J, Ying T, Zhang B, Lu J. Nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) as an anti-aging health product - Promises and safety concerns. J Adv Res. 2021;37:267-278. Published 2021 Aug 11. doi:10.1016/j.jare.2021.08.003