HIGHLIGHTS:
• Provides an overview of promises and safety concerns of NMN as an anti-aging product.
• Shows that NMN’s beneficial effects supported by in vivo studies.
• Reveals that there is a lack of NMN’s clinical safety and efficacy studies.
• Suggests that proper clinical investigations are urgently needed on the effectiveness and safety of NMN supplementation
INTRODUCTION
The global elderly population has been steadily increasing, leading to a growing demand for health products aimed at promoting longevity and mitigating age-related issues. Within the realm of anti-aging health products, nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) has garnered significant attention from both consumers and the scientific community. This article intends to provide an overview on the current knowledge on promises and safety concerns of NMN as an anti-aging health product.
SCIENTIFIC CONCEPTS UNDER REVIEW:
As individuals age, the levels of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) in the body decline. This decline is associated with reduced energy production in mitochondria, increased oxidative stress, DNA damage, cognitive decline, and inflammatory conditions. However, the precursor of NAD+, called NMN, shows promise in slowing down this process by increasing NAD+ levels in the body. Several in vivo studies have demonstrated positive therapeutic effects of NMN supplementation on age-related complications. To address safety concerns, one preclinical study and one clinical study have investigated the administration of NMN, and additional human clinical trials are currently underway. Given the abundance of NMN-based anti-aging products in the market, it is crucial to conduct thorough clinical investigations to determine the effectiveness and safety of NMN supplementation.
Age management practices have led to a surge in the global market for anti-aging health products. However, many of these products are released without sufficient safety testing, driven by consumer demand and high profit margins. It is crucial to conduct comprehensive scientific investigations, both preclinical and clinical, to ensure the safety and effectiveness of these products.
One such product gaining attention is nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), which has shown promise as an anti-aging agent. NMN increases nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) levels in the body, reversing mitochondrial decay associated with aging. It can be obtained through dietary supplements and naturally occurs in various plant and animal food sources. Additionally, studies have explored biotechnological production and purification of NMN from bacteria and yeast.
Apart from its anti-aging potential, NMN has demonstrated a range of pharmacological activities in in vivo studies. Its connection to Alzheimer’s disease, obesity and related complications, cerebral and cardiac ischemia, and age- and diet-induced type 2 diabetes has been extensively investigated. Increasing NAD+ levels in the body, particularly for anti-aging purposes, has garnered significant attention, leading to studies involving cell cultures, animal models, and human clinical trials. This review aims to provide up-to-date information on the promises and safety concerns of NMN as an anti-aging health product, as well as its other therapeutic uses and mechanisms of action, in order to stimulate further research and explore its potential in treating aging and agerelated diseases. Aging is characterized by reduced energy production in various organs, such as the brain, adipose tissue, skin, liver, skeletal muscle, and pancreas, due to the depletion of NAD+. The decline in NAD+ levels is caused by increased activity of NAD+-consuming enzymes with age. These enzymes include NADase (CD38/ CD157), poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), NAD+-dependent acetylase (sirtuins), BST, and tankyrase (TNKS). Sirtuins utilize NAD+ for various functions related to longevity, aging, and agerelated physiological changes. CD38 utilizes NAD+ to produce cyclic ADPribose and nicotinamide, while PARP uses NAD+ for DNA repair by forming branched ADP-ribose polymers.
Administration of NMN can compensate for the depleted NAD+ levels caused by these NAD+-consuming enzymes, as NMN serves as an intermediate compound in NAD+ biosynthesis.
CONCLUSIONS
NMN, as a precursor and intermediate of NAD+ biosynthesis, shows potential in reversing age-related complications and slowing down the aging process by increasing NAD+ levels. While numerous studies have explored NMN’s anti-aging effects in cells and animal models, there is limited research on its long-term safety and clinical efficacy in humans. Only a few preclinical and clinical studies have investigated the safety of long-term NMN administration, and ongoing human clinical trials are yet to yield results. Despite the lack of comprehensive human studies, NMN anti-aging products are already available in the market, with manufacturers promoting them based on in vitro and animal research. It is crucial to prioritize establishing the toxicology, pharmacology, and safety profiles of NMN in humans, both in healthy individuals and those with medical conditions. To determine NMN’s anti-aging efficacy, long-term follow-up studies on regular NMN consumers could provide valuable data. Manufacturers of NMN products should take responsibility for conducting efficacy studies to support their claims.
References: Yu, J., Laybutt, D.R., Kim, L.J., Quek, L.E., Wu, L.E., Morris, M.J. and Youngson, N.A., 2021. Exerciseinduced benefits on glucose handling in a model of diet-induced obesity are reduced by concurrent nicotinamide mononucleotide. American Journal of Physiology-Endocrinology and Metabolism, 321(1), pp.E176-E189.
• Provides an overview of promises and safety concerns of NMN as an anti-aging product.
• Shows that NMN’s beneficial effects supported by in vivo studies.
• Reveals that there is a lack of NMN’s clinical safety and efficacy studies.
• Suggests that proper clinical investigations are urgently needed on the effectiveness and safety of NMN supplementation
INTRODUCTION
The global elderly population has been steadily increasing, leading to a growing demand for health products aimed at promoting longevity and mitigating age-related issues. Within the realm of anti-aging health products, nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) has garnered significant attention from both consumers and the scientific community. This article intends to provide an overview on the current knowledge on promises and safety concerns of NMN as an anti-aging health product.
SCIENTIFIC CONCEPTS UNDER REVIEW:
As individuals age, the levels of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) in the body decline. This decline is associated with reduced energy production in mitochondria, increased oxidative stress, DNA damage, cognitive decline, and inflammatory conditions. However, the precursor of NAD+, called NMN, shows promise in slowing down this process by increasing NAD+ levels in the body. Several in vivo studies have demonstrated positive therapeutic effects of NMN supplementation on age-related complications. To address safety concerns, one preclinical study and one clinical study have investigated the administration of NMN, and additional human clinical trials are currently underway. Given the abundance of NMN-based anti-aging products in the market, it is crucial to conduct thorough clinical investigations to determine the effectiveness and safety of NMN supplementation.
Age management practices have led to a surge in the global market for anti-aging health products. However, many of these products are released without sufficient safety testing, driven by consumer demand and high profit margins. It is crucial to conduct comprehensive scientific investigations, both preclinical and clinical, to ensure the safety and effectiveness of these products.
One such product gaining attention is nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), which has shown promise as an anti-aging agent. NMN increases nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) levels in the body, reversing mitochondrial decay associated with aging. It can be obtained through dietary supplements and naturally occurs in various plant and animal food sources. Additionally, studies have explored biotechnological production and purification of NMN from bacteria and yeast.
Apart from its anti-aging potential, NMN has demonstrated a range of pharmacological activities in in vivo studies. Its connection to Alzheimer’s disease, obesity and related complications, cerebral and cardiac ischemia, and age- and diet-induced type 2 diabetes has been extensively investigated. Increasing NAD+ levels in the body, particularly for anti-aging purposes, has garnered significant attention, leading to studies involving cell cultures, animal models, and human clinical trials. This review aims to provide up-to-date information on the promises and safety concerns of NMN as an anti-aging health product, as well as its other therapeutic uses and mechanisms of action, in order to stimulate further research and explore its potential in treating aging and agerelated diseases. Aging is characterized by reduced energy production in various organs, such as the brain, adipose tissue, skin, liver, skeletal muscle, and pancreas, due to the depletion of NAD+. The decline in NAD+ levels is caused by increased activity of NAD+-consuming enzymes with age. These enzymes include NADase (CD38/ CD157), poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), NAD+-dependent acetylase (sirtuins), BST, and tankyrase (TNKS). Sirtuins utilize NAD+ for various functions related to longevity, aging, and agerelated physiological changes. CD38 utilizes NAD+ to produce cyclic ADPribose and nicotinamide, while PARP uses NAD+ for DNA repair by forming branched ADP-ribose polymers.
Administration of NMN can compensate for the depleted NAD+ levels caused by these NAD+-consuming enzymes, as NMN serves as an intermediate compound in NAD+ biosynthesis.
CONCLUSIONS
NMN, as a precursor and intermediate of NAD+ biosynthesis, shows potential in reversing age-related complications and slowing down the aging process by increasing NAD+ levels. While numerous studies have explored NMN’s anti-aging effects in cells and animal models, there is limited research on its long-term safety and clinical efficacy in humans. Only a few preclinical and clinical studies have investigated the safety of long-term NMN administration, and ongoing human clinical trials are yet to yield results. Despite the lack of comprehensive human studies, NMN anti-aging products are already available in the market, with manufacturers promoting them based on in vitro and animal research. It is crucial to prioritize establishing the toxicology, pharmacology, and safety profiles of NMN in humans, both in healthy individuals and those with medical conditions. To determine NMN’s anti-aging efficacy, long-term follow-up studies on regular NMN consumers could provide valuable data. Manufacturers of NMN products should take responsibility for conducting efficacy studies to support their claims.
References: Yu, J., Laybutt, D.R., Kim, L.J., Quek, L.E., Wu, L.E., Morris, M.J. and Youngson, N.A., 2021. Exerciseinduced benefits on glucose handling in a model of diet-induced obesity are reduced by concurrent nicotinamide mononucleotide. American Journal of Physiology-Endocrinology and Metabolism, 321(1), pp.E176-E189.
