What is NMN? Benefits, Side Effects and More
Your body needs nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) for everything from improving your immune system to repairing your DNA.1 As you age, your levels of NAD+ begin to decrease, leading to a range of side effects including increased aging signs, reduced metabolism, higher fatigue levels, and increased oxidative stress. Nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), a naturally occurring compound, helps your body produce more NAD+, particularly as you age. Consequently, NMN supplements have gained attention as a means to enhance wellness and promote healthy aging.
Benefits of NMN: What is NMN Good For?
When you take NMN, your body converts this nucleotide into NAD+. Research has indicated that providing your body with the necessary building blocks to produce more NAD+ can yield significant benefits due to higher NAD+ levels.
In contrast, studies have not yet demonstrated that taking NAD+ directly affects your body’s NAD+ levels effectively. This suggests that NMN might be more beneficial than direct NAD+ supplementation.
Improved Immune Function
As a precursor for NAD+, NMN supplements may enhance the function of macrophages (a type of white blood cell) and bolster your immune system, particularly in older age.3
Maintain Healthy Blood Sugar Levels
In the first clinical trial of its kind, researchers found that NMN supplements could improve insulin efficiency and support healthier blood glucose levels.4
Enhanced Muscle Strength
After age 30, muscle mass decreases by up to 8% each decade.5 By boosting NAD+ levels, NMN may improve muscle mass and strength6— not only keeping you active as you age but also reducing risks related to muscle weakness such as shaky balance or a higher risk of falls.
Better Overall Wellness and Healthier Aging
Since NAD+ is essential for DNA repair and the functioning of all body cells,1 NMN's ability to support healthy NAD+ levels could lead to improvements in nearly every aspect of health and wellness, particularly in aging.
Possible Side Effects of NMN: What is the Risk of Taking NMN?
Most studies on NMN and NAD+ precursors have not shown any significant side effects6, although ongoing research continues to fully establish its safety profile.
Who Should Avoid Taking NMN?
If you are pregnant or have a pre-existing health condition, always consult with your doctor before adding a new supplement to your regimen.
What Other Risks May Be Associated with NMN Supplements?
While NMN supplements are generally considered safe7, some individuals may experience mild symptoms similar to those from other dietary supplements, such as:
- Cramping or abdominal pain
- Diarrhea or loose stools
- Gas and bloating
Some NMN supplements may also contain additional ingredients, such as resveratrol (from grapes) or troxerutin (from buckwheat), to enhance NMN's efficacy. Always carefully check the ingredients label on any supplement you take to ensure that secondary ingredients do not interact with other supplements or medications you are taking.
NMN Dosage
Every clinical study on NMN has utilized different dosages, ranging from 250 mg to over 1,250 mg per day.8 For general health and well-being, most studies have used the lower range, while research involving athletes and highly active individuals has used the higher range. The best NMN supplements are designed to meet the needs of a broad audience — you can adjust your dosage based on your specific requirements.
If you have specific concerns, your doctor can recommend the appropriate dosage based on your age, lifestyle, and health needs.
How Can I Increase My NMN?
Taking an NMN supplement is the most effective way to quickly boost your NMN levels and support healthy NAD+ production. Although NMN is also present in trace amounts in foods such as:9, 10
- Avocado
- Broccoli
- Cabbage
- Cucumber
- Edamame (soybeans)
- Tomatoes
However, you would need to consume a large quantity of these foods to obtain a significant amount of NMN, which is why supplements are so beneficial. For example, tomatoes contain only 0.26-0.30 mg of NMN per 100 grams,10 meaning you would need to eat over 96.2 kg (212 pounds) of tomatoes daily to get 250 mg of NMN.
Who Can Benefit from Taking NMN?
NMN is often regarded as an anti-aging supplement, but its benefits extend beyond middle-aged and older adults. Research indicates that NAD+ levels start to decline in early adulthood.11 Since NAD+ (and therefore NMN) is crucial for basic cellular function, including immune system support, it may be beneficial if you are seeking enhanced energy, improved aging, better strength, a stronger immune system, and an overall increase in vitality.
Get Started with the Best NMN Supplements Today
Our best-selling NMN supplements are sourced from 98% pure nicotinamide mononucleotide. With a single dose of 300 mg, you can experience the health-boosting benefits of NMN quickly and effectively.
You be well, now.
BubbForest
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
About Dr. Christopher Oseh
Christopher Oseh, MD, is a trained primary care physician with nearly a decade of clinical experience in managing and counseling patients toward better health through positive lifestyle changes. He has a strong track record in treating and co-managing individuals with chronic illnesses.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Sources
- NAD+ metabolism and its roles in cellular processes during ageing. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol. Read source
- Oxidative Stress: Harms and Benefits for Human Health. Oxid Med Cell Longev. Read source
- NAD-biosynthetic pathways regulate innate immunity. Nature Immunology. Read source
- Anti-aging compound that improves metabolic health in mice improves muscle glucose metabolism in people. Washington University School of Medicine. Read source
- Muscle tissue changes with aging. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. Read source
- Loss of NAD Homeostasis Leads to Progressive and Reversible Degeneration of Skeletal Muscle. Cell Metab. Read source
- Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide: Summary Report. UMB Digital Archive. Read source
- Oral Administration of Nicotinamide Mononucleotide Is Safe and Efficiently Increases Blood Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide Levels in Healthy Subjects. Front Nutr. Read source
- Safety evaluation of β-nicotinamide mononucleotide oral administration in healthy adult men and women. Scientific Reports. Read source
- Natural compound reduces signs of aging in healthy mice. Washington University in St. Louis. Read source
- Nicotinamide Mononucleotide: Exploration of Diverse Therapeutic Applications of a Potential Molecule. Biomolecules. Read source
- Age-related NAD+ decline. Exp Gerontol. Read source
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