What Happens to Long‑Term NMN Users?
In recent years, as the anti‑aging mindset has grown, more people have begun to pay attention to the aging process. Against this backdrop, NMN (β‑Nicotinamide Mononucleotide) immediately captured widespread interest upon its introduction, and numerous studies on NMN have already been published in top international biology journals. At the same time, concerns have been raised about the long‑term safety of NMN supplementation. Is NMN truly safe? Can it be taken on a long‑term basis? Let’s examine what scientific research has to say.
Key Findings
- NMN supplementation can boost NAD⁺ levels, thereby reducing the risk of age‑related diseases.
- Supplementing with NMN can revitalize the body’s energy, leaving users more vigorous and helping to improve sleep quality.
- Because many diseases are driven by metabolic imbalances, and since NMN plays a critical role in regulating metabolism, its supplementation may help enhance metabolic stability and thereby ameliorate these conditions.
01
The “Fountain of Youth” Technology from the Nobel Prize
NMN, known as β‑Nicotinamide Mononucleotide, is a naturally occurring bioactive nucleotide that can be converted into NAD⁺ in the body.
In 1904, British biochemist Arthur Harden attempted to replicate fermentation outside yeast cells. In his experiments, he separated yeast components into a heat‑labile fraction and a heat‑stable one, speculating that the latter contained an essential auxiliary factor and other stable molecules that assist proteins in reacting. This auxiliary factor turned out to include the NAD⁺ molecule—the first discovery of NAD⁺.
Sixteen years later, Dr. Hans Von Euler‑Chelpin purified NAD⁺ and elucidated its molecular structure. Owing to his groundbreaking work in revealing the chemical structure of NAD⁺ and inventing fermentation techniques that would influence science for over a century, he is revered as the “Father of NAD⁺.”
Thanks to their groundbreaking work on sugar fermentation and fermentative enzymes, the two shared the 1929 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
Figure: 1929 Nobel Prize in Chemistry laureates Arthur Harden and Hans von Euler-Chelpin
Three years afterward, in 1931, the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to Otto Heinrich Warburg for his discovery of the pivotal role NMN plays in redox reactions. Warburg's work demonstrated that during fermentation, the nicotinamide moiety of NAD⁺ accepts a hydride ion to become NADH, initiating the process. This was the first time NAD⁺ was linked to fundamental metabolic processes.
Figure:1931 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine laureate Otto Heinrich Warburg
Since then, research on NMN has flourished. Recent studies have even shown that NMN can extend the lifespan of animals—an outcome that both shocked the scientific community and propelled NMN into the spotlight as a promising anti‑aging intervention.
02
What Are the Benefits of NMN?
NMN is the precursor to NAD⁺, a coenzyme involved in most redox reactions within metabolic pathways. As we age, NAD⁺ levels decline, which can exacerbate many age‑related conditions. Maintaining sufficient NAD⁺ is therefore essential for preventing and treating these diseases; however, due to its large molecular size, NAD⁺ cannot be efficiently absorbed when ingested. Supplementing with NMN offers an effective way to elevate NAD⁺ levels.
Figure:Concentration Change Curves of NMN and NAD+ After Taking NMN
01. Enhanced Vitality
Animal studies have shown that NMN supplementation can effectively raise NAD⁺ levels in peripheral tissues under both normal and pathological conditions. In humans, NMN has been shown to boost energy levels.
For instance, a randomized, double‑blind clinical trial involving 48 athletes from the Guangzhou Zhujiang Running Team over six weeks demonstrated that NMN increased skeletal muscle oxygen utilization and improved aerobic capacity.
Another study in elderly individuals found that NMN intake reduced drowsiness and helped mitigate the decline in physical function and fatigue.
Whether you’re an athlete or in your later years, NMN can awaken your inner vitality and help you feel younger.
02. Disease Prevention
Many diseases are rooted in metabolic disorders. As NMN is a key regulator of metabolism, its supplementation holds promise for enhancing metabolic stability and thereby improving conditions such as cardiovascular disease—by, for example, activating SIRT1, an enzyme beneficial for vascular health.
03
The anti-aging superstar ingredient that's been popular for over a decade.
NMN’s worldwide popularity took off following a landmark study published in the prestigious journal Cell.
This research showed that after just one week of NMN supplementation, 22‑month‑old mice (equivalent to about 60 human years) exhibited improvements in mitochondrial homeostasis and muscle health, reverting to levels comparable to 6‑month‑old mice (roughly 20 human years).
Over the next decade, the research team published over 30 additional studies in top journals. NMN quickly emerged as the “miracle” anti‑aging compound, beloved by global elites and increasingly adopted by the public.
In 2020, Japanese researchers conducted the first human clinical trial evaluating the safety of a single oral dose of NMN.
The results confirmed that NMN is efficiently metabolized in healthy individuals without causing any noticeable adverse effects, proving its safety when taken orally.
04
Long-Term NMN Supplementation Is Safe
If a single dose is safe, can NMN be taken safely over the long term?
Researchers recruited 36 healthy volunteers for a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled parallel study to assess the effects of 12 weeks of NMN supplementation on blood NAD metabolite levels, SIRT1 expression, and other metabolic health parameters.
The results revealed that continuous NMN supplementation safely and beneficially activated NAD and improved metabolism in healthy individuals. The study also indicated that NMN supplementation can alleviate vascular stiffness and reduce the risk of cardiovascular events—especially in individuals with elevated BMI and blood sugar levels.
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【2】Kim, Mijin et al. “Effect of 12-Week Intake of Nicotinamide Mononucleotide on Sleep Quality, Fatigue, and Physical Performance in Older Japanese Adults: A Randomized, Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Study.” Nutrients vol. 14,4 755. 11 Feb. 2022, doi:10.3390/nu14040755
【3】Kiss, Tamas et al. “Nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) supplementation promotes neurovascular rejuvenation in aged mice: transcriptional footprint of SIRT1 activation, mitochondrial protection, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic effects.” GeroScience vol. 42,2 (2020): 527-546. doi:10.1007/s11357-020-00165-5
【4】Gomes, Ana P et al. “Declining NAD(+) induces a pseudohypoxic state disrupting nuclear-mitochondrial communication during aging.” Cell vol. 155,7 (2013): 1624-38. doi:10.1016/j.cell.2013.11.037
【5】Irie, Junichiro et al. “Effect of oral administration of nicotinamide mononucleotide on clinical parameters and nicotinamide metabolite levels in healthy Japanese men.” Endocrine journal vol. 67,2 (2020): 153-160. doi:10.1507/endocrj.EJ19-0313
【6】Katayoshi, Takeshi et al. “Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide metabolism and arterial stiffness after long-term nicotinamide mononucleotide supplementation: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.” Scientific reports vol. 13,1 2786. 16 Feb. 2023, doi:10.1038/s41598-023-29787-3