NMN (nicotinamide mononucleotide) is currently one of the most researched and popular substances to slow down aging.

NMN is a substance that occurs naturally in our body.

NMN is a precursor to NAD+. NAD+ is a very important molecule for every cell in our body.

NAD+ is a substance that countless enzymes and proteins need to carry out their function.

For example, NAD+ is required for proper repair and maintenance of our DNA and epigenome (by enzymes like sirtuins and PARPs) (R).

What are some of the effects of NMN?

1. NMN increases energy levels

Often, people report they have more energy when they take NMN.

To achieve a boost in energy, it’s advisable to take a sufficiently high dose.

Some people already feel an effect with 250 mg of NMN, while others have to take at least 500 mg.

Studies show that orally administered NMN increases stamina and endurance in old mice, by up to 80 percent (R,R).

2. NMN improves memory

Many users of NMN experience improvements in cognitive function, making them feel sharper or better able to concentrate.

We also see in studies that NMN has beneficial effects on brain functioning, like improving cognition and blood flow in the brains of mice (R).

Blood flow in the brain is restored in elderly mice taking NMN (green bar) to similar levels as young mice (blue bar). Red are aged mice without NMN.
Source: Nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) supplementation rescues cerebromicrovascular endothelial function and neurovascular coupling responses and improves cognitive function in aged mice. Redox Biology, 2019

The working memory in old mice that received NMN (green) is like that one of young mice (blue). Aged mice without NMN make more errors (red).
Source: Nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) supplementation rescues cerebromicrovascular endothelial function and neurovascular coupling responses and improves cognitive function in aged mice. Redox Biology, 2019

3. NMN & healthier blood vessels

Studies show that NMN rejuvenates aged blood vessels. NMN considerably improves, for example, vascular elasticity in old animals:

Old mice that receive NMN (ONMN) have blood vessels that dilate as well as young control mice (YC) and young mice that get NMN (YNMN). Dilatation of the blood vessels was considerably impaired in old mice that didn’t receive NMN (OC).
Source: Nicotinamide mononucleotide supplementation reverses vascular dysfunction and oxidative stress with aging in mice. Aging Cell, 2016

Also, the mitochondria in the cells that line the blood vessels (endothelial cells) stay healthier with NMN. Mitochondria are the power plants of cells.

Mitochondria in endothelial cells in old mice that received NMN (image C) look like the mitochondria in young cells (image A). The mitochondria in old mice without NMN are shrunken and more dysfunctional.
Source: Nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) supplementation rescues cerebromicrovascular endothelial function and neurovascular coupling responses and improves cognitive function in aged mice. Redox Biology, 2019

4. NMN improves metabolism

This is very important, because during aging metabolism declines considerably, leading to an increased risk of many diseases.

Studies show that NMN can reduce insulin resistance, improve plasma lipid profiles, and reduce aging-associated weight gain, while also enhancing physical activity (R,R,R,R).

5. NMN improves aging-associated decline in elderly organisms

When we get older, many things deteriorate: our eyesight, stamina, energy levels, bone density and immune function. All these improve according to studies in old mice (R,R).

6. NMN improves fertility

Some people who take NMN report that they have an increase in libido.

Biotech companies have discovered that NMN and NMN derivatives can make old animals fertile again.

Studies show that NMN can improve fertility (R). Learn more here.

7. NMN improves stem cell health

During aging, stem cells decline, and the remaining stem cells often become dysfunctional. This contributes to aging, given stem cells generate new cells and maintain our tissues. Various studies show that NMN, or boosting NAD levels, can improve stem cell health and self-renewal (R,R,R,R).

8. NMN repairs DNA damage

NMN helps cells to repair their damaged DNA. DNA damage is one of the reasons why we get older.

Mice that were given NMN had significantly less DNA damage (as measured by alpha-H2AX, a biomarker for DNA damage):

Liver cells in old untreated mice (O-PBS) had much more DNA damage compared to old mice treated with NMN (O-NMN). Y-PBS are young mice (alphaH2AX is a measurement for DNA damage).
Source: A conserved NAD+ binding pocket that regulates protein-protein interactions during aging, Science, 2017

In one experiment, mice that got irradiated, which normally leads to huge amounts of DNA damage, killing large amounts or red blood cells. However, when the mice were given NMN, they had significantly higher red blood cell levels compared to irradiated mice that didn’t receive NMN (as measured by hemoglobin levels).