Key Takeaways
People on social media have been raving about a supposed “miracle drug” called NAD+ that can allegedly reverse aging.
Preliminary studies show that NAD+ boosters or supplementation can result in health benefits and delayed signs of aging.
Oral supplementation with NMN increases NAD+ levels by 40%.
Clinical trials are beginning to demonstrate various benefits of NMN supplementation in humans, from supporting mitochondrial health and cellular energy production to muscle function and healthy insulin sensitivity.
Thanks to efforts to create effective anti-aging interventions to extend lifespan, people worldwide live longer than ever. The number of people aged over 80 will triple in the next 30 years, according to the projections of World Population Prospects 2019 from the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA). But are we living better? Our body gets weak as we age, making us more susceptible to diseases.
Inside all of our cells, we make an important molecule called nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, better known as NAD+. Our cells use NAD+ for a variety of purposes, some of the most important of which are to produce the energy that our cells need to function and to activate proteins that repair damaged DNA. As we age, the amount of this molecule declines.
Scientists believe that the decline of NAD+ underpins many of the health-related problems that we face as we age. If we could stem this loss, the thinking goes, we might both live longer while remaining healthier. Research has shown that enhancing NAD+ biosynthesis with NMN can improve age-associated health problems during the natural aging process.
One way that we might sustain healthy levels of NAD+ is by supplementing our bodies with its precursor, nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN). All cellular compounds are made in a way analogous to a factory assembly line, where each component is the precursor for the next one. To produce more NAD+, then, one needs more precursors like NMN. NMN supplements are NAD precursors that support energy metabolism, cardiovascular health, a strong brain, and good holistic well-being.
Benefits of NMN
Since taking NMN may help your body produce more NAD, it’s also important to consider the research behind the benefits of NAD. Studies investigating NAD shed light on its potential benefits:
It may increase longevity. In your cells, NAD activates a group of proteins called sirtuins, which help repair your DNA. The activity of sirtuins is linked to longevity. On the flip side, low NAD levels are associated with age-related diseases.
It may have protective effects on the brain. NAD is thought to modulate the production of a protein that helps guard cells against impairment of mitochondrial function and oxidative stress. These cellular stressors are related to some neurological diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease.
It may help reduce heart disease risk. Research in mice has found that high NAD levels in the blood reversed age-related arterial damage, which may help guard against heart disease.
It may protect against cancer. Elevated NAD levels may help protect cells against oxidative stress and DNA damage, which are associated with cancer development.
It may help with jet lag. Research suggests NAD may help adjust your internal clock, potentially helping ease jet lag or other circadian rhythm disorders.
It may help aging muscles. Studies in older mice have shown that high blood NAD levels helped improve muscle function, strength, and endurance in older mice.
Suppresses Age-associated Body Weight Gain. Human muscle mass declines as we get older, but our fat mass grows. This fat mass growth is one of the causes of age-associated body weight gain. According to research, NMN administration significantly suppressed age-associated body weight gain in mice after 12 months without any sign of apparent toxicity. The results also showed that the effect of NMN on body weight was not due to a growth problem or loss of appetite.
Improves Insulin Sensitivity. Insulin sensitivity refers to how sensitive the body’s cells react to insulin. High insulin sensitivity helps the body cells use blood glucose more effectively, resulting in lower blood sugar levels. In contrast, low insulin sensitivity can progress to type 2 diabetes and weight gain. According to research, long-term NMN administration can reduce the age-associated decline in insulin sensitivity in mice.
Improves Fertility. An oocyte is an immature egg cell that eventually develops into a maternal egg. The quality of oocytes decreases as the female body ages. According to research, NMN benefits fertility by enhancing the number and quality of maternal eggs and fertilizing them in mice. The findings provide a potential approach to improving women’s reproductivity in their late maternal years.
When Should You Take NMN Supplements?
Knowing when to take your supplements is crucial, especially when it comes to NMN supplements!
The best time to take our NMN supplements is one hour before eating breakfast on an empty stomach, and it’s important to take the full dose you usually take all at once. By doing this, you can maximize the absorption of NMN supplements that you get in your body.
How Much NMN Should I Take?
One of the most important factors when it comes to taking our NMN supplements is getting to know just how much of a dose you should be taking. This all comes down to your age and the older you are, the higher the dosage that you should be taking.
If you are under the age of 35 and looking to take NMN supplements, it is recommended to start with 250mg (One Capsule). After one to two weeks, you can double the dosage to 500mg (two capsules). For an individual who is over the age of 35, it is recommended to start with 500mg and double the dosage to 1000mg (four capsules) in about one to two weeks of consistent usage.
When it comes down to the dosage, it is all up to you and how your body reacts to it. If you feel that it isn’t working enough, you can always up your daily dosage, and vice versa. Doing what is best for your body and what it responds to better is crucial no matter the supplement that you take.
GREENDORSE NMN Supplement Helps Defend Against following Daily Stressors that can Accelerate Aging:
Time (Age): Aging occurs due to the passage of time. The more time your cells spend under physiological stress, the more subject they are to wear and tear.
Dietary Distress: When you eat poorly, your NAD+ levels and the cellular processes supported by steady NAD+ production can suffer.
Immune Stress: There’s a name for the aging of your immune system i.e. immunosenesence. As you age, protecting the health of your cells is more important than ever.
Sleep Disruption: Interrupted circadian rhythm can deplete NAD+, which decreases our cells’ ability to make energy.
Overtraining: Over-training risks injury, causing cells to use NAD+ for repair.
Environmental Stressors: Daily environmental factors such as smoke and pollution can trigger oxidative stress, leading to a decline in NAD+ and mitochondrial health.
Alcohol Consumption: Alcohol can trigger oxidative stress and cause free radicals, which can damage DNA. Be kind to your cells– don’t overdo it.
Sedentary Lifestyle: Inactivity has been linked to shortened telomeres caused by oxidative stress and free radicals, leading to NAD+ decline.
HOUR 1: NMN enters cells.
Preclinical studies in mice on the pharmacokinetics of NMN suggest that it’s absorbed from the gut into blood circulation within minutes and transported into tissues between 10 and 30 minutes [1, 2]. That’s when the magic (or biochemistry) happens. The NMN is immediately utilized for NAD+ biosynthesis. Research suggests that fast uptake is made possible by an NMN-specific transporter called Slc12a8. A study published in Nature Metabolism identified the transporter, which is especially concentrated in the small intestine in mice [3].
5 HOURS: NAD+ levels begin to rise
Studies in humans show increased levels of NAD+ metabolites in blood plasma within the first few hours of NMN supplementation—and they continue to rise steadily, suggesting increased utilization of NAD+ in cells and tissues [4]. Cells are already taking advantage of increased NAD+ levels to support hundreds of critical cellular processes.
3 DAYS: NMN promotes mitochondrial health and cellular energy production
NAD+ levels continue to rise, now benefiting the cell’s powerhouses and the place where cellular energy is made: the mitochondria. A preclinical study demonstrated that treatment of human kidney cells in culture with NMN for three days resulted in increased mitochondrial replication [5] [6].
Greendorse's NMN supplement, combines NMN with Quercetin and Trans- resveratrol to give extra benefits.
30 DAYS: NMN increases NAD+ levels by 40%
A human clinical study examining NMN supplementation at a dose of 250 mg per day in healthy adults showed 40% higher NAD+ levels in the blood compared to placebo at 30 days [7].
6 WEEKS: NMN and muscle benefits
A human clinical study found that oral supplementation of NMN at a dose of 250 mg per day for 6 weeks partly improved muscle strength and performance in healthy older men [8]. Another human clinical study published in Nature Aging demonstrated that NAD+ was one of the most depleted metabolites in aging muscle and that high levels of NAD+ were associated with healthy muscle function [9].
8 WEEKS: NMN and skin benefits
Advanced glycation end products, or AGEs, are markers of skin aging. A small clinical trial involving healthy postmenopausal women found that NMN supplementation for eight weeks at 300 mg of NMN per day resulted in decreased AGEs in the skin [10].
10 WEEKS: NMN supports healthy insulin sensitivity
There’s more happening in the muscles at 10 weeks. One clinical study of prediabetic women made two important discoveries. The first was an increase in NMN metabolites in skeletal muscle tissue, suggesting that the muscles were using more NAD+. The second finding suggested that NMN may support healthy insulin sensitivity in skeletal muscle and helps regulate the expression of genes related to muscle remodeling—the turnover of muscle proteins, organelles, and cell populations. Participants in the trial were supplemented with 250 mg of NMN per day [11].
3 MONTHS: NMN supports gait speed
It's been three months, and you've logged 60 days of 40% higher NAD+ in your cells and tissues. Benefits at the cellular and tissue level are beginning to translate to functional benefits. One clinical trial found an improvement in gait speed (translation: walking speed) in healthy, elderly men who took 250 mg of NMN per day [8].
6 MONTHS AND BEYOND: Healthy aging and NAD+ go hand-in-hand
Image: NAD+ levels in skeletal muscle correlate with healthy aging. Adapted from Janssens, G.E. et al., Nat Aging 2: 254–263 (2022).
With consistent use, the sustained, elevated levels of NAD+ at six months and beyond are supporting your overall well-being and health. NAD+ declines by as much as 50% every 20 years, according to research. It’s important to maintain your NMN supplementation: Research shows that four weeks after discontinuation of NMN, NAD+ levels returned to pre-supplementation levels [7]. Just like with exercise, sleep, and diet—consistency is key for long-term results. Human studies are beginning to show that healthy aging and NAD+ abundance go hand-in-hand [9].
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References
Blog Inspired by Elysium Health's detailed write up!
[1] Yoshino, J., et al., Cell Metab. 14: 528–536 (2011).
[2] Mills, K. F. et al. Cell Metab. 24: 795–806 (2016).
[6] Fu, J., et al.,J Biol Chem. 287 (29): 24460–24472 (2012).
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