Metabolic Disorders and NMN: Unleashing the Potential Benefits of NMN
Metabolic disorders are more than just medical jargon; they're rapidly becoming a silent epidemic in the US. Picture this: from 1988 to 2012, the rate of adults with metabolic syndrome skyrocketed by over 35%. That's one in every three adults grappling with a condition that boosts the risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. Intriguingly, the prevalence and risks vary; non-Hispanic black women are more susceptible, while age and education levels play pivotal roles in its onset.
So, why should you be alarmed, and what can we do about it?
In this read, we'll:
Join us as we decode one of the most pressing health issues of our era. [1]
What Are Metabolic Disorders?
Metabolism encompasses the intricate biochemical processes that sustain life, allowing us to grow, heal, and adapt to our environment. When these processes falter, metabolic disorders arise, manifesting in conditions like diabetes or Gaucher’s disease.
These disruptions can originate from genetic mutations, dysfunctional organs, or issues within the mitochondria, the cellular engines producing energy. Disorders range from well-known ones like diabetes to rarer ones like Gaucher’s disease or mitochondrial disorders.
As we delve further, we'll uncover the intriguing potential of Nicotinamide Mononucleotide (NMN) in the realm of metabolic health. Stay with us on this journey through the delicate balance of metabolism and the promise of new scientific discoveries. [2]
The Science Between NMN and Metabolism
From boosting fat cell energy to aiding muscle metabolism and more, NMN is emerging as a significant player in cellular health and metabolism.
Read on for exciting findings from top global institutions.
NMN Boosts Fat Cell Health and Metabolism
A team from Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar found that NMN can improve fat cell health. Their study, published in Scientific Reports in 2021, showed NMN boosts the activity of genes tied to metabolism and appetite control.
NMN helps make NAD+, essential for energy and metabolism. In obesity, NAD+ levels drop. But using NMN can raise these levels, aiding cell energy use and possibly helping to tackle obesity-linked issues.
This research shines a light on how NMN and metabolism are connected and their potential in addressing obesity-related problems. [3]
NMN Boosts Metabolism in Human Muscles
In a study published in Science in 2021, a team from the Washington University School of Medicine has found that NMN can improve metabolism in prediabetic women.
In their study, they gave 250 mg of NMN daily to overweight women between 55 and 75 years old. After 10 weeks, the women's muscle cells used sugar more efficiently. This means that NMN helped their muscles get energy better. The researchers also found signs that NMN might help with muscle repair and growth.
NMN works by increasing levels of the vital energy molecule, NAD+. While this study found that NMN improves muscle metabolism in women, more research is needed to see if it can help prevent or treat prediabetes or diabetes in people. [4]
NMN Helps Male Mice Born to Obese Mothers Improve Metabolism
Research has shown that if a mother is obese, her children are more likely to face health problems, including issues with metabolism.
In a study published in Cells in 2020, researchers from The University of New South Wales in Australia tested the effects of NMN on male mice whose mothers were obese. They found that giving NMN to these mice for just three weeks helped them reduce body fat and improve their sugar levels. This is promising because it means that NMN might help offset some of the health risks faced by the offspring of obese mothers.
However, it's essential to note that this research is still in its early stages. While NMN has shown positive results in mice, we don't yet know if it will work the same way in humans.
The researchers believe that their findings encourage further studies to see if NMN might be a useful treatment for metabolic issues in people born to obese parents. [5]
NMN Boosts Cell Energy and Might Help Against Aging
NMN has shown the potential to increase cell energy and might help fight the effects of aging.
NMN raises NAD+ which plays a big role in our cells' health. More NAD+ can improve metabolism, like how our body uses sugar and oxygen. In a study published in the Journal of Biomedical Research & Environmental Sciences in 2022 by Yamamoto and team from Japan, when they added NMN to breast cancer cells, the activity of another important molecule called AMPK increased by over 12 times.
AMPK helps in maintaining energy balance in cells and can clean unwanted parts from the cell. As we get older, AMPK works less effectively, so boosting its activity might help keep us healthy.
However, this study had a limitation. They tested on breast cancer cells, and we're not sure if the results would be the same for normal, healthy cells.
Future research might check if taking NMN can increase ATP (a major cell energy molecule) levels in our blood. This could show if NMN really helps boost our cells' energy over the long term. [6]
NMN Enzyme Boosts Metabolism During Fasting
In a study published in Nature Communications in 2022, fasting or reducing calorie intake was shown to improve our metabolism, which manages our body's energy. Central to this process is the molecule NAD+.
Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine delved into an enzyme named NAMPT. This enzyme is crucial for producing NMN, a precursor that contributes to NAD+ creation. In the liver, a primary organ involved in metabolism, NAMPT proves essential. Mice with increased NAMPT in their liver burned fat more effectively and regulated sugar levels better.
Boosting NAMPT also resulted in overweight mice's fat burning in a manner that produced more heat, indicating a healthier metabolism. The findings suggest that enhancing NAMPT, and thus NMN and NAD+, could mimic the health benefits of fasting and potentially help address aging and weight-related challenges. [7]
NMN Boosts Sugar Management in Obese Mice
Eating sugary foods sends signals from our intestines to handle the sugar. Sometimes, these signals can malfunction, leading to obesity. In a study published in the Endocrinology Journal in 2022, researchers from Keio University and Washington University found that obese mice had lower levels of NAD+, affecting their ability to manage sugar.
By giving these mice NMN, their NAD+ levels increased, helping them handle sugar better. This suggests NMN might play a crucial role in improving metabolism and treating conditions like diabetes.
A human trial testing NMN's effects is currently underway, with results expected in 2025. [8]
NMN Boosts Cell Energy and Health
Our cells contain two types of DNA. One is in the main part of the cell, and the other is inside the cell's energy-making section, called the mitochondria. Both DNAs are vital for our cells to work efficiently and are crucial for our overall metabolism, which keeps us healthy as we age.
A study published in the Journal of Biochemistry in 2021 by Kang's team from Kyushu University in Japan showed that NMN aids the DNA in mitochondria to copy itself. This is beneficial because when mitochondria have more DNA, they can produce energy more efficiently, enhancing our body's metabolism.
The researchers also discovered the role of NAD+ in this process. NMN is related to NAD+ and can boost its levels in cells. This is significant as NAD+ is essential for many cellular functions, especially in energy production which is central to metabolism.
In conclusion, NMN appears to bolster our cells' energy production capabilities, playing a pivotal role in metabolism and potentially influencing our overall health and the aging process. [9]
Conclusion
Metabolic disorders are on the rise in the US, with Nicotinamide Mononucleotide (NMN) emerging as a potential solution for enhancing metabolic health. While its benefits are promising, further research is essential.
HealthspanX.org provides high-quality NMN supplements with a commitment to purity and ongoing research. Always consult a healthcare provider before incorporating NMN into your health routine.
Citations
- https://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2017/16_0287.htm
- National Center for Biotechnology Information (US). Genes and Disease [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Center for Biotechnology Information (US); 1998-. Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK22259/
- Majeed Y, Halabi N, Madani AY, Engelke R, Bhagwat AM, Abdesselem H, Agha MV, Vakayil M, Courjaret R, Goswami N, Hamidane HB, Elrayess MA, Rafii A, Graumann J, Schmidt F, Mazloum NA. SIRT1 promotes lipid metabolism and mitochondrial biogenesis in adipocytes and coordinates adipogenesis by targeting key enzymatic pathways. Sci Rep. 2021 Apr 14;11(1):8177. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-87759-x. PMID: 33854178; PMCID: PMC8046990.
- Yoshino M, Yoshino J, Kayser BD, Patti G, Franczyk MP, Mills KF, Sindelar M, Pietka T, Patterson BW, Imai SI, Klein S. Nicotinamide mononucleotide increases muscle insulin sensitivity in prediabetic women. Science. 2021 Apr 22:eabe9985. doi: 10.1126/science.abe9985. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 33888596.
- Uddin GM, Youngson NA, Chowdhury SS, Hagan C, Sinclair DA, Morris MJ. Administration of Nicotinamide Mononucleotide (NMN) Reduces Metabolic Impairment in Male Mouse Offspring from Obese Mothers. Cells. 2020 Mar 25;9(4):791. doi: 10.3390/cells9040791.
- Kawakami S, Fukuzawa Y, Ichikawa H, Sato T, Ide T, Maeda Y, Yamamoto T. NMN “Nicotinamide Mononucleotide” Activates Intracellular Energy and Approaches the Prevention and Improvement of Aging. J Biomed Res Environ Sci. 2022 May 21; 3(5): 560-565. doi: 10.37871/jbres1480, Article ID: JBRES1480, Available at: https://www.jelsciences.com/ articles/jbres1480.pdf
- Higgins CB, Mayer AL, Zhang Y, Franczyk M, Ballentine S, Yoshino J, DeBosch BJ. SIRT1 selectively exerts the metabolic protective effects of hepatocyte nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase. Nat Commun. 2022 Feb 28;13(1):1074. doi: 10.1038/s41467-022-28717-7. PMID: 35228549; PMCID: PMC8885655.
- Nagahisa T, Yamaguchi S, Kosugi S, Homma K, Miyashita K, Irie J, Yoshino J, Itoh H. Intestinal epithelial NAD + biosynthesis regulates GLP-1 production and postprandial glucose metabolism in mice. Endocrinology. 2022 Feb 26:bqac023. doi: 10.1210/endocr/bqac023. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 35218657.
- Nomiyama T, Setoyama D, Yasukawa T, Kang D. Mitochondria Metabolomics Reveals a Role of β-Nicotinamide Mononucleotide Metabolism in Mitochondrial DNA Replication. J Biochem. 2021 Dec 4:mvab136. doi: 10.1093/jb/mvab136. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 34865026.