Is NMN Good for Bones? Science-Backed Benefits Explained

Early research strongly suggests yes — NMN may protect bone health. There seems to be various ways by which NMN helps the bones. For instance, it reduces cellular aging, boosts stem cell activity, and even supports fracture healing. 

As we age, bone strength declines, leading to osteoporosis and a higher risk of fractures. Standard treatments like calcium, vitamin D, and bisphosphonates provide only modest improvements. 

Scientists are now studying NMN as a new way to slow bone loss and improve healing.

In this guide, we’ll break down what current science says about NMN and bone health, how it works, and what this could mean for aging adults.

What Is NMN And Why Might It Help Bones?

Nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) is a natural compound that boosts NAD+. NAD+ is essential for energy, DNA repair, and healthy cell function.

NMN is a building block for NAD+, which in turn fuels mitochondria — often described as the power plants of the cells.

NAD+ levels naturally decline with age. And because of that many cell types, including bone stem cells and osteoblasts (the cells responsible for building new bone), gradually lose their vitality. Consequently, this decline can lead to weaker bones. And those weaker bones can slow down fracture healing.

By restoring NAD+ levels, NMN appears to “recharge” bone cells. This may reduce oxidative stress (cell-damaging free radicals), and maintain stem cell function — all key to preserving bone strength.

How Does NMN Affect Bone Density?

NMN supplementation increases bone density and improves bone structure in animal models of osteoporosis and microgravity.

A 2023 study on rats exposed to simulated microgravity (a model for spaceflight and bed rest) found that NMN significantly reduced bone loss. 

The rats that received NMN had several clear benefits. They had stronger bones with more density, healthier bone structure, and better overall strength compared to the untreated group.

In addition, researchers found that NMN lowered harmful oxidative stress in bone cells, restored NAD+ levels, and also switched on AMPK — an important protein that helps bones grow and stay strong.

AMPK is a like a worker in your body. Its job is to regulate energy balance and bone formation. In simple terms, this means NMN helps bones resist the weakening effects of disuse and aging.

Can NMN Help With Osteoporosis?

NMN reduces cellular aging in bone cells and may slow or reverse osteoporosis progression in animal studies.

Osteoporosis develops when bones break at a faster pace than they are made.  And usually, loss of estrogen, inflammation, and cellular senescence (aging of cells) are behind it.

In a landmark 2023 study, Lu and colleagues treated osteoporotic mice with NMN and observed that it helped in reducing senescence in bone cells. This suggests that the formation of bones can speed up again which will delay osteoporosis. 

The study also showed that NMN protected human osteoblasts (bone-building cells) from the damaging effects of inflammatory molecules. By restoring mitochondrial function, NMN helped these cells remain youthful and functional.

This suggests that NMN could one day complement or improve upon current osteoporosis therapies.

Does NMN Improve Fracture Healing?

Yes, NMN accelerates fracture healing by boosting skeletal stem cell proliferation and bone repair in animal studies.

A 2024 paper in Theranostics showed that mice treated with NMN after femur fractures had faster healing and denser callus formation.

The mechanism was linked to NMN’s ability to increase NAD+ in the breakage site, activate stem cells, and increase Notch signals — a pathway critical for bone regeneration. 

For older adults prone to fractures, this could mean shorter recovery times and stronger outcomes after surgery.

How Does NMN Work At The Cellular Level?

It helps by reducing oxidative stress, restoring mitochondrial function, and maintaining stem cell “youthfulness.”

Key mechanisms include:

• NAD+ Restoration: NMN replenishes NAD+, supporting DNA repair and energy production.
  

• Mitochondrial Health: It improves mitochondrial function, reducing excess reactive oxygen species (ROS) that damage bone cells.
  

• Reduced Senescence: It decreases senescent cells, which otherwise accumulate with age and impair bone strength.

Think of NMN as restoring the “battery life” of bone cells, helping them function like younger, healthier versions of themselves.

Is NMN Safe for Bone Health?

No bone studies have directly tested the effect of NMN in humans. However, NMN appears safe in animal studies, even at high doses. 

In non-bone-related human trials, NMN was found safe even at extremely high doses of about 2000 mg/day. 

So far, short-term studies suggest NMN is well tolerated. However, its long-term safety for bone health and osteoporosis treatment remains under investigation.

In the meantime, NMN should be viewed as a promising, yet experimental. Therefore, it is not a substitute for standard medical treatments.

Final Thoughts: Is NMN Good For Bones?

The current body of evidence strongly suggests that NMN supports bone health by reducing cell aging, maintaining stem cell vitality, and accelerating fracture healing. 

For aging adults worried about osteoporosis or fractures, this is exciting news. However, future human studies are still needed to fully understand NMN's function in bone health.

If you are serious about protecting your bones as you age, consider exploring high-quality supplements that meet clinical purity standards.

Shop HealthspanX Ultra Pure NMN™

References

• Deng, H., Ding, D., Ma, Y., Zhang, H., Wang, N., Zhang, C., & Yang, G. (2024). Nicotinamide Mononucleotide: Research Process in Cardiovascular Diseases. International journal of molecular sciences, 25(17), 9526. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25179526 

• Huang, Y., Dou, Y., Yang, B., He, B., Zhang, X., Zhang, K., & Yang, X. (2023). Nicotinamide mononucleotide supplementation mitigates osteopenia induced by modeled microgravity in rats. Cell stress & chaperones, 28(4), 385–394. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12192-023-01356-7 

• Lu, Z., Jiang, L., Lesani, P., Zhang, W., Li, N., Luo, D., Li, Y., Ye, Y., Bian, J., Wang, G., Dunstan, C. R., Jiang, X., & Zreiqat, H. (2023). Nicotinamide Mononucleotide Alleviates Osteoblast Senescence Induction and Promotes Bone Healing in Osteoporotic Mice. The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences, 78(2), 186–194. https://doi.org/10.1093/gerona/glac175 

• Shi, Y., Peng, J., Liu, M., Qi, X., Li, S., Li, Q., Jiang, Q., Zheng, L., Xu, J., Zhao, Y., & Zhang, Y. (2024). Nicotinamide mononucleotide enhances fracture healing by promoting skeletal stem cell proliferation. Theranostics, 14(15), 5999–6015. https://doi.org/10.7150/thno.98149 

• Pencina, K. M., Valderrabano, R., Wipper, B., Orkaby, A. R., Reid, K. F., Storer, T., Lin, A. P., Merugumala, S., Wilson, L., Latham, N., Ghattas-Puylara, C., Ozimek, N. E., Cheng, M., Bhargava, A., Memish-Beleva, Y., Lawney, B., Lavu, S., Swain, P. M., Apte, R. S., Sinclair, D. A., … Bhasin, S. (2023). Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide Augmentation in Overweight or Obese Middle-Aged and Older Adults: A Physiologic Study. The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism, 108(8), 1968–1980. https://doi.org/10.1210/clinem/dgad027