Can NMN Cause Cancer? Exploring NMN In Cancer Research

Research findings on NMN and cancer are mixed. Evidence suggests there are both potential benefits and risks of NMN in cancer contexts. There’s results that argue for both the protective effect and the adverse effect of NMN for cancer patients.

The overall impact appears to depend on factors such as cancer type, dosage, a person’s general health, and the risk of cancer associated with NMN supplementation.

Could a supplement designed to support healthy aging also play a role in stopping — or fueling — cancer? It is important to consider how NMN may affect human health as a whole, not just its relationship to cancer. Let’s take a deep dive into recent studies that have investigated NMN against cancer.

What Is NMN?

NMN (β-nicotinamide mononucleotide) is a molecule your body uses to make NAD+. NAD+ is a compound essential for regulating mitochondrial function, repairing DNA, and keeping cells alive. NMN supports these processes at the cellular level by influencing cell function, helping maintain DNA integrity, energy production, and overall cellular health.

In healthy cells, this is good news — NAD+ helps prevent mutations that might turn into cancer. NAD+ is also involved in glucose metabolism, a critical process for energy production in both healthy and cancerous cells. But here’s the catch: cancer cells also love NAD+. They use it to fuel their rapid growth, much like weeds soaking up water meant for your garden.

That’s why NMN’s role in cancer is so controversial — it could be a protector or an enabler. This controversy stems from the complex molecular mechanisms by which NAD+ influences both normal and cancer cell biology.

The Role of NAD Precursors in Cancer

NAD precursors like Nicotinamide Mononucleotide (NMN) have become a hot topic in cancer research, thanks to their central role in cellular energy metabolism, DNA repair, and cell growth. As a key building block for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+), NMN supplementation can boost NAD+ levels in the body—a process that’s essential for keeping our normal cells running smoothly.

But when it comes to cancer, the story gets complicated. Cancer cells rely heavily on metabolic pathways powered by NAD+ to fuel their rapid growth and survival. This means that while NMN supplementation can support healthy cells by enhancing DNA repair and energy production, it can also provide cancer cells with the resources they need to thrive. In some cancer models, increased NAD+ has been linked to accelerated tumor growth and greater cancer cell activity, raising concerns about the potential for NMN to promote cancer under certain conditions.

The effects of NMN on cancer risk and tumor growth likely depend on a complex mix of factors, including the type of cancer, the stage of disease, and the overall health of the individual. While NMN supplements are widely recognized for their health benefits—such as improving energy production, regulating oxidative stress, and supporting healthy aging—their use in cancer patients remains controversial. Some researchers believe NMN could be beneficial for certain cancer patients, while others caution that it might accelerate cancer growth in vulnerable individuals.

Can NMN Inhibit Cancer Growth?

Some lab and animal studies show high-dose NMN can slow certain cancers, such as lung adenocarcinoma, by triggering ferroptosis. It’s a special kind of cell death driven by iron damage.

Figure taken from Zhang et al., 2023.

In a 2023 study, researchers gave lung cancer cells and nude mice very high doses (100 mM) of NMN via intraperitoneal injection. In mice, this reduced tumor size and increased markers of ferroptosis. Tumor volume was measured to assess the impact of NMN treatment.

Here’s what happened:

1. NMN was converted into nicotinamide (NAM) — think of this as breaking a $100 bill into smaller $20 bills.

2. Once formed, the NAM triggered a pathway called SIRT1–AMPK–ACC — picture a chain of command in a factory.

3. In this chain, SIRT1 is like the supervisor telling everyone to switch to emergency shutdown mode.

4. Then we have the plant manager, MPK who slows down energy-hungry processes.

5. Lastly the tech rolls in: ACC. It cuts off fat production, starving the cancer cells.

6. Together, this dream team induces ferroptosis — an iron-dependent cell death.

NMN also influences proteins involved in the cell cycle, which can affect cancer cell proliferation.

If cancer cells are like cars that need oil to run, ferroptosis is like pouring rust into the engine. The iron damages the cell’s “lipid walls” so badly that the whole engine seizes up.

But these effects were at doses much higher than what people normally take, so it’s unclear whether this would happen in humans at supplement levels. These findings are based on NMN treatment in animal models and may not directly translate to humans.

Can NMN Prevent Cancer?

No. Other studies show NMN does not slow tumor growth or prevent cancer in certain models.

NMN Fails To Control Lung Adenocarcinoma Growth In Lung Cancer

In a 2020 Materials Chemistry Frontiers study, scientists gave β-NMN to mice with lung cancer tumors. Results showed:

• Tumors grew at the same speed in NMN and control groups.

• There was no significant difference in tumor volume or proliferation markers between the NMN and control groups.

• There was no difference in the size of tumors found in the NMN group, compared to mice who didn’t get NMN.

• Additionally, cell proliferation markers like Ki-67 (a protein that shows how fast cells are dividing) were unchanged.

• Inflammatory markers — including IL-6 and TNF-α — stayed the same.

However, they did have an unexpected finding: NMN-treated mice lost significant weight, even though tumor size didn’t change.

This shows NMN’s effects can vary based on context — cancer type, dose, and timing may matter more than NMN alone.

Does NMN Protect Against Skin Cancer?

NMN does not protect against skin cancer - at least in mice. In a 2025 mouse study, oral NMN increased NAD+ levels in skin and other tissues but did not protect against skin cancer caused by ultraviolet radiation (UVR).

Researchers tested whether giving mice NMN — or another supplement called Polypodium leucotomos — could prevent UVR-induced skin cancer. UVR is the same type of light from the sun that can damage DNA and cause skin aging. UV exposure leads to dna damage, which can trigger mutations and cancer development.

Here’s what they found:

• In the study, mice fed NMN had higher NAD+ levels in their skin and other tissues.

• However, these elevated levels did not reduce the number of skin tumors, delay their appearance, or shrink their size compared to mice that didn’t get NMN.

Even though NAD+ is like a “power supply” for DNA repair crews in healthy cells, it still couldn’t stop UV damage from turning into cancer in this experiment.

In plain terms: giving NMN was like fully charging the repair team’s batteries, but the constant UV “attacks” still overwhelmed them. The skin cancer still developed at the same rate.

Does NMN Increase Cancer Risk?

A recent mouse study found that continuous NMN supplementation increased tumor number, mutation burden, and cancer cell activity in a UV-induced skin cancer model, suggesting it could promote cancer progression in pre-disposed conditions. Notably, NMN may enhance the proliferation of cancerous cells, raising concerns about its impact on both cell types.

This research focused on cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) — a common type of skin cancer caused largely by chronic sun (UV) exposure.

Scientists gave SKH-1 mice NMN in their drinking water at 300 mg/kg/day while exposing them to UV light five times a week for several months. And they found that NMN lead to the following changes:

• In the UV-exposed group, mice given NMN developed more skin tumors than those without NMN.

• These NMN-fed mice also had higher Ki67 levels — a protein marker of cell growth — and a greater number of DNA mutations.

• Testing revealed increases in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (cells becoming more mobile and invasive) along with enhanced angiogenesis (building new blood vessels to feed tumors).

In this model, giving NMN to animals already under strong cancer-causing stress (UV exposure) was like adding fertilizer to weeds. The tumors not only appeared in greater numbers but also showed signs of becoming more aggressive. NMN may influence tumor cells through changes in multiple pathways, which can drive tumor progression and invasiveness.

This suggests that in people with existing cancer risk factors, NMN could potentially speed cancer development, though human studies are still needed. Similar concerns have been raised in studies of liver cancer and liver and pancreatic cancer, where NAD+ metabolism may impact cancer cell growth and tumor behavior.

Should Cancer Patients Take NMN?

No, cancer patients should avoid NMN! There is no universal medical guideline for NMN in cancer. Decisions should be made with an oncologist, weighing possible benefits like energy support against theoretical tumor-support risks.

Currently, there aren't any human studies that directly test NMN's role in influencing cancer risk. And research suggests effects depend on cancer type, stage, and NAD+ metabolism. NMN's effects may also vary depending on the type of cancer therapies being used.

NAD+ is like electricity in a building — it powers lights for the residents (healthy cells) but also powers illegal operations (cancer cells). Whether NMN is “good” or “bad” may depend on who’s using the electricity.

• Talking about healthy healthy cells, NMN can improve DNA repair and lower mutation rates.

• For aggressive cancers, extra NAD+ could theoretically help tumors keep dividing.

That’s why researchers stress context — NMN could be preventive in one setting and risky in another. Ongoing research may explore NMN as part of cancer immunotherapies and other therapeutic strategies for cancer prevention and treatment.

Is NMN Safe Long-Term Regarding Cancer?

Long-term safety is unknown. Most NMN human studies last weeks to months and focus on metabolic health, not cancer incidence.

Recent clinical trials (short-term) show that NMN has is well-tolerated even at high doses. Some evidence suggests NMN may help reduce oxidative stress and support prevention of aging related diseases. NMN may also seems to support the function of the immune system, which is important for fighting cancer.

But the long-term impact on cancer risk remains unclear. Without multi-year follow-ups, scientists can’t say whether NMN changes lifetime cancer risk — especially in high-risk populations.

Final Thoughts: Can NMN Cause Cancer? NMN And Cancer Growth

The connection between NMN and cancer is complicated. Some studies show NMN can slow cancer growth while others point towards NMN's role in supporting the growth of tumor cells.

Some preclinical studies have shown that NMN could also play a role in cancer prevention and therapy. For example, NMN supplementation has been found to inhibit tumor growth and suppress lung adenocarcinoma growth in specific experimental settings.

Human data is still limited because there are currently no clinical trials investigating potential links between NMN and cancer. And context is everything — dose, cancer type, and stage may change the outcome entirely.

Ultimately, the relationship between NMN and cancer is still being unraveled. The therapeutic potential of NAD precursors like NMN is promising, but more research is needed to fully understand how they affect cancer cells and to determine the safest and most effective ways to use NMN supplementation for cancer prevention and treatment. For now, anyone considering NMN supplements—especially those with a history of cancer or at high risk—should consult with their healthcare provider and stay tuned as new scientific evidence emerges.

When considering an NMN supplement, it's important to choose a high-quality product and understand its role as a NAD precursor, which can impact cellular health and aging. If you want to support your NAD+ levels with ultra-pure NMN, explore HealthspanX Ultra Pure NMN™ today.

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 

• Zhang, M., Cui, J., Chen, H., Wang, Y., Kuai, X., Sun, S., Tang, Q., Zong, F., Chen, Q., Wu, J., & Wu, S. (2023). High-Dosage NMN Promotes Ferroptosis to Suppress Lung Adenocarcinoma Growth through the NAM-Mediated SIRT1-AMPK-ACC Pathway. Cancers, 15(9), 2427. https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers15092427

• Zhang, M., Cui, J., Chen, H., Wang, Y., Kuai, X., Sun, S., Tang, Q., Zong, F., Chen, Q., Wu, J., & Wu, S. (2023). High-Dosage NMN Promotes Ferroptosis to Suppress Lung Adenocarcinoma Growth through the NAM-Mediated SIRT1-AMPK-ACC Pathway. Cancers, 15(9), 2427. https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers15092427

• Pan F, Kang S, Zhao Y, Dai L, Shao Q, Yang Y, Chen Q, Zhu J, Cui L. Effect of β-nicotinamide mononucleotide on tumor formation and growth in a lung cancer mouse model. Mater Chem Front. The Royal Society of Chemistry; 2021; 5: 995–1002.

• Pihl, C., Kara, R. D., Granborg, J. R., Olesen, U. H., Bjerring, P., Haedersdal, M., Untracht, G. R., & Lerche, C. M. (2025). Oral nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) increases tissue NAD+ content in mice but neither NMN nor Polypodium leucotomos protect against UVR-induced skin cancer. Photochemical & photobiological sciences : Official journal of the European Photochemistry Association and the European Society for Photobiology, 24(6), 1069–1078. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43630-025-00736-5

• Niti Kumari, Brian J. North; Abstract 4168: NMN supplementation enhances proliferation and aggressiveness in UV-induced skin cancer. Cancer Res 15 April 2025; 85 (8_Supplement_1): 4168. https://doi.org/10.1158/1538-7445.AM2025-4168

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