Long-term Safety Evaluation of NMN Supplement, Restorin, in Rats, Reveals Minimal Negative Impact
Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+), a vital molecule in cellular processes, experiences a gradual decline in our bodies as we age. This decrease is often linked to age-related illnesses. Our bodies primarily produce NAD+ through its precursor, Nicotinamide Mononucleotide (NMN). NMN plays a significant role in boosting NAD+ levels and, consequently, alleviating age-related diseases in animals. Yet, concrete evidence showing NMN's safety has been scanty.
Researchers affiliated with Nucro-Technics, an independent pharmaceutical diagnostics contractor, conducted a thorough safety assessment of Restorin, a high-quality synthetic variant of NMN. The study results published in the Frontiers of Pharmacology journal indicate that Restorin when administered in appropriate doses, displays minimal adverse effects in rats.
Assessing the Tolerance to Restorin in Rats
To ascertain Restorin's safety, the research team, led by Turner et al., administered varying doses of Restorin orally to male and female rats over two weeks. The uppermost dose administered was 5,000 mg/kg, which led to reduced body weight and food intake in rats. However, doses of 500 mg/kg for males and 1000 mg/kg for females were well received, with minimal adverse effects.
Upon discovering potential side effects at 3,000 mg/kg and 5,000 mg/kg of Restorin, the researchers narrowed their focus to doses of 500 mg/kg, 1,000 mg/kg, and 2,000 mg/kg, given daily over a span of ninety-one days. They compared the effects of Restorin NMN with another NAD+ precursor, Nicotinamide Riboside Chloride (NRC).
Effects of Long-term Administration of Restorin
The study found that all administered doses of NMN led to a decrease in body weight, with the reduction being more pronounced at higher doses. However, these changes, including other effects such as skin lesions, did not seem directly related to the Restorin administration. Also, some changes observed, like those in male rat kidneys, were species-specific and are not expected in human bodies.
What Does This Mean for Human Consumption?
While there have been no clinical trials to evaluate Restorin's safety in humans, a few trials have tested the safety of other NMN supplements. For instance, a study showed the safe oral administration of 100, 250, and 500 mg of NMN in healthy men. Another trial found no apparent adverse symptoms when healthy amateur runners were given daily doses of 300, 600, and 1,200 mg of NMN for six weeks.
Conclusion
Short-term trials indicate NMN's safety. However, to conclusively determine NMN's safety profile, long-term clinical trials must be undertaken. Nevertheless, the results from the rat study offer promising insights into the potential safety and tolerability of Restorin, and by extension, NMN supplements, for humans.
Study Information
- Model: Sprague Dawley rats
- Dosage (oral): 500 mg/kg for males and 1000 mg/kg for females