Revitalizing Muscle Function through NMN Supplementation: A 12-week Journey
Research on nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), a precursor to NAD+, suggests that declining NAD+ levels with age are linked to health issues like cardiovascular diseases and weakened muscle function.
NMN supplementation in animals has shown positive effects. A 2022 study from the University of Tokyo by Yamauchi and his team in NPJ Aging found that daily 250 mg NMN intake in men aged 65 and above increased NAD+ levels, improving muscle function. While cognitive functions remained unchanged, auditory abilities slightly improved. The results support NMN's potential benefits for humans.
NMN Supplementation for 12 weeks: Safety Confirmed
Before the effectiveness of NMN in improving muscle function could be tested, the researchers examined the safety of its intake. They analyzed routine blood chemistry measurements indicative of toxicity, such as liver enzymes and kidney function markers, after 12 weeks of daily NMN use. The study observed no significant changes in the group that used NMN, confirming that NMN supplementation is safe for regular use.
NMN Supplementation and its Impact on NAD+ Levels
Previous studies have shown a positive correlation between NMN supplementation and increased blood NAD+ levels in aged rodents. Building upon these findings, the team led by Yamauchi evaluated the effect of NMN supplementation on NAD+ levels in elderly men. The results showed a considerable increase in blood NAD+ levels after 12 weeks of NMN supplementation.
Yamauchi and his team observed, “Our study is the first to report that NMN supplementation has a significant impact on increasing NAD+ and its metabolites in the blood.”
The study also indicated that NMN supplementation could enhance NAD+ metabolism by facilitating NMN's conversion to NAD+ and the transformation of other NMN metabolites to NAD+ via an alternative NAD+ synthesis pathway. This raises the possibility of NMN boosting NAD+ production through multiple biosynthesis pathways.
NMN Supplementation and its Effect on Muscle Performance in the Elderly
To understand if an NMN-induced increase in NAD+ levels could translate into improved physical function, the researchers evaluated muscle strength and performance. NMN supplementation showed significant improvement in walking speed, grip strength, and the number of stand-ups from a chair in 30 seconds, proving that oral NMN supplementation for 12 weeks can indeed enhance muscle performance in older men.
“Oral supplementation of 250 mg NMN daily proved to be safe and well-tolerated. Additionally, our preliminary analysis suggests that NMN supplementation can improve muscle strength, a crucial clinical measure of aging,” noted Yamauchi and his team.
The Underlying Mechanism of NMN's Impact on Muscle Function
While the findings hint at the potential of long-term NMN supplementation in promoting overall muscle health, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Further, the study was conducted on a small sample of healthy older men. To validate the core conclusion that NMN can enhance NAD+ levels and improve muscle strength and performance, larger-scale studies that include women are required.
Despite these limitations, the study represents a significant stride towards recognizing NMN as a scientifically validated anti-aging agent. The study also adds to the growing evidence that the anti-aging effects of NMN observed in animal studies may extend to humans.
Conclusion
This study provides promising evidence supporting the beneficial effects of NMN supplementation in improving muscle function and overall health in older men. However, more extensive and diverse studies are needed to further substantiate these findings and to determine the optimal dosage for the maximum benefits. Nevertheless, this research lays a solid foundation for the potential use of NMN supplementation as a strategy to counteract age-related muscle decline and promote healthy aging.