Nicotinamide Mononucleotide (NMN): Key to Longevity?
The health and beauty industry has been on one mission for centuries: to reduce physical signs of aging and all age-related complications. Over time, hundreds of anti-aging products have been released, many of which have proven ineffective. However, in recent years, scientists have discovered a promising molecule that may help eliminate or delay age-related disorders — Nicotinamide Mononucleotide (NMN).
As NMN continues to show great potential in helping the industry achieve its goal of shrinking the likelihood of age-related chronic conditions, its demand has significantly increased in certain regions like the NMN UK market. In this article, we’ll be discussing what this potential elixir of youth is and why it has garnered so much attention in recent years.
What Is Nicotinamide Mononucleotide?
Nicotinamide Mononucleotide is a bioactive nucleotide that exists naturally in plants and the human body, and it has the potential to delay or eliminate age-related conditions and diseases. In humans, it can be found in body fluids like blood and urine or the placenta tissue. It also exists in the mitochondria, cytoplasm, and nucleus of vegetables and fruits such as cabbage, immature soybean pods, avocado, tomato, broccoli, cucumber, tomatoes, and mushrooms.
In other words, NMN can be simply described as a naturally occurring molecule that powers the body. It is also the building block of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+), a coenzyme that plays a key role in several cellular processes, including gene expression, cell death, metabolism, energy production, DNA repair, and neuroinflammation.
Some Potential Benefits of NMN
Administering NMN into the body offers several benefits. Here are some of them:
- Controls Weight Gain
Many studies have shown that NMN supplementation can suppress age-induced weight gain. It helps maintain a healthy lipid plasma profile and promotes lipid metabolism, which in turn facilitates the conversion of fat into pure energy. During this process, people struggling with weight management can experience a reduction in the accumulation of harmful visceral fat.
- Increases Energy Production
NMN also enhances energy metabolism by boosting mitochondrial function, responsible for the increase in the production of ATP (adenosine triphosphate). When the body experiences an increase in its cellular energy it becomes stronger, as it contributes to the overall stamina and vitality.
- Protects Against Aging and Cancer
The supplementation of NMN increases NAD+ levels that regulate protein-protein interactions. In the right dosage, the interaction of this protein protects the body from radiation, aging, and cancer.
The protein involved in DNA repair is also inhibited as NAD+ levels decrease with age. NMN supplementation reverses DNA damage by disrupting the DBC1-PARP1 complex, a domain interaction that occurs due to declining NAD+ levels. By administering NMN into the body, NAD+ levels are restored, allowing DNA repair processes to function more effectively. This helps maintain cellular integrity and reduce age-related damage.
- Prevents Ocular Diseases
Nicotinamide Mononucleotide as a sirtuins activating agent, has proven to protect humans against the effects of age-related ocular diseases. This includes dry eye, macular degeneration, and more commonly, glaucoma.
As a precursor of NAD+, NMN reverses blood flow reduction and capillary density that occur due to aging. By triggering sirtuin deacylases, these age-induced can be reversed to a certain extent.
- Optimizes Muscle Function
The supplementation of NMN has proven to support muscle function. When administered, it reduces oxidative stress and enhances energy utilization. In the long run, this will lead to improved muscle performance and endurance. These two functions are especially beneficial to aging individuals.
The Science Behind NMN and NAD+
The health industry’s successful intervention in curbing communicable diseases has led to a commendable increase in the life expectancy of many countries. The number of elderly people in these countries is also expected to keep increasing as advancement in technology has made the elimination and control of these diseases.
However, an increase in elderly people means an increase in age-related complications such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, cancer, osteoarthritis, atherosclerosis, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s diseases. This, in turn, places a strain on the healthy industry and economy at large.
To reduce the effects of this burden, clinical investigations were done to find a lasting solution to these age-related complications. Research showed that these age-related conditions are linked to the depletion of NAD+ in the body.
As a person gets older, their NAD+ levels decrease and the NAD+ consuming enzymes increase. Studies have shown that the depletion of NAD+ levels is caused by the increase in NAD+ consuming enzymes as people age – this leads to upregulation of oxidative stress, DNA damage, inflammatory diseases, and a reduction of energy production in mitochondria of organs like the skin, liver, pancreas, skeletal muscle, adipose tissue, and brain.
One of these NAD+ consuming enzymes is Sirtuins. These enzymes consume NAD+ carry out vital functions such as demalonylase and deglutarylase, responsible for regulating age-related physiological changes, longevity, and aging.
Consequently, further preclinical and clinical studies showed that the positive performance of Nicotinamide Mononucleotide is heavily linked to its development of Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide (NAD+) in the human body. NMN serves as an intermediate of NAD+ biosynthesis and a precursor of NAD+. The deleterious effects of NAD+ consuming enzymes can be compensated by administering NMN to the body. Taking NMN supplements has proven to reverse these complications. In the right dosage, NMN helps increase the levels of NAD+ in the body and slow down aging.
What Are the Side Effects of NMN?
There are no known side effects of NMN supplements. Research has only confirmed its potential benefits. NMN occurs naturally in the body and the supplements are taken to restore NAD+.
However, human studies are not large-scale. Side effects may occur and it’s advisable to stop taking any product once you notice. Usually, these side effects are tied to the other ingredients such as herbs, vitamins, minerals, and other substances present in the NMN product. You must read the label of these products before ingestion and contact your healthcare provider when you notice any negative reactions.
Conclusion
Results from current research findings have shown that Nicotinamide Mononucleotide has great potential for reversing and delaying age-associated complications. However, studies on the anti-aging effects in humans are very limited. A few pre-clinical and clinical studies are still being conducted to determine whether or not long-term administration of NMN is important.
Joshua White is a passionate and experienced website article writer with a keen eye for detail and a knack for crafting engaging content. With a background in journalism and digital marketing, Joshua brings a unique perspective to his writing, ensuring that each piece resonates with readers. His dedication to delivering high-quality, informative, and captivating articles has earned him a reputation for excellence in the industry. When he’s not writing, Joshua enjoys exploring new topics and staying up-to-date with the latest trends in content creation.
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