Benefits of NMN and What is it Good For?

Wouldn’t it be great to turn the body clock back a little bit? In the last few years, thanks to a growing number of supplements that focus on anti-ageing, this has become partly possible.

Recently, much attention has been paid to NMN, which stands for nicotinamide mononucleotide. Although our bodies can produce the molecule naturally, in some cases, it may be beneficial to take it as a supplement. To fully understand NMN’s effects, many ongoing studies are looking into the supplement, but already now, it seems to provide promising results.

So, what should you know about using NMN supplements? Do they really offer health benefits? Are there any side effects you should be aware of? We cover this and more in the article below.

What Is NMN (Nicotinamide Mononucleotide)?

So, what does NMN do? Simply explained, NMN is a molecule that plays a vital role in powering the human body. It is a precursor of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD), which is involved in several vital processes. Without it, our body wouldn’t have the energy to function and repair. Not to mention – it’s critical for our metabolism to work properly and helps in stemming the ageing process.

What’s important to understand is that the amount of NAD you can produce is related to how much NMN you have in your body.

NMN Supplements Benefits

Although more research needs to be conducted to fully understand NMN supplement benefits, several studies have already hinted at its positives. Here’s a quick overview.

Energy Metabolism

One of NMN’s biggest advantages is that it can stimulate the metabolic system, which consequently makes it easier for your body to turn food into energy. Some research even shows that NMN has potential effects against age-related impairment in energy metabolism and has the tendency to excite physical activity.

Improves Brain Function

NAD+ has been shown to improve several critical functions in the brain. In fact, NAD can increase the production of a protein that protects cells from oxidative stress and impairment of mitochondrial function, which is associated with neurological diseases like Alzheimer’s disease. It seems that using NMN supplementation could also help with cognition and memory.

Better Eye Function

As we get older, not only do our looks change, but our vision may suffer, too. However, a study suggests that NMN could reverse an age-associated dysfunctional cellular state and even restore vision.

Reduces Bodyweight Gain Due to Ageing

With age, it’s completely normal for our muscle mass to reduce. Unfortunately, as this happens, our fat mass grows, too, which causes age-related body weight gain. Thankfully, NMN could be a solution to this problem.

As previously mentioned, increased levels of the molecule stimulate our metabolic systems to work better. However, simply taking the supplement won’t cut it—it’s still important to follow a healthy diet and exercise regularly.

Improves Insulin Sensitivity

A study suggests that increasing NAD+ levels could help with a body’s sensitivity to insulin, a hormone responsible for transporting blood sugar into cells. However, since most studies on the topic are focused on other species, more research is needed to see how NMN could help human beings.

Benefits for Skin and Hair

While the direct link between NMN, hair loss, and better skin is still to be determined, some research shows it could offer some benefits. For example, a study on animal models suggests that NAD+ precursors could stimulate hair follicle stem cells.

Regarding NMN’s benefits for the skin, the molecule seems to enhance skin elasticity, which consequently helps maintain a youthful skin texture without wrinkles and fine lines.

NMN Benefits for Women

Taking the right supplements can help support you through the different stages of your life. From what we know now, NMN supplements have perks for both women and men. But here’s how NMN can be beneficial for specifically women.

NMN and Fertility

Perhaps the biggest benefit of taking NMN for women is improved fertility. This can be explained by looking at the oocyte – an immature egg cell that grows into a mature egg. As a woman ages, the quality of her oocytes declines. Research shows that NMN can boost fertility by increasing the number and quality of eggs in mice. These findings suggest a possible way to improve fertility in older women.

Improves Muscle Endurance

For our bones and muscles to function, they must consume glucose and fatty acids. With the help of NAD+, our body can metabolise them, which improves our muscle endurance. But without NAD+, unfortunately, the process slows down.

NMN Benefits for Men

So, what about NMN benefits for men? As it turns out, the supplement offers several perks for them too!

Reduces the Risk of Heart Diseases

Your heart operates nonstop every day of your life without any rest. It generates a vast amount of energy and requires as much NAD+ as possible. As research shows, men are twice as likely as women to have a heart attack. That’s why it’s so important to ensure NAD+ levels are always sufficient.

Boosts Testosterone Levels

Among NMN’s many advantages, early studies have hinted that it could boost testosterone levels in men. That’s because testosterone synthesis requires several enzymatic reactions, and NAD+ is necessary for some of the enzymes involved in hormone production.

Benefits of Taking NMN and Resveratrol Together

From what we’ve discussed before, you can already see that taking NMN supplements could be advantageous. But if you’d like to take your anti-ageing game to the next level, you should consider taking NMN together with resveratrol – another compound that’s grown in popularity. The benefits of NMN and resveratrol, when taken together, are:

• Increase NAD+ levels in the heart and muscle tissue
• Improve metabolic function even more
• Enhance mitochondrial function
• Provide neuroprotective benefits and guard against cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases

NMN Powder vs NMN Capsules

If you decide to test NMN for yourself, you’ll notice there are both NMN powder and NMN capsules available. Both options are equally effective, but NMN powder can be less convenient as it requires measuring the correct dosage and possibly mixing it with a liquid for consumption. For people with a busy lifestyle, this may be less practical. However, there are some benefits to NMN powder too.

NMN capsules, on the other hand, are pre-measured and can be easily included in a daily supplement routine.

Natural Sources of NMN

Besides supplements, you can increase your NAD+ and NMN levels by making sure your diet has plenty of healthy food, like:

• Cabbage
• Broccoli
• Avocado
• Tomatoes
• Mushrooms
• Cucumber
• Shrimps
• Beef
• Edamame

Is It Safe to Take NMN Supplements?

What’s great about NMN is that it’s well-tolerated among most humans. In fact, both human and animal studies have showcased minimal side effects when taken in doses of up to 1,250 mg.

Still, if you’re taking any other medication, make sure to check with your doctor to ensure NMN is safe and appropriate for you to use.

Nicotinamide Mononucleotide (NMN) FAQ

Where to buy NMN?

NMN supplements can be purchased both online and in physical stores. When shopping for the supplement, we advise you to opt for a product tested by independent third-party laboratories for their quality.

How long for NMN to start working?

Generally, when taking supplements, you shouldn’t expect to see immediate results. The same goes for NMN – it needs time to start up. Usually, you should notice the first positive effects from taking it within two to three weeks.