The trial compared the effects of daily NMN supplementation at 300mg, 600mg, 900mg against that of the placebo.
It was found that blood NAD+ concentration had significantly increased in all groups that took NMN. However, NAD+ level was the highest in those who took either 600mg or 900mg of NMN.
Similarly, physical performance was also significantly improved among those who took NMN as seen in the amount of walking distance.
However, considering all the improvements, the researchers pointed out that a daily dose of NMN at 600mg was optimal in increasing blood NAD+ concentration and physical performance.
Writing in GeroScience, the trial was conducted by researchers from the National University of Singapore’s Healthy Longevity Translational Research Program, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam’s Department of Human Movement Sciences, and sponsors of the trial, namely Abinopharm and ABA Chemicals.
“NMN supplementation had a positive impact on the physical endurance and general health conditions of healthy adults as demonstrated in the significant improvement of six-minute walking test…
“The 900 mg/day oral dose did not give significantly better efficacy than 600 mg/day dose
“Clinical efficacy expressed by blood NAD concentration and physical performance reaches highest at a dose of 600 mg daily oral intake,” the researchers said about the findings.
A natural component, NMN exists in small quantity in most vegetables, such as edamame, broccoli, and cucumber.
It has been linked to its ability to boost blood concentration of NAD+, which declines with age and in turn affects longevity and health.
Study design
The randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, and dose-dependent trial took place in two sites in India – namely Lotus Healthcare and Aesthetics Clinic and Sunad Ayurved.
Eighty healthy adults aged 40 to 65 were randomised to take either the placebo, NMN at 300mg, 600mg, or 900mg per day for 60 days.
The intervention product was a food-grade NMN powder trademarked AbinoNutraTMNMN, which is developed and manufactured by Shanghai-based ABA Chemicals together with Connecticut-based Abinopharm.
The powder was then packed into capsules containing 150mg of NMN each by Nanjing firm Polifarma.
Aside from blood NAD+ concentration, the researchers also assessed the safety, tolerability of NMN supplementation, as well as its clinical efficacy on physical performance, blood biological age and general health assessment.
NAD+ concentration
Measuring blood NAD+ concentration is the primary objective of the trial, and it was found that the highest increase was seen in the groups taking 600mg and 900mg of NMN.
For example, in the group taking 600mg of NMN, blood NAD+ concentration was up from 7.95 ± 3.29nM at baseline to 39.0 ± 12.6nM at day 30 and 45.3 ± 11.8nM by the end of the 60-day trial.
For those taking 900mg of NMN, blood NAD+ concentration was up from 10.5 ± 6.8nM at baseline to 43.1 ± 14.3nM at day 30 and to 48.5 ± 19.8nM at day 60.
The group taking 300mg of NMN also reported an increase in NAD+, albeit at a lower volume. Blood NAD+ concentration increased from 11. 8 ± 11.7nM at baseline to 29.8 ± 20.1nM at day 30 and 32.6 ± 17.9nM at day 60.
No significant changes were seen in the placebo group, with blood NAD+ concentration measured at 8.11 ± 5.16nM at baseline to 9.83 ± 8.43nM at day 30 and to 11.8 ± 9.4nM at day 60.
“Compared to the 300 mg NMN group, the 600 mg NMN group had statistically significantly higher NAD concentrations at both 30-day and 60-day (p < 0.05 and 0.01 respectively).
“No statistical difference was found between the 600 mg and 900 mg group,” the researchers pointed out.
Taking into consideration the findings of previous studies, the researchers concluded that oral supplementation of NMN can be absorbed by the human digestive system quickly.
“The results…overall confirmed that orally administered NMN can be absorbed by the human digestive system into systemic circulation and quickly converted into NAD in human blood.
“The particle size and crystalline forms of NMN investigational product, the ways of blood sample collection, and the analytical methods of blood samples affect the results of final blood NAD concentrations,” the researchers said.
Physical performance
The effects of NMN supplementation on physical performance were assessed by measuring the subjects’ walking distance within six minutes.
The longest walking distances were measured seen in the 600mg and 900mg groups.
In the 600mg group, walking distance increased from 290 ± 92m at baseline to 400 ± 86m at day 30 to 435 ± 104m at day 60.
Whereas in the 900mg group, walking distance was up from 323 ± 113m at baseline to 425 ± 141m at day 30 and subsequently to 480 ± 128m at day 60.
The improvement in walking distance among subjects who took NMN was said to be a finding consistent with earlier trials.
So far, they are studies showing that NMN supplementation can increase skeletal muscle metabolization function, muscle strength, muscle utilisation of oxygen, and lower limb function, the researchers quoted.
Safety
NMN supplementation with dosing up to 900mg daily was found to be well tolerated, said the researchers.
Although there were nine cases of adverse events reported, it was found that most of them (six cases) were reported in the placebo group. Another three were reported in the group taking 300mg of NMN.
No cases were observed in the 600mg and 900mg NMN treated groups.
Source: GeroScience
The efficacy and safety of β-nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) supplementation in healthy middle-aged adults: a randomized, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, dose-dependent clinical trial
DOI: 10.1007/s11357-022-00705-1
Authors: Yi L, Maier AB, Tao R, Lin Z, Vaidya A, Pendse S, Thasma S, Andhalkar N, Avhad G, Kumbhar V.
