The World Health Organization (WHO) recently added the term “old age” to its 2022 update of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-11. Although the phrase was fronted primarily as a replacement for “senility,” which had garnered negative connotations over time, it has rekindled the timeless debate of aging.
Indeed, aging has fascinated humanity for years. The longing for youthful skin has been a driving force behind the supplements industry, as many people strive to delay or even reverse the natural aging process.
NMN is widely touted as a potential anti-aging supplement. Proponents believe this substance can reverse aging far more effectively than many popular anti-aging products.
Well, these claims are mostly valid. But to understand NMN’s rejuvenating properties, it’s best to begin by exploring how it interacts with the body.
In this article, we look at how NMN boosts NAD+ levels, reversing the natural aging process.
What Is NMN?
Nicotinamide mononucleotide, commonly abbreviated as NMN, is a nucleotide derived from ribose, niacin, nicotinamide, and nicotinamide riboside.
Many wellness experts recommend taking an NMN supplement as one of the most effective interventions against premature aging. These products have gained considerable popularity due to their high efficacy and lower risks of adverse effects.
However, that doesn’t discount the importance of purchasing your NMN supplements from reputable suppliers. Buying NMN from a credible vendor is the only way to ensure the product delivers on its claims.
Reading a product’s ingredients carefully is also prudent to ensure it’s toxins-free. And needless to say, remember to follow the recommended dosage guidelines.
Not only does consuming excess NMN render the supplements ineffective. It can also leave you nursing a host of adverse effects.
How Does NMN Exert Its Anti-aging Effects?
The best way to understand NMN’s potential anti-aging benefits is to establish its relationship with NAD+.
Studies have shown that several enzymes convert NMN to nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) in the human body. Further research on mice specimens suggests that NMN enters the bloodstream via the small intestines within ten minutes of oral uptake. The compound is then converted to nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) through the SLC12A8 transporter.
NAD+ is involved in numerous cellular processes that may produce anti-aging benefits. That includes its role in supercharging mitochondrial functions. NAD+ is such an effective anti-aging compound that many scientists describe the inevitable aging process as a “cascade of robustness breakdown triggered by a decrease in systemic NAD+ biosynthesis.”
How Does NMN Boost NAD+ Levels?
We’ve just pointed out that the body converts NMN into NAD via the SLC12A8 transporter. However, the process is a bit more complicated than that. And to fully grasp it, we’ll need to establish a direct relationship between NNM and NAD.
Relationship Between NMN and NAD+
NADH is a cofactor for various physiological processes inside the mitochondria for poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) and sirtuins. From this relationship, scientists could infer that NMN may possess anti-aging effects.
Multiple studies in animal specimens have shown that NMN may have both anti-aging and neuroprotective benefits. The latter is of particular interest, as the degeneration of neurons is a leading cause of age-related mental conditions, such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.
Another thing that makes NMN so effective is that it reverses aging at the cellular level by counteracting mitochondrial decay by ramping up NAD+ levels in the bloodstream. The natural aging process begins in the cells before spreading to the tissues, organs, and the rest of the body.
Also, as previously pointed out, NMN supplements present lower risks of adverse effects than many popular anti-aging products.
Additional Studies on NMN and NAD+
There are multiple ways to increase NAD+ levels in the bloodstream. These include activating the enzymes that stimulate NAD+ synthesis, blocking the enzymes that degrade NAD+, and supplementing with NAD precursors like NR and NMN.
NR (short for nicotinamide riboside) is closely related to NMN in its molecular structures and physiological effects.
When consumed as supplements, NMN is converted to NR. NR enters the cells and then converts to NMN through a nicotinamide riboside kinase (NRK) enzyme.
Both NMN and NR possess practical anti-aging benefits. However, studies appear to heap more accolades on NMN regarding its ability to boost NAD+ levels. That’s perfectly understandable, considering that NMN exists further down the NAD+ production pathway. Besides, the molecular structure of NAD+ is also more similar to that of NMN than NR.
When NMN reaches the nicotinamide core recycling pathway, a nicotinamide-nucleotide adenylyltransferase (NMNAT) quickly converts it to NAD+. From there, the protein sirtuins utilize NAD+ to maintain cellular health. These proteins also convert NAD+ to nicotinamide (NAM). NAM then converts to NMN through the enzyme nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT), creating a virtuous cycle.
However, as the cycle continues, the amount of NMN in the bloodstream gets depleted. That’s where it’s necessary to supplement with artificial NMN products.
Foods high in vitamin B3 are incredibly high in NMN. Such should be your first port of call before considering NMN supplement pills.
Summary
NMN predominantly exerts its anti-aging benefits by converting to NAD+ at the cellular level. But since this compound gets depleted over time, it’s necessary to invest in NMN supplements from time to time to maintain youthful skin.
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