NMN and NAD+

Research on the biology of NAD+ has been gaining momentum, providing many critical insights into the pathogenesis of age-associated functional decline and diseases.

Two intermediates of NAD+ biosynthesis, nicotinamide riboside (NR) and nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), effectively increase NAD+ concentration in a variety of tissues, in many cases with beneficial or therapeutic effects.

These two NAD+ intermediates have long been known and are found in a wide variety of our daily foods, such as vegetables, fruits, and meat.

There has been an increasing interest in using NAD+ intermediates as effective interventions to improve or even prevent certain aspects of age-associated functional decline.

Recent studies have suggested that NMN improves numerous neuronal functions in the brain. NMN administration improves cognition and memory in mouse and rat models of Alzheimer's disease.

In the vast majority of cases in which NMN and NR are effective, it still remains unclear what downstream mechanisms mediate their beneficial effects.

There might be a risk that boosting NAD+ could drive tumor growth.

Further preclinical and clinical studies are needed to establish the long-term safety of NMN and NR as human therapeutics.

Yoshino, J., & Baur, A.B. (2018). NAD+ Intermediates: The Biology and Therapeutic Potential of NMN and NR. Cell Metabolism, 27(3), 513-528. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550413117306708