I read all [18] NMN Human Studies – 4 Key Findings

Summary

This script delves into the efficacy of NMN supplements, exploring their potential to improve muscle performance, energy levels, and metabolic health. The excitement around NMN was sparked by a 2016 study on mice, but human studies have been limited and mixed. While short-term safety is established, long-term effects are uncertain. The script reviews 18 human studies, revealing that most measures show no significant benefits beyond a placebo. It raises concerns about high doses of NMN, suggesting that a healthy diet and regular exercise might be more effective in maintaining NAD levels and overall health.

Takeaways

• 🧬 The initial excitement around NMN supplements was due to a 2016 study suggesting they slowed down age-associated decline in mice, not for lifespan extension.
• 🔍 The first human NMN study was published in 2020, a year after the excitement began, indicating early adoption despite limited research.
• 🐁 Mouse studies on a similar molecule, NR, showed no lifespan extension, which tempers expectations for NMN's impact on lifespan.
• 🚫 No human study has shown NMN supplements to be more effective than a placebo in improving muscle performance or other health measures.
• 💊 The placebo effect can significantly influence perceived benefits of supplements, highlighting the importance of randomized clinical trials.
• 🔑 Short-term safety studies on NMN show no significant concerns, but long-term safety is still uncertain.
• 🩺 Blood NAD levels were increased by NMN supplements in all studies measuring it, but muscle NAD levels did not change, questioning the supplements' impact on muscle performance.
• 💪 Most measures of fitness and muscle performance showed no improvement beyond a placebo effect from NMN supplementation.
• 🏋️‍♂️ Exercise appears to be a natural way to maintain muscle NAD levels, suggesting it might be more beneficial than supplementation.
• 📉 Metabolic health markers, such as body composition and insulin sensitivity, mostly showed no effect from NMN supplementation.
• ⚠️ High doses of vitamin B3, similar to the doses recommended by many NMN supplement companies, have been linked to increased mortality rates.
• 🏠 The author recommends focusing on a healthy diet and regular exercise rather than supplementation and suggests not exceeding 50 mg of vitamin B3.

Q & A

What sparked the initial excitement for NMN supplements?

The initial excitement for NMN supplements was sparked by a 12-month long study of inbred mice in 2016, which suggested that NMN supplements effectively slowed down the age-associated decline in mice, leading to improved muscle performance and movement.

Why did people start taking NMN supplements before any human studies were published?

Despite the lack of human research, many people started taking NMN supplements based on the exciting results from the mice studies, which suggested potential benefits such as improved energy levels, muscle performance, and resiliency against disease.

What is the significance of the Interventions Testing Program in mice research?

The Interventions Testing Program is significant because it uses genetically diverse mice, making the results more applicable to humans. It also ensures that the same experiments are run at three separate labs simultaneously, verifying the reproducibility of the results.

What was the outcome of the study on genetically altered mice with accelerated aging?

The 2024 study on genetically altered mice with accelerated aging showed a lifespan extension effect, indicating that NMN might have potential benefits in slowing down aging.

Why are randomized clinical trials important in evaluating the effectiveness of supplements?

Randomized clinical trials are important to determine if there is a true benefit from treatment or if the perceived improvements are merely a placebo effect, which can be quite powerful and misleading.

What was the first takeaway from the human studies on NMN supplements?

The first takeaway from the human studies is that NMN supplements appear to be safe over the short term, with no significant safety concerns reported in any of the studies.

What is the role of NAD in the context of NMN supplementation?

NAD is central to our metabolism, and the idea behind supplementing with NMN is to support and increase NAD levels in the body, which is believed to have various health benefits.

Why did the study of muscle biopsies show a disappointing finding regarding NMN supplements?

The study of muscle biopsies showed a disappointing finding because despite taking NMN supplements, the muscle NAD content did not change, which raises questions about the expected improvement in muscle performance.

What does the human research suggest about the impact of NMN supplements on muscle performance?

The human research suggests that there is only a possible improvement in muscle performance from NMN supplements, but it is unlikely based on the current studies, as most measures showed no improvement beyond a placebo.

What are the concerns regarding the long-term safety of NMN supplements?

There are concerns that long-term use of NMN supplements, particularly in high doses, may have negative health effects. A study suggests that high doses of vitamin B3 (including NMN) may increase death rates due to cardiovascular disease, and another study indicates that excessive vitamin B3 metabolites may worsen blood vessel inflammation.

What is the fourth takeaway regarding NMN supplements based on the video script?

The fourth takeaway is that while NMN supplements appear to be safe in the short term, there are safety concerns over the long term, and until long-term research is conducted, it is advised not to supplement with vitamin B3 in any form beyond 50 mg.