Benefits of NMN Supplementation: From Day 1 to 6 Months

Oral supplementation with NMN is clinically proven to boost NAD+ levels. Here’s a time course of the benefits you can expect from NMN supplementation, from supporting mitochondria to promoting healthy muscle function.

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Key Takeaways:

• Oral supplementation with NMN increases NAD+ levels by 40%

• Clinical trials are beginning to demonstrate various benefits of NMN supplementation in humans, from supporting mitochondrial health and cellular energy production to muscle function and healthy insulin sensitivity.

Related Products:

• Signal: This daily, oral supplement combines 250mg of the NAD+ precursor NMN with a SIRT3 Activation Complex to boost NAD+ levels and promote mitochondrial health for healthy aging and metabolic support.

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NMN or nicotinamide mononucleotide is a safe and efficient precursor to NAD+, the essential coenzyme and key metabolite found in every cell of the human body, and involved in over 500 different cellular reactions. Read on to explore the evidence-based benefits you can expect from NMN supplementation.

 

HOUR 1: NMN enters cells

Preclinical studies in mice on the pharmacokinetics of NMN suggest that it’s absorbed from the gut into blood circulation within minutes and transported into tissues between 10 and 30 minutes [1, 2]. That’s when the magic (or biochemistry) happens. The NMN is immediately utilized for NAD+ biosynthesis. Research suggests that fast uptake is made possible by an NMN-specific transporter called Slc12a8. A study published in Nature Metabolism identified the transporter, which is especially concentrated in the small intestine in mice [3].

 

5 HOURS: NAD+ levels begin to rise

Studies in humans show increased levels of NAD+ metabolites in blood plasma within the first few hours of NMN supplementation—and they continue to rise steadily, suggesting increased utilization of NAD+ in cells and tissues [4]. Cells are already taking advantage of increased NAD+ levels to support hundreds of critical cellular processes.

 

3 DAYS: NMN promotes mitochondrial health and cellular energy production

NAD+ levels continue to rise, now benefiting the cell’s powerhouses and the place where cellular energy is made: the mitochondria. A preclinical study demonstrated that treatment of human kidney cells in culture with NMN for three days resulted in increased mitochondrial replication [5]. 

Elysium’s NMN supplement, Signal, combines NMN with honokiol and viniferin, potent activators of SIRT3—a  mitochondrial enzyme and member of the sirtuin family—providing further support for mitochondrial health and function. Viniferin has been shown in preclinical studies to promote new mitochondrial synthesis [6].

 

30 DAYS: NMN increases NAD+ levels by 40%

A human clinical study examining NMN supplementation at a dose of 250 mg per day in healthy adults showed 40% higher NAD+ levels in the blood compared to placebo at 30 days [7]. This is the same dose found in Signal.

 

6 WEEKS: NMN and muscle benefits

A human clinical study found that oral supplementation of NMN at a dose of 250 mg per day for 6 weeks partly improved muscle strength and performance in healthy older men [8]. Another human clinical study published in Nature Aging demonstrated that NAD+ was one of the most depleted metabolites in aging muscle and that high levels of NAD+ were associated with healthy muscle function [9]. 

 

8 WEEKS: NMN and skin benefits

Advanced glycation end products, or AGEs, are markers of skin aging. A small clinical trial involving healthy postmenopausal women found that NMN supplementation for eight weeks at 300 mg of NMN per day resulted in decreased AGEs in the skin [10].

 

10 WEEKS: NMN supports healthy insulin sensitivity

There’s more happening in the muscles at 10 weeks. One clinical study of prediabetic women made two important discoveries. The first was an increase in NMN metabolites in skeletal muscle tissue, suggesting that the muscles were using more NAD+. The second finding suggested that NMN may support healthy insulin sensitivity in skeletal muscle and helps regulate the expression of genes related to muscle remodeling—the turnover of muscle proteins, organelles, and cell populations. Participants in the trial were supplemented with 250 mg of NMN per day [11].

 

3 MONTHS: NMN supports gait speed  

It's been three months, and you've logged 60 days of 40% higher NAD+ in your cells and tissues. Benefits at the cellular and tissue level are beginning to translate to functional benefits. One clinical trial found an improvement in gait speed (translation: walking speed) in healthy, elderly men who took 250 mg of NMN per day [8]. 

 

6 MONTHS AND BEYOND: Healthy aging and NAD+ go hand-in-hand

Image: NAD+ levels in skeletal muscle correlate with healthy aging. Adapted from Janssens, G.E. et al., Nat Aging 2: 254–263 (2022). 

With consistent use, the sustained, elevated levels of NAD+ at six months and beyond are supporting your overall well-being and health. NAD+ declines by as much as 50% every 20 years, according to research. It’s important to maintain your NMN supplementation: Research shows that four weeks after discontinuation of NMN, NAD+ levels returned to pre-supplementation levels [7]. Just like with exercise, sleep, and diet—consistency is key for long-term results. Human studies are beginning to show that healthy aging and NAD+ abundance go hand-in-hand [9]. 

 

Related Reading:

• What is NMN?
• How to Choose an NMN Supplement
• NMN and NR: How These NAD+ Precursors Measure Up
• What is NAD+ and Why Is it Important?

 

Disclaimer

Individual results may vary. The dose of NMN in some of the cited studies is higher than the recommended dose in Signal. This timeline may be different from the typical purchaser’s experience and is not intended to represent or guarantee that anyone will receive the same or similar results.

Go Deeper → Read the Studies

[1] Yoshino, J., et al., Cell Metab. 14: 528–536 (2011). 

[2] Mills, K. F. et al. Cell Metab. 24: 795–806 (2016).

[3] Grozio, A., et al., Nature Metabolism 1: 47-57 (2019). 

[4] Irie, J., et al., Endocrine Journal 67 (2): 153-160 (2020). 

[5] Nomiyama, T., et al., The Journal of Biochemistry 171 (3): 325-338 (2021). 

[6] Fu, J., et al.,J Biol Chem. 287 (29): 24460–24472 (2012). 

[7] Okabe, K., et al., Frontiers in Nutrition 9: 868640 (2022). 

[8] Igarashi, M. et al., NPG Aging 8: 5 (2022). 

[9] Janssens, G.E. et al., Nat Aging 2: 254–263 (2022). 

[10] Morita, Y. et al., Glycative Stress Research 9 (2): 33-41 (2022). 

[11] Yoshino, M. et al., Science 372 (6547): 1224-1229 (2021). 

 

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