Research on anti-aging treatments has grown since the World Health Organization has classified aging as a disease in the eleventh edition of the International Classification of Diseases. Researchers such as David Sinclair and George Church have recently been responsible for making crucial breakthroughs in the anti-aging field.
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If you are interested in trying to hold on to your youth for longer, you may have come across a range of products that claim to turn back or stop the clock on aging. Some of these products claim to remove wrinkles, while others offer exercises and serums to work on the problems. However, the most tempting products might be the ones that promise to extend life.
True anti-aging, however, works at the cellular level, not at the surface. The science behind anti-aging treatments attempt to slow down, stop, or even reverse the deteriorating immune system, memory processing, bone density, muscles, or organs.
Anti-aging supplements attempt to regain or maintain the lost efficacy of these systems to improve the overall health of the aging individual and potentially increase their longevity. Such anti-aging supplements often use Nicotinamide Mononucleotide (NMN), a precursor to Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide (NAD+), an essential component for life. Nicotinamide mononucleotide is critical in the production of NAD+. Here we review some of the top brands of NMN for 2022.
Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide (NAD+)
NAD+ is a substance found in all living cells. It is responsible for energy production and metabolism in the cell. It is critical in creating hormones, repairing damage in the body, facilitating the processes of muscle-building, and activating sirtuins (proteins that prevent aging).
As humans age, the level of NAD+ in cells declines. In 2015, Zhu Xiao-Hong and his fellow researchers measured the decrease in NAD+ concentrations in a human brain throughout a person’s life. They showed the results in the following chart.
Figure 1 – Change in NAD+ concentration in the human brain
This chart shows that NAD+ steadily declines in cells of a human brain over the decades. These findings were in line with the conclusions of Hassina Massudi et al., who found out that NAD+ declined in males faster than females. These results can be found in Figure 2A (For males) and 2B (for Females).
Figure 2 – Gender differences in NAD+ decline
Figure 2 shows that while males experience the decline in NAD+ faster than females, everyone is affected by it. Losing NAD+ in cells over the years means that that functions performed by this molecule get degraded in living cells as time passes. Anti-aging supplements tends to target the deficiency of NAD+ in cells.
ProHealth Longevity Pure NMN Pro Powder
The first product on the list is ProHealth Longevity Pure NMN Pro Powder. This is an NMN-based product that delivers NMN to the cells in order to help them make NAD+.
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This product is administered by dissolving directly into the mouth to avoid digestion in stomach acids. It dissolves directly in the blood vessels in the mouth and under the tongue, bypassing the whole gastrointestinal tract.
It is different from the liposomal delivery system discussed above, so it has a relatively lower absorption rate. However, its absorption rate is still better than the NMN products that pass through the digestive system.
The presence of NMN in this supplement allows the user to reap the anti-aging benefits of NMN. The website provides safety certificates from third-party laboratories to ensure safety and effectiveness for their customers.
Double Wood NMN Capsules
The third and last item on the list is Double Wood NMN Capsules [aff link] Supplements. These supplements contain NMN in the form of capsules. The delivery system of these capsules is traditional. That means that these supplements do not use liposomes to deliver NMN to the body.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How Safe is NMN?
While the research on NMN is only a few years old, both human and animal trials have proven NMN to be safe.
Multiple independent studies have demonstrated that NMN is not toxic and perfectly safe to use.
It is important to choose the products that are free of contaminants and come from vendors that are reputable in the market.
What Are Possible Side Effects of Using NMN Products?
Studies have not reported any evident side effects from the usage of NMN supplements. Some users have reported mild side effects in the form of itchiness, dizziness, flushing, sweating, and leg cramps. However, these side effects are not lasting and can be obviated by managing doses better.
Should Trimethylglycine (TMG) be Taken to Reduce Side Effects?
If you are concerned about the side effects, it is prudent to take TMG. It helps alleviate the side effects of NMN supplements. However, taking TMG is unnecessary for liposomal-based NMN supplements because of its low dosage requirement and high absorption rate.
What is the Best Dosage for NMN Supplements?
Typically, doses for NMN products start from 100 mg per day. Many users take up to 500 mg of NMN products without any issues. Recent studies have proven that NMN dosages up to even 1000 mg per day are safe for consumption. The best dosage depends upon the absorption rate of the product and your needs. Generally, it is recommended to take dosages of anywhere between 250-500 mg per day.
Is NMN Better than NR?
Both nicotinamide riboside (NR) and nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) can form NAD+ in the body. However, NMN is preferred over NR because it has less strict requirements than the latter. Our bodies convert NR into NMN before it can be used. For this process, an enzyme known as NRK needs to work well. In less than ideal conditions, NRK doesn’t work effectively, and NR ends up getting wasted. Directly taking NMN is better because it gets converted into NAD+ needed by the cells without needing NRK.
I am Shafique Siddique, a health and nutrition writer based in Lahore, Pakistan. My mission is to spread information about technologies available for optimising wellness, human healthspan and lifespan.
