The Key to Anti-Aging with NMN
Last week, we published this blog detailing everything you need to know about senescent (zombie) cells, the impact that they pose on inflammation and aging, and a science-backed way to eliminate them. The response to last week's findings was overwhelming, and many of you expressed interest in our new Senolytic supplement. This is exciting feedback, because if we can rid our bodies of damaged cells, then we can decrease the likelihood of age-related diseases, inflammation, and rapid aging.
Now that we know how to eliminate those problem-causing zombie cells, it's time to focus on the cells that remain. What should we do with these efficient, healthy cells? How do we support them, in order to ensure that they are working optimally? Well, today's blog will answer those questions and more! Let's jump right into it, starting with one of the key hallmarks of longevity: healthspan versus lifespan.
Healthspan vs. Lifespan
When we talk about longevity, many people automatically assume that we are trying to "live forever", which brings about sci-fi themes and major robot vibes. But we're here to tell you that our goal isn't to live forever; our goal is to maximize our enjoyment of life with our loved ones for as long as possible. This is the key differentiator between healthspan and lifespan. One focuses on the maximal number of years, whereas the other focuses on the quality of those years, often measured in energy levels, health, and quality of life. At Huemn, we seek to increase your healthspan, so that every moment you are on this earth, you are feeling your very best. Sounds pretty good, right?!
The “Golden Child” of Anti-Aging
If you have been following any of the latest longevity and anti-aging research, then you have most likely come across the “Golden Child” supplement, Nicotinamide Mononucleotide (NMN). NMN is an exciting supplement, beacuse it is proven to boost NAD+ levels in humans. If you remember from our past blogs, NAD+ is one of the most critical molecules in DNA repair, and without it, all life would cease to exist. To read more about NAD+ and its impact on your health, check out this study.
Why do we care about DNA repair? Think of it this way: when you are born, your DNA is that of a youthful child—undamaged, long telomeres that are full of potential. You’re a clean slate, for lack of better words. On the other hand, at 90, your DNA presents in a drastically different way than it did at birth. Years of damage to your DNA causes your genetic expression to change, causing your organs, tissues, and bodily systems to behave differently. One of the most critical contributors to this ongoing process of DNA degredation is the decrease in NAD+ production that occurs as we age.
As we age, our NAD+ levels drastically decrease, causing a multitude of negative downstream effects throughout the body. Because we know that boosting NAD+ levels can mitigate the effects of DNA damage, finding alternative ways to support NAD+ production should be action item number one if we want to increase our healthspan. Furthermore, efficient DNA repair has been shown to lower overall inflammation levels, thereby slowing the inflammaging process. Remember inflammaging? If you need a refresher, click here to learn all about the link between chronic inflammation and the aging process. For now, let's get back to NMN, and its potential benefits for your health.
Why Should We Supplement with NMN?
Since we've already established that NAD+ is key to the prevention of cell damage, finding the mechanisms that improve NAD+ levels throughout the body is a priority for those of us wanting to extend our healthspan. That is why the scientific community is so excited about NMN, as it has been discovered to be a potent precursor for NAD+. In fact, NMN can boost our NAD+ levels in a way that rivals the levels present during our youth! Do we have your attention now? We thought so!
But how does it work? As you can see in the chart below, the NAD+ boosting process is found in the body's salvage pathway. This pathway has two main functions: to make NAD+ from precursors such as Nicotinamide Mononucleotide (NMN), Nicotinamide Riboside (NR), and Niacinamide, AND to remake NAD+ over and over again. Until recently, research supported the use of the NAD+ precursor Nicotinomide Riboside (NR), also known as Tru Niagen to many of our members. However, more recent research has discovered that using Nicotinamide Mononucleotide, or NMN, is more powerful, yielding far more benefits than that of NR. Why might this be?
For starters, when we take a Nicotinamide Riboside (NR for short) supplement such as Tru Niagen, our bodies must convert the NR to NMN, in order to boost NAD+ levels. When we opt to take NMN directly, we cut out the "middle man" in the equation, allowing for a more potent response. What does a more potent response mean for you? More NAD+ production, healthier cells, and a clear-cut way to combat DNA damage and the inflammaging process altogether.
The Science
NAD and the aging process: Role in life, death and everything in between: talks about why NAD+ is such an important coenzyme, and extensively details the process by which NAD+ decreases as we age. This decrease leads to DNA damage, mitochondrial dysfunction, and eventually, age-related disease.
NAD+ and sirtuins in aging and disease: discusses the role of NAD+ in the aging process. More specifically, this study uncovers the impact that declining NAD+ levels have on sirtuins, the genes that regulate nearly every biological process for proper cellular function, and are the impact players that influence our longevity and aging.
NAD⁺ in aging, metabolism, and neurodegeneration: a deep dive into NAD+ and its role in the aging process, along with cellular metabolism, age-related neurodegenerative disorders, and how NAD+ modulation (and supplementation) may prolong both health span and life span.
Nicotinamide Mononucleotide: Exploration of Diverse Therapeutic Applications of a Potential Molecule: a deep dive into NMN, including: what it is, how it can be applied, the conversion process from NMN into NAD+, and the potential benefits of NMN in anti-aging and disease prevention applications.
Long-Term Administration of Nicotinamide Mononucleotide Mitigates Age-Associated Physiological Decline in Mice: a fascinating study that showed long-term NMN supplementation in mice prevented age-associated gene expression changes in key metabolic organs and enhanced mitochondrial oxidative metabolism and mitonuclear protein imbalance in skeletal muscle. The study’s findings also demonstrated that NMN “suppressed age-associated weight gain, enhanced energy metabolism, promoted physical activity, improved insulin sensitivity and plasma lipid profile, and ameliorated eye function and other pathophysiologies”.
Degradation of Extracellular NAD+ Intermediates in Cultures of Human HEK293 Cells: this study concluded that NMN exhibits high chemical stability and efficient absorption, which is promising in regards to the body’s NAD+ levels. NMN was also found to be rapidly utilized in all cells and tissues throughout the body, especially when compared to that of other NAD+ precursors.
Loss of NAD homeostasis leads to progressive and reversible degeneration of skeletal muscle: this study made an intriguing finding that supports the use of NMN instead of NR. In this study, “Oral NR dosing increased circulating NAM 40-fold while NMN remained unchanged and NR was detected only at trace levels in the blood.” These findings further support the use of NMN for its stability and potency over other NAD+ precursors.
For a deeper dive into Nicotinamide Mononucleotide, Dr. Rhonda Patrick has a fascinating report of the potential benefits of this powerhouse supplement, along with citations to support her findings. Click here.
NMN Sourcing: Does it Matter?
So now that we know the benefits of supplementing with NMN and the corresponding scientific findings, let's talk about why sourcing matters when it comes to supplements. While research clearly demonstrates that NMN can boost NAD+ levels, the quality of the supplement that you're using will have a direct impact on the results that you experience. Additionally, where you purchase your NMN matters. In order to ensure potency, quality, and efficacy, it is imperative that you source your supplements directly from an authorized supplement distributor, as opposed to a third-party site like Amazon. While Amazon is amazingly convenient for a myriad of purchases, they are a bit like the "Wild Wild West" when it comes to supplements, and counterfeit or expired products run rampant on their site. This article discusses some of the issues that Amazon has run into with fake supplements, along with their warning to consumers about counterfeit products listed on their site.
To learn more about NMN, or to purchase it from Huemn, give us a call at 832-779-1673, or feel free to stop by the store. We look forward to seeing you soon!
Now, this is where Huemn comes in, as we have created a partnership with the highest quality supplement manufacturers, all of which run extensive tests on their products for pureness, quality, and potency. We are so excited to now be carrying NMN in our store. The supplement that we carry has a 400 mg dosage of NMN (for adults 18+), and aside from the incredible benefits detailed above, it also:
Promotes Vascular Health and Blood Flow
Improves Muscle Endurance and Strength
Helps Protects Against Heart Disease
Lowers Risk of Obesity
Enhances Maintenance of DNA Repair