The efficacy and safety of β-nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) supplementation in healthy middle-aged adults: a randomized, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, dose-dependent clinical trial.
Level 2 - randomized trial
Individual randomized controlled trial
PubMed 36482258 · doi:10.1007/s11357-022-00705-1
What was done
Eighty healthy middle-aged adults were randomized in a 60-day, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled parallel-group trial to receive once-daily oral placebo, 300 mg, 600 mg, or 900 mg of β-nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN). The primary objective was evaluating blood NAD concentrations. Secondary outcomes included safety/tolerability, physical performance (six-minute walking test), blood biological age (Aging.Ai 3.0), insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and subjective general health (SF-36 survey), analyzed via per-protocol analysis.
What was found
All 80 participants completed the trial. Blood NAD concentrations increased significantly in all NMN groups at day 30 and day 60 compared to baseline and placebo (all p ≤ 0.001), with the highest levels in the 600 mg and 900 mg groups. Six-minute walking distances were significantly greater in all NMN groups versus placebo at days 30 and 60 (all p < 0.01), with maximal distances in the 600 mg and 900 mg groups. Blood biological age increased in placebo but remained unchanged in NMN groups at day 60 (p < 0.05 versus placebo). SF-36 scores favored all NMN groups over placebo at days 30 and 60 (p < 0.05), except for the 300 mg group at day 30. No significant differences were seen in HOMA-IR, and no adverse safety events were reported. The abstract reports no absolute baseline or endpoint numbers for these measures.
Why it matters
This trial provides randomized human data demonstrating that oral NMN raises circulating NAD levels and improves walking endurance in healthy middle-aged adults, with 600 mg/day showing near-maximal benefit.
Limits
The sample size was modest (20 subjects per arm) and limited to healthy middle-aged adults over a short 60-day timeframe. The abstract reports p-values but omits absolute numerical values, effect sizes, and confidence intervals. Long-term safety and durability of NAD increases remain unassessed.