Nicotinamide mononucleotide NMN is a naturally occurring molecule that is found in every living cell of all forms. Besides, NMN is a precursor of Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide (NAD+), a form of Vitamin B3 that is taken to boost the level of the same. Are stuck with the question, Can NMN Damage Kidneys? This article helps to clarify your Concern. Now, you might be wondering what NAD+ is; it is nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide that plays the role of coenzyme, which is an important compound for the functioning protein called enzymes.
Although NMN boosts NAD+, there are various doubts about its effects on the body, and one doubt that arises in the mind of people is does it harms kidneys. So, let’s delve into this article and find out whether NMN can damage kidneys.
What Is The Use Of NMN?
To find out whether NMN damages your kidney or not, firstly, you need to understand what is the use of NMN and why it is taken. As mentioned at the beginning of this post, NMN is a supplement or form of Vitamin B3. That helps you increase the NAD+ levels in your body. NAD+ is one of the abundant molecules in your body after water, which is important for life.
Besides, NAD+ plays a significant role in the functioning of enzymes, which are types of proteins that make chemical reactions in your body faster. Thus, NMN, which is a directly converted NAD+, can be useful in Athletic performances by helping the athlete with instant energy production.
Furthermore, NMN is also considered for anti-aging effects because as you age, NAD+ levels drop in your body. Hence, taking NMN, which is the precursor of NAD, increases the NAD+ level in your body, slowing down or reversing the aging process.
How Does NMN Work In Your Body?
After you have understood the use of NMN. Let’s see how it works in your body to find out if it affects the kidneys or not. NMN boosts energy levels by stimulating the activity of mitochondria, which is the powerhouse of cells and transforms glucose and oxygen into cellular energy. Thus, this makes NMN enhance energy levels, improve mitochondrial functions, and enhance exercise endurance and physical performance.
Further, as directly converted NAD+, NMN is a potential supplementation for restoring the NAD+ levels in the body. When NMN is taken, it is quickly absorbed in the bloodstream to become NAD+, which plays an important role in immune responses, biological processes, DNA repair, cell division, and mitochondrial function. Besides, the activity of enzymes depends on the NAD+ levels, which naturally decrease with age. It also slows down the activity of enzymes. Thus, NMN increases your NDA+ levels and faster the reactions of enzymes in your body.
Also Check: Why I Stopped Taking NMN: Personal Insights And Considerations
Do You Need To Worry About Your Kidneys?
NMN research and studies on humans are limited. However, studies were done on mice at the University of Pennsylvania that showed treating mice with kidney diseases with NAD+ precursors like NMN prevents kidney problems and improves Kidney function. However, there was no direct comparison between the efficacy of NMN and another potent NAD+ precursor.
Moreover, NMN is considered safe in animals, as the results were positive, and human clinical trials have started. Besides, this molecule is considered to be safe and not toxic, even in high concentrations in mice and human studies. A long-term (approx one year) oral administration was performed in mice and did not show any toxic effects.
Also, one study of Japanese men published in November 2019 revealed that subjects had an increased amount of bilirubin in their blood after taking NMN, and the levels remained in a normal range.
Furthermore, to analyze the effects of NMN on kidneys, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania analyzed kidney tissue of metabolites in older people with kidney problems. In the metabolite analysis, two primary metabolites were found, which revealed altered levels of kidney disease, nicotinate and nicotinamide.
These two play a key role in NAD+ metabolism, so the researchers calculated the NAD+ levels in kidney disease patients to compare them to healthy people. It was found that NAD+ levels were low in adults with kidney disease.
How Much Dosage Would Be Appropriate For You And Clinical Trials?
An international study was performed by a team of researchers. Which ran the first human clinical study for NMN in Japan to find out whether the molecule is safe or not. Phase 1 of the clinical trial was on a small scale. The study revealed that dosages of up to 500 mg of orally taken NMN are safe for humans. The results were published in the journal Endocrine in November 2019.
Furthermore, other clinical trials were also registered with the World Health Organisation, which studies the safety and effectiveness of the NMN. Apart from this, at the Washington University School of Medicine, a team of US researchers is running clinical trials to test the effect of NMN on Cardiovascular and metabolic health if a daily dosage of 250 mg is taken. In addition to this, a clinical study at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston is also testing the supplement’s side effects on the body and if there are any.
Read More: First Signs Of Kidney Stones: How To Recognize Them Early On
Wrap Up
At present there have no side effects of NMN have been found in humans. and the other concern is Can NMN Damage Kidneys?- thus unlikely that the supplementation can cause damage to your kidneys. Research has been conducted, and the majority of them showed positive effects on metabolism, brain functions, bone structure, heart health, liver, skin, immunity, etc.
However, scientists need to conduct more studies of NMN in administration in humans to find out whether it can cause any problems to the kidneys or any other organs. Researchers could look over 500 mg doses to find whether NMN causes damage to any organ of your body. With future studies and research by anti-aging institutions and private entities, researchers might get the answer soon.
Further, though NMN is safe according to studies and clinical trials. It is better to seek consultation from your doctor before taking the supplements on your own. Besides, always make sure that you adhere to the dosage recommended by the doctors.
“As you embark on the journey of NMN supplementation, selecting the Best NMN supplements becomes pivotal, ensuring you harness the full benefits of this fascinating molecule while prioritizing your overall health and well-being.”
References
- Schultz MB, et al. Why NAD+ Declines during Aging: It’s Destroyed. Cell Metab. 2016. June 14; 23(6): 965–966 [PubMed]
- Zhavoronkov A, et al. Classifying aging as a disease in the context of ICD-11. Front Genet. 2015. November 4;6:326. [PMC free article]
