This article has been referenced among parties partial to (or selling) nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) supplements to dispute the effectiveness of NR supplementation—but it is not entirely accurate or complete. Therefore, we also have also provided some comments on this review paper, addressing both its thoroughness and accuracy.
The paper is missing four clinical NR studies and two abstracts, and makes no mention of ongoing trials. Omissions aside, the paper points to consistent positive findings—a reduction in inflammatory markers, and increased blood NAD+. See below for more.
WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?
The importance of this review paper is twofold—it supports some of the key studied benefits of NR supplementation (namely reduced inflammation and increased NAD+ in whole blood and white blood cells), yet it is incomplete and in some places not entirely accurate, which allows for an opportunity to respond and elucidate more nuances of the studies it covers as well as introduce more data that isn’t taken into account.
STUDY LINK & SUMMARY:
Damgaard, M., et al. “What Is Really Known About the Effects of Nicotinamide Riboside Supplementation in Humans.” Science Advances 9, eadi4862 (2023). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adi4862
OBJECTIVE:
To present an unbiased assessment of NR supplementation in humans excluding studies that combined NR with other ingredients. The paper acknowledges the authors’ involvement in some of the included studies.
TAKEAWAYS:
- The bulk of human NR trials suggest that NR is safe to consume, increases NAD-related metabolites in the blood, and may reduce inflammation and improve ataxia telangiectasia.
- NR has consistently been shown to increase NAD+ and related metabolites in whole blood and occasionally in white blood cells (PBMCs); most of the data on NR’s effects on tissue NAD+ has been observed in whole blood, muscle, and brain tissues.
- Encouraging clinical results (Brakedal et al., 2022) warrant further investigation of NR-boosting effects in cerebral NAD+ levels.
SOME LIMITATIONS IN THE REVIEW THAT WE WISH TO HIGHLIGHT:
- Four clinical studies on NR were not summarized in the review paper, investigating health areas like Parkinson’s disease (Gaare et al., 2023), ataxia telangiectasia (Tinnevelt et al., 2020), liver health ( Li et al., 2021), and chronic kidney disease (Ahmadi et al., 2023).
- Two published abstracts were not included: one demonstrating NR’s benefits in glaucoma patients in an ongoing trial (Leung et al., 2023), and another showing NR’s effects on cerebral blood flow and frailty measures (Orr et al., 2020).
- The review also failed to mention ongoing clinical studies on clinicaltrials.gov, which includes over 35+ trials exploring NR’s potential benefits, with various phases including Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4 trials. These trials have the potential to further substantiate the findings from the peer-reviewed clinical studies on NR. (Source: Chromadex)
Sign Up to Receive China Updates Weekly Newsletter for FREE, HERE
Visit HPA-China’s Information Hub, HERE