We humans have been trying to better understand individual biochemical processes for thousands of years. What used to be limited to processes visible to the naked eye has increasingly shifted towards the molecular level in recent decades. New molecules are constantly appearing on the scene. Scientists are trying to understand and classify the role of these molecules in the biochemistry and biology of organisms. One of these new stars in the molecular universe is nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN). For years, research on the molecule has been intensifying worldwide. That is why we are now embarking on a journey through biochemistry that is as understandable and comprehensible as possible and are going part of the way with NMN, a crown prince in the NAD cosmos.
Search results for "NMN" on PubMed by calendar year. Interest in the topic is growing rapidly.
Organisms of all kinds are an incredibly complex wonder of nature. Countless processes run in parallel in fractions of a second. The basis of all these processes is energy. The organism obtains energy from food, which is broken down into ever smaller components and ultimately absorbed. Just as with solar energy, the heat must be converted into electricity, the individual molecules must first be converted into energy at cell level. This process takes place in the mitochondria, the cell's power plants. This is where an enzyme called ATP synthase Adenosine triphosphate (ATP for short) is produced - the universal and immediately available energy carrier of the cell and therefore of the organism. The ATP synthase is supported by the molecule NAD+, a cofactor. NMN is a precursor molecule of NAD+. Before we go any further, let's first focus our telescope on a few terms.
What is an enzyme?
Enzymes, like hormones and antibodies, are made from proteins, the building blocks of life. Thousands of enzymes work every second as biocatalysts for a wide variety of biological processes. Catalysts are also found in cars - the function is basically the same: a substance that can influence the speed of a chemical reaction without being consumed in the process. Put simply, enzymes ensure that reactions in organisms can take place under facilitated conditions. When enzymes break down substances, this is referred to as catabolism: the breakdown of metabolic products from complex to simple molecules. However, enzymes can also build up substances. This process is called anabolism. The best example of this is the already known enzyme ATP synthase (adenosine triphosphate synthase), which, like most enzymes, ends in -ase and is responsible for the energy supply in organisms alongside NAD+.
What is NAD+ and what is a coenzyme?
NAD+ is short for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide. The "+" denotes an excess positive charge. It is a coenzyme that is found in almost every biological cell. A coenzyme is a small organic molecule that works together with an enzyme to initiate a chemical reaction. Sufficiently high NAD+ levels in the organism are important for the integrity of a number of cellular functions. But here's the catch: the NAD+ level of organisms decreases over the years. Unfortunately, less is not more here.
The versatility champion must first be assembled in the organism. This production takes place in a total of three different ways via certain precursor molecules.
Trp = tryptophan; Na = niacin; Nam = nicotinamide; NR = nicotinamide riboside; NMN = nicotinamide mononucleotide
The following graphic shows the three paths. Firstly, there is the so-called "de novo pathway" starting with the amino acid tryptophan as the starting material, then the so-called "Preiss-Handler pathway" with niacin as the starting material and the so-called "salvage pathway", which serves to recycle NAD in the organism. "salvage" comes from the English and means something like "salvage" or "rescue". This is where nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) comes into play.
NMN is involved in the salvage pathway and is the ultimate precursor molecule of NAD. This means that the pathway of other precursors such as nicotinamide riboside (NR) or nicotinamide (Nam) only leads via NMN. For this reason, NMN is absolutely essential. Without NMN, there is no salvage or rescue of depleted NAD. Let's take a closer look at the molecule.
What is NMN?
NMN is a vitamin B3 derivative that is involved in the biosynthesis of NAD+ in every living organism. If you want to produce NMN chemically, you are confronted with an extremely complex and cost-intensive process that mimics the aforementioned natural conversion of NR (nicotinamide riboside) into NMN (nicotinamide mononucleotide). For this reason, the molecule, which can currently only be used for research purposes, is comparatively expensive. Unsurprisingly, NMN is therefore one of the most counterfeited molecules in the world
A study in the USA recently tested 22 different suppliers - with devastating results. More than half offered no genuine or only inferior NMN. Link to the study
How can I recognize genuine NMN?
- Have NMN tested yourself
This is very safe, but unfortunately also very expensive. Depending on the laboratory, you can expect to pay €150-300 for this. Purities of less than 99% are in any case worse than the current industry standard. We recommend the Arotop Laboratories in Mainz, who have long been our partners for reliable controls of our product batches. - Current certificates of analysis
Transparency is everything. If a distributor or manufacturer ofNMN powder cannot show current certificates of analysis, it is most likely a fake NMN. You can find all previously tested batches directly on the product page in the certificates tab. - Fluffy consistency
NMN generally has a very fluffy and loose consistency. If it is compressed for longer, it tends to clump slightly. However, this has no consequences for the quality of the chemical. - Price
Although the price of NMN has fallen steadily in recent years, it remains a comparatively expensive molecule. If a product is conspicuously cheap, it is best to stay away from it. The price per gram is a good way to compare prices.
The conclusion is: trust is good, but control is even better. Trustworthy manufacturers know about the problem with fake NMNs and will provide you with all the necessary documents without hesitation.
What does NMN do?
NMN is, as we already know, the direct precursor of NAD+. Above all, however, it is indispensable for cellular respiration. Without cellular respiration, which takes place in the mitochondria, life as we know it today would not be possible. - Why? Because cellular respiration is responsible for the main part of the energy supply of organisms. Although there are some "backup mechanisms", these cannot supply enough energy in the short or long term. In addition, NAD+ interacts with genes, the blueprints for proteins. Through this function, NAD+ activates genes that are responsible for the production of sirtuins, a multi-headed gene family.
Measure NMN correctly
Nicotinamide mononucleotide is available almost exclusively in powder form. Accordingly, the question often arises as to the correct dimensions.
The following options are obvious:
- Measurement using laboratory/precision scales
If you want to measure NMN to the nearest milligram, you should ideally purchase a precision balance. Various, relatively accurate models are available from 10 - 15 euros.
For precise laboratory work, a proper laboratory balance is of course recommended.
- Measurement with the MoleQlar QSCOOP
The QSCOOP holds a total of 1ml - depending on storage, this means approximately 400 - 500mg NMN powder.
- Dimension with standard teaspoon
Classic smooth-edged teaspoons today hold between 3 and 5ml. This corresponds to a quantity of up to 2.5 grams of NMN.
What is currently being researched?
NMN is currently marketed as a chemical for research in the life science sector. To give you an overview, you will find below a selection of published studies dealing with the chemical. You can find more information by clicking on the link in English on PubMed.
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29424941/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32380185/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21901281/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21982712/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31645107/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19426698/
We can look forward to the future results of scientific studies and also to how the topic of the molecular universe develops. We need to keep our finger on the pulse of science in order to discover new findings and possibly also discard old ones. In any case, the past never tired in its quest to understand fundamental processes in organisms - the future will be no different!
