We humans have been trying to better understand individual biochemical processes for thousands of years. What was previously limited to processes visible to the naked eye has increasingly shifted towards the molecular level in recent decades. New molecules are constantly appearing in the substance sky. Science tries to understand and classify the role of these same molecules in the biochemistry and biology of organisms. One of these new stars in the molecular universe is Nicotinamide Mononucleotide (NMN). Research on the molecule has been carried out with increasing intensity around the world for years. That's why we're now embarking on a journey through biochemistry that's as understandable and comprehensible as possible and 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 increasing 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 receives energy from food, which is broken down into smaller and smaller components and ultimately absorbed. Just as with solar energy the heat has to be converted into electricity, the individual molecules first have to be made energetically usable at the cell level. This process happens in the mitochondria, the power plants of the cell. Here, an enzyme called ATP synthase produces adenosine triphosphate (ATP for short) - the universal and immediately available energy source of the cell and thus of the organism. The ATP synthase is supported by the molecule NAD+, a cofactor. NMN is a precursor molecule of NAD+. Before we continue here, let's first focus our telescope on a few terms.
What is an enzyme?
Like hormones and antibodies, enzymes are made from proteins, the building materials of life. Thousands upon thousands of enzymes work every second as biocatalysts for a wide variety of biological processes. Catalysts are also found in cars - their function is basically analogous: a substance that can influence the speed of a chemical reaction without being consumed. In simple terms, enzymes ensure that reactions in organisms can take place under easier conditions. When enzymes break down substances, this is called Catabolism: Breakdown of metabolic products from complex to simple molecules. However, enzymes can also synthesize substances. This process is called anabolism. The best example of this is the enzyme ATP synthase (adenosine triphosphate synthase), which we already know, 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 the short form for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide. The “+” denotes excess positive charge. It is a coenzyme that is found in almost every biological cell. A coenzyme is a small organic molecule that works with an enzyme to start a chemical reaction. Sufficiently high NAD+ levels in the organism are important for the integrity of a number of cellular functions. But now comes the catch: the NAD+ level of organisms decreases over the years. Unfortunately, less is not more here.
The eventing world champion must first be put together 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 three ways can be understood by looking at the following graphic. Firstly, there is the so-called “de novo pathway” starting with the amino acid tryptophan as the starting material, then there is the so-called “Preiss -Handler pathway“ with Niacin as the starting material and the so-called “salvage pathway”, which is responsible for the recycling of NAD in the organism serves. “salvage” comes from English and means something like “to rescue” or “to save”. This is where nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) comes into play.
NMN starts in the salvage pathway and is the ultimate precursor molecule of NAD. This means that the path 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 recovery or rescue of spent NAD. Let's take a closer look at the molecule.
What is NMN?
NMN is a vitamin B3 derivative, which is involved in the biosynthesis of NAD+ in every living being. If you want to produce NMN chemically, you are confronted with an extremely complex and cost-intensive process that mimics the already mentioned 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. It is therefore not surprising that NMN is one of the most counterfeit molecules in the world
A study in the USA recently tested 22 different providers - with devastating results. More than half offered no real or only low-quality NMN. Link to the study
How can I recognize real NMN?
-
Have NMN tested yourself
It is very safe, but unfortunately also very expensive. Depending on the laboratory, you have to expect costs of €150-300. Purities of less than 99% are in any case worse than the current industry standard. We recommend the Arotop laboratories in Mainz, which have long been our partners for reliable controls of our product batches. -
Current certificates of analysis
Transparency is everything. If a marketer or manufacturer of NMN cannot show current certificates of analysis, it is most likely fake NMN. With us you can find all the batches tested so far directly on the product page in the certificates tab. -
Fluffy consistency
NMN basically has a very fluffy and loose consistency. If you compress it for longer, it tends to clump easily. But 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 noticeably cheap, it's best to stay away from it. The price per gram is suitable for price comparison.
The Conclusion is: trust is good, but control is even better. Trusted manufacturers know about the problem with fake NMN and will provide you with all the necessary documents without hesitation.
What does NMN do?
NMN, as we already know, is the direct precursor of NAD+. Above all, 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 majority of energy supply to organisms. Although there are some “backup mechanisms”, sooner or later these may not provide enough energy. 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-member family of genes.
Measure NMN correctly
Nicotinamide mononucleotide as such is offered almost exclusively in powder form. Accordingly, the question of the correct dimensions often arises.
The following options are obvious:
- Dimensions using laboratory/precision scales
If you want to measure NMN with milligram precision, you should ideally get a precision scale. Various, relatively accurate models are available from 10 – 15 euros.
For precise laboratory work, a proper laboratory balance is of course recommended.
- Dimension with the MoleQlar QSCOOP
The QSCOOP holds a total of 1ml - depending on storage, this means approximately 400 - 500mg of NMN powder.
- Measurement with standard teaspoon
Classic smooth teaspoons today hold between 3 and 5ml. This corresponds to an amount 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 sciences sector. To give you an overview, below you will find a selection of published studies that deal with the chemical. Further information can be found 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 future results of scientific studies and also to how the topic surrounding the molecular universe will develop further. It's important to keep your finger on the pulse of science in order to find out new findings and possibly also reject old ones. In any case, the past has never tired of its quest for understanding fundamental processes in organisms - this will be no different in the future!
