β-Nicotinamide Mononucleotide: An Emerging Antiaging Supplement

β-Nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) is the precursor molecule of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+), a coenzyme that plays a key role in cellular metabolism and energy production. In recent years, NMN has attracted considerable attention from the scientific community as a potential anti-aging agent and compound for the treatment of a variety of diseases, including diabetes, cancer, and neurological disorders. 

NMN is a nucleotide consisting of a pyridine-containing base (nicotinamide) linked by a β-N-glycosidic bond to ribose 5-phosphate. It is synthesized via the salvage pathway in which nicotinamide is first converted to nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) by nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) and then converted to NAD+ by NAD+ synthase. 

The role of NMN in NAD+ metabolism is critical because NAD+ is involved in various cellular processes including oxidative phosphorylation, DNA repair and gene expression.  NAD+ levels decline with age, leading to decreased mitochondrial function, impaired glucose metabolism, and increased inflammation. Therefore, increasing NAD+ levels through NMN supplementation or other interventions may attenuate age-related decline and improve health outcomes. 

Research has shown that NMN supplementation increases NAD+ levels in various tissues, including liver, skeletal muscle, and brain, in both animal models and human studies. Furthermore, NMN administration has shown beneficial effects on age-related pathologies, including cognitive decline, skeletal muscle dysfunction, and glucose intolerance. For example, a recent study found that NMN supplementation improved exercise performance, muscle mitochondrial function, and insulin sensitivity in aged mice. 

Additionally, NMN has shown promise as a therapeutic agent in a variety of disease models, including cancer, diabetes, and neurological disorders. For example, NMN treatment has been shown to prevent chemically induced liver tumorigenesis in mice, improve glucose homeostasis in diabetic mice, and improve cognition in animal models of Alzheimer's disease. 

In conclusion, NMN is a promising compound that has attracted extensive attention as a potential antiaging agent and therapeutic molecule. Future studies are necessary to determine the optimal dose, timing and duration of NMN supplementation in humans and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of its beneficial effects. However, current evidence suggests that NMN is a safe and effective compound that can confer significant benefits on human health and longevity.