NMN (Nicotinamide mononucleotide)

NMN is a building block your body uses to make NAD+, a coenzyme that is central to energy, sirtuin activity, and DNA repair. It enters NAD+ production through the salvage pathway. Taken as a pill, NMN does get absorbed and raises NAD+ in your blood, but proof of real longevity benefits is still thin. Some trials show modest gains on specific measures (the 6-minute walk test, muscle insulin sensitivity, or grip strength), but big, long-term outcome studies are missing. Its legal status has been a rollercoaster. In the US, NMN's supplement status was contested from 2022 to 2025, when the FDA reversed its earlier drug-exclusion ruling and confirmed NMN can be sold as a dietary supplement. In Europe, on 13 May 2026 the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) issued a positive opinion on EffePharm's β-NMN (Uthever®), proposing a safe upper limit of 300 mg/day for healthy adults (not pregnant or breastfeeding women). Full European Commission approval as a Novel Food is still pending. Rules elsewhere vary.

Last reviewed: June 22, 2026

This definition is educational and is not medical advice, a diagnosis, or treatment. Talk to a doctor about any health decisions. Read our full medical disclaimer