Is NMN Good For People with Diabetes?

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Is NMN Good For People with Diabetes?

Medical expert

Nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) supplements have been getting a lot of attention for their rumored potential benefits in people with diabetes. Considering the expense and possible side effects of insulin and other diabetes medications, you may be exploring dietary supplements as an option. Some studies show promise for NMN, but it isn’t yet known if this supplement has clear benefits for people with diabetes.

Can a condition that has affected 422 million of the world’s population and caused 1.5 million deaths yearly be easily treated with NMN? This article reviews in detail what you need to know about diabetes and whether NMN is a good treatment plan for it as a supplement.

Link between NMN and diabetes

You may be wondering what NMN is and how it relates to diabetes. Nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) is a naturally occurring molecule that helps the body perform functions necessary for life. As its name suggests, NMN which are the building blocks of our DNA (genetic material that is the blueprint for our bodies).

In the body’s cells, NMN gets converted into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) through a multistep process. What does NAD do? It is involved in almost every biochemical step in our bodies including key roles in DNA repair, gene expression, cellular response to stress, and is the body's unit of energy to power life.

We know that NMN and NAD levels naturally decline with age and are further impacted in people with age-related metabolic conditions, including type 2 diabetes (T2D).

T2D, often diagnosed after age 45, is associated with high blood sugar levels and insulin resistance. Insulin resistance occurs when your body is no longer responsive to insulin, a hormone normally responsible for moving blood sugar into cells where it can be used as energy. Without proper treatment, the body is exhausted through other means to eliminate sugar such as increased urination which over time will damage kidney function.

The main goal of treating diabetes is to keep your blood sugar levels within a healthy range. Conventional treatment plans for diabetes mainly involve eating a balanced diet, increasing physical activity, and taking diabetes medications. Some dietary supplements may also be beneficial in supporting healthy sugar levels.

Without intervention, high blood sugar can lead to complications of diabetes, such as nerve damage and organ impairment, as well as an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Accordingly, scientists are continually searching for new and better ways to control blood sugar levels and reduce the risk of diabetes complications. One such approach being investigated is the supplemental use of NAD precursors, such as NMN.

Preliminary research on NMN and diabetes

More than a decade ago, a pivotal study demonstrated that NMN improved insulin sensitivity in mice. Similarly, another preliminary study showed improvements in blood sugar and cholesterol in mice receiving NMN.

In a recent study, NMN administration was not shown to significantly affect glucose tolerance, insulin levels, or insulin resistance in rats and mice with diabetes. However, the findings did suggest that the supplement could possibly protect against diabetic neuropathy, a type of nerve damage commonly associated with diabetes.

Research findings in animals don’t always prove to be relevant in humans, but animal studies help us learn about the general safety and effectiveness of a particular medicine or supplement. Clinical (human) trials are the next step to learn more about whether NMN supplements could be beneficial for people with diabetes.

More clinical research needed

A recent study looked at NMN supplementation in post-menopausal females with prediabetes identified as overweight or obese. After 10 weeks, participants who took 250 milligrams (mg) of NMN daily had 25% higher insulin sensitivity in their skeletal muscle compared to their counterparts who took a placebo. However, only twenty-five individuals took part in this study. Larger trials are needed to definitively say whether NMN is effective for increasing insulin sensitivity or if it is beneficial for preventing or delaying diabetes in people with prediabetes.

You may be wondering about the safety of NMN supplements in people with diabetes. A small study evaluated the safety of NMN in fourteen older males with diabetes. The average age of the trial participants was 81 years. This study was looking at whether taking NMN could affect the participants’ movement or strength (specifically assessing walking speed and grip strength). While no significant benefits of NMN supplementation were seen for these outcomes, this study did find NMN to be safe for use in the older population, with no side effects reported. Again, large-scale studies are needed to confirm the safety of NMN.

Beneficial non-drug strategies

While NMN may be a potential option for increasing insulin sensitivity, keep in mind that lifestyle changes are usually the best way to manage blood sugar levels and thus prevent the progression of diabetes.

Examples of lifestyle changes you can make to reduce your risk of developing diabetes and its complications include:

· Diet changes. Learning to prepare healthy, balanced meals can have positive outcomes on your overall health. Focus on adding more whole foods, fresh vegetables, and lean meats while minimizing processed foods, sweetened beverages, and candy. Dedicating yourself to a healthy diet is challenging at first, but worthwhile to help fend off diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, and high cholesterol. You can also strategically increase your consumption of foods high in NMN, such as avocado, broccoli, cabbage, and tomatoes.

· Exercise. When you are physically active, the sugar in your blood gets burned as fuel, thus reducing the risk of weight gain. Exercising regularly can also help your body use insulin more efficiently. The key to consistent exercise is to have an accountability partner. For instance, plan on meeting a friend for a daily walk or jog.

· Medications. Certain medications may affect your blood sugar. For example, if you need to take steroids, your blood sugar may go up. Speak with your healthcare professional to discuss how they’ll monitor or manage your blood sugar and help minimize your risk of developing diabetes.

· Alcohol use. Drinking too much alcohol can lead to a host of health problems, such as liver disease and mental health conditions. Further, if you have diabetes, drinking alcohol can increase the risk of hypoglycemia (when your blood sugar becomes too low).

· Manage stress. When you experience stress, your body releases a hormone called cortisol. Cortisol has the potential to raise your blood sugar. While stress is sometimes unavoidable, there are ways to manage it. Self-care looks different for everyone, but try starting with one small change at a time, such as getting enough sleep. You can also look into breathing techniques, mindfulness practices, and individual therapy to learn how to cultivate more calmness in your life.

Based on its promising results in animal and now human models, there is a possibility that NMN can be used to support healthful metabolism in people with diabetes. Still, NMN should not be considered a replacement for conventional treatment or a substitute for healthy lifestyle changes. Eating a wholesome diet, exercising regularly, and managing stress can ultimately aid in keeping your blood sugar levels under control—and may even reverse type 2 diabetes in some cases.

Resources:

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Type 2 Diabetes.

2. World Health Organization Health Topics. Diabetes.

3. Integrative Medicine Research. The Science Behind NMN – A Stable, Reliable NAD+Activator and Anti-Aging Molecule.

4. Cell Press. Nicotinamide Mononucleotide, a Key NAD+ Intermediate, Treats the Pathophysiology of Diet- and Age-Induced Diabetes in Mice.

5. Cell Metabolism. Nicotinamide mononucleotide, a key NAD+ intermediate, treats the pathophysiology of diet- and age-induced diabetes in mice.

6. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. NAD+ Precursors Repair Mitochondrial Function in Diabetes and Prevent Experimental Diabetic Neuropathy.

7. Cardiovascular Diabetology. Prevalence of cardiovascular disease in type 2 diabetes: a systematic literature review of scientific evidence from across the world in 2007–2017.

8. Science. Nicotinamide mononucleotide increases muscle insulin sensitivity in prediabetic women.

9. Geriatrics & Gerontology International. Effects of nicotinamide mononucleotide on older patients with diabetes and impaired physical performance: A prospective, placebo controlled, double blind study.

10. Nursing Clinics. Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes for Diabetes Mellitus.

11. Nutrients. Reversing Type 2 Diabetes: The Time for Lifestyle Medicine Has Come!