Nicotinamide mononucleotide research - Can NMN Help Fight COVID-19

  

What is nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN)?

 

Nicotinamide Mononucleotide (“NMN” and “β-NMN”) is a nucleotide derived from ribose and nicotinamide. Like nicotinamide riboside, NMN is a derivative of niacin, and humans have enzymes that can use NMN to generate nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+).

 

Nicotinamide mononucleotide is a precursor molecule for the biosynthesis of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+), a coenzyme that participates in the production of cellular energy and repair. NMN helps maintain cellular levels of NAD+, thereby facilitating NAD+-dependent cellular activities, such as mitochondrial metabolism, regulation of sirtuins, and PARP activity. Animal studies have demonstrated that NMN administration is effective in increasing NAD+ levels across multiple tissues while improving the outcome of a variety of age-related diseases.

 

What is NAD+

 

NAD+ is an essential coenzyme required for life and cellular functions. Enzymes are catalysts that make biochemical reactions possible. Coenzymes are  ‘helper’ molecules that enzymes need in order to function.  This special molecule is part of the biochemical pathways that converts food into energy within the mitochondria. Additionally, NAD+ protects tissues from free radicals, supports innate immune function, boosts DNA repair, increases energy, and extends life span.

 

We manufacture NAD+ from vitamin B3 delivered in our diet, but the majority of the NAD+ in the body is generated from the intricate recycling system within our cells.  However, and its depletion has been implicated in the onset and progression of multiple age-related conditions such as metabolic dysregulation and neurodegenerative disease.

 

How to increase NAD+?

 

As we all known that one way that we might sustain healthy levels of NAD+ is by supplementing our bodies with its precursor, nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN).

 

Current research shows that this transformation between NR and NMN must take place for entry to a few cell types. This leads researchers to believe that NMN is, in fact, one of the quickest means of stimulating NAD production. However, NMN supplements are also proving to have their own anti-aging benefits beyond those of NAD production alone.

 

Nicotinamide mononucleotide research - Can NMN Help Fight COVID-19?

Although more study needs to be done, a recent study listed NAD+ boosting agents such as NMN and NR as one of the potential treatments. Other scientists also hypothesized that older adults might benefit from NAD+’s longevity effects and prevent the deadly over-activation of immune responses called a cytokine storm, in which the body attacks its cells rather than the virus.

 

Viral infections deplete NAD+ because infections trigger a cellular defense cascade that results in increased NAD+ degradation to prevent the virus from taking over the cell. Significantly reduced NAD+ concentration has been shown in COVID-19 and some researchers think this is a major factor in why this virus is so deadly, especially to those with depleted NAD+ storage.

 

There is is a case study from University of Chicago about connection of COVID-19 and NMN. A case study was published on April 22, 2020 by Dr. Robert Huizenga MD at University of Chicago describing his response to a 55-year old woman who had been hospitalized with COVID-19 on March 16. Her condition continued to worsen and on day 13 she had obvious pneumonia, cytokine storm and extremely elevated hsCRP, a non-specific inflammatory marker.

 

Dr. Huizenga treated her with oral NMN, betaine and NaCl (known to reduce IL-6) and continued the zinc treatment she had been given prior. By day 15, her fever was alleviated and symptoms improved significantly. By day 17 she was discharged to go home. By day 23, she was asymptomatic.

 

During the pandemic, NMN is receiving more and more attention for its role in maintaining the immune system balance, which may be a possible treatment for the coronavirus-caused cytokine storm. With the preliminary studies showing some positive results, although not a guaranteed cure, many scientists and physicians believe the NAD+ booster’s effect on COVID-19 is worth investigating.

 

 

Reference:

 

[1] Nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) supplementation promotes anti-aging miRNA expression profile in the aorta of aged mice, predicting epigenetic rejuvenation and anti-atherogenic effects. Kiss T, Giles CB, Tarantini S, Yabluchanskiy A, Balasubramanian P, Gautam T, Csipo T, Nyúl-Tóth Á, Lipecz A, Szabo C, Farkas E, Wren JD, Csiszar A, Ungvari Z. Geroscience. 2019 Aug;41(4):419-439. doi: 10.1007/s11357-019-00095-x. Epub 2019 Aug 28.

 

[2] Nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) supplementation promotes neurovascular rejuvenation in aged mice: transcriptional footprint of SIRT1 activation, mitochondrial protection, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic effects. Kiss T, Nyúl-Tóth Á, Balasubramanian P, Tarantini S, Ahire C, Yabluchanskiy A, Csipo T, Farkas E, Wren JD, Garman L, Csiszar A, Ungvari Z.

 

[3] NAD (+) biosynthesis, aging, and disease. Johnson S, Imai SI. F1000Res. 2018 Feb 1;7:132. doi: 10.12688/f1000research.12120.1. eCollection 2018.

 

[4] Macrophage de novo NAD+ synthesis specifies immune function in aging and inflammation. Minhas PS, Liu L, Moon PK, Joshi AU, Dove C, Mhatre S, Contrepois K, Wang Q, Lee BA, Coronado M, Bernstein D, Snyder MP, Migaud M, Majeti R, Mochly-Rosen D, Rabinowitz JD, Andreasson KI.

 

[5] Effect of oral administration of nicotinamide mononucleotide on clinical parameters and nicotinamide metabolite levels in healthy Japanese men. Irie J, Inagaki E, Fujita M, Nakaya H, Mitsuishi M, Yamaguchi S, Yamashita K, Shigaki S, Ono T, Yukioka H, Okano H, Nabeshima YI, Imai SI, Yasui M, Tsubota K, Itoh H.Endocr J. 2020 Feb 28;67(2):153-160. doi: 10.1507/endocrj.EJ19-0313. Epub 2019 Nov 2.

 

[6] Nicotinamide Mononucleotide, an NAD(+) Precursor, Rescues Age-Associated Susceptibility to AKI in a Sirtuin 1-Dependent Manner. Guan Y, Wang SR, Huang XZ, Xie QH, Xu YY, Shang D, Hao CM.

 

[7] COVID-19 and chronological aging: senolytics and other anti-aging drugs for the treatment or prevention of corona virus infection? Sargiacomo C, Sotgia F, Lisanti MP.

 

[8] Influence of NAD+ as an ageing-related immunomodulator on COVID 19 infection: A hypothesis. Omran HM, Almaliki MS. J Infect Public Health. 2020 Sep;13(9):1196-1201. doi: 10.1016/j.jiph.2020.06.004. Epub 2020 Jun 7.

 

[9] COVID-19: NAD(+) deficiency may predispose the aged, obese and type2 diabetics to mortality through its effect on SIRT1 activity. Miller R, Wentzel AR, Richards GA. Med Hypotheses. 2020 Nov;144:110044. doi: 10.1016/j.mehy.2020.110044. Epub 2020 Jun 29.

 

[10] Why does COVID-19 disproportionately affect older people? Mueller AL, McNamara MS, Sinclair DA. Aging (Albany NY). 2020 May 29;12(10):9959-9981. doi: 10.18632/aging.103344. Epub 2020 May 29.