Best NMN supplements for longevity to buy in 2022
The NMN supplements market is booming, but how do you know which are the best options for you?
What are NMN supplements?
The search for the elixir of life has obsessed mankind for centuries. Today, much of that search has focused on supplements – a growing range of products that claim to make you feel healthier, more alert and keep you younger for longer.
The key element in many of these is nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN). The body uses this molecule to generate NAD+ which is key to biological functions such as cellular energy, metabolic health and the immune system. These functions decline as we age, leading to the onset of all sorts of problems including heart disease, cancer and neurological disorders.
Different types of NMN supplements
NMN supplements are gaining traction; according to data from Precision Reports, the global NMN market is expected to grow to $386 million by 2027. New products are appearing on the market by the day, and choosing between them can feel rather tricky, so here are a few products which may help you achieve your healthspan goals.
Wonderfeel Youngr
Wonderfeel® is designed to provide a unique solution to aging; based on cutting edge science, Youngr™ NMN is a patented formula developed by Harvard Med entrepreneur and inventor Dr Andrew Salzman, who has over three decades of experience in biomedical drug discovery and development, and it is backed by a recent human clinical trial.
Youngr is formulated with emergent antioxidants and sirtuin activation to ensure a multi-targeted approach to defend and slow down biological aging at the cellular level. It contains both the so-called ‘longevity vitamin’ ergothioneine and 100mg of the powerful antioxidant resveratrol (to help activate the sirtuins primarily with NMN), as well as vitamin D and hydroxytyrosol, an ingredient found in olive oil that serves a dual longevity purpose as both a neuroprotector and cellular antioxidant defence.
Youngr’s unique formula is designed to be highly bioavailable; because the antioxidants help shield the NMN on its journey through the stomach and into the bloodstream, more of NMN reaches its intended biological destination – your cells. Based on the latest human clinical trial, it is also one of the highest NMN doses on the market, containing 900mg dose in just two capsules, and with an introductory offer of $73 for monthly subscribers, it’s a great-value NMN product.
Youngr is an investment in your cells, and one that pays off across your whole body by restoring skin elasticity and boosting energy levels while also optimising organ health and cognition. It also aims to ensure you can enjoy quicker recovery from rigorous activity or even late nights by improving the quality of your sleep.
Elysium Signal
Research has shown that NAD+ is central to hundreds of metabolic processes, but this is especially true in the mitochondria, where NAD+ plays a crucial role in the key reactions that take place.
The mitochondria are the powerhouses of the cell, taking glucose and oxygen and converting it into the cellular energy we need to grow, repair and function. However, as we age, mitochondrial function declines, and this means less energy for repair and renewal.
Signal targets metabolic aging by supplying declining metabolites and acting to preserve and help generate new mitochondria.
The renowned aging researcher Leonard Guarente, PhD, is Elysium’s founder and chief scientist; he describes Signal as a novel, mitochondria-centric product that is “formulated to counter aging-dependent declines in metabolism by promoting youthful energetics and metabolic efficiency”.
Aging is a double whammy for our mitochondria; not only do NAD+ levels drop off as we age, but the activity of NAD-dependent enzymes like SIRT3 declines as a result of aging-induced changes in cellular metabolism. SIRT3 helps facilitate key reactions inside the mitochondria, as well as protecting and generating new mitochondria, so this decline is bad news.
Signal’s SIRT3 Metabolic Activation Complex, honokiol and viniferin, are designed to work synergistically with NMN to activate SIRT3 to promote mitochondrial health and synthesis, which in turn support metabolic health.
As well as increasing NAD+ levels by 40% and activating SIRT3, Signal also promotes healthy metabolic aging by maintaining insulin sensitivity (helping to keep blood sugar at a healthy level), supporting vascular heath (critical for athletic endurance) and supporting the process of brown fat thermogenesis – converting sugar and fat into heat to maintain body temperature and help support a healthy metabolism.
Elevant NMN-C®
Elevant NMN-C® aims to bring scientific rigour to the supplements market. Elevant, in partnership with the Buck Institute and Seneque Lab, has developed a proprietary form of NMN, called NMN-C®. Using fully synthetic processes, the result is an NMN that is “most likely to be purer and more efficient at raising NAD+ levels” than other NMN products, says Dr Eric Verdin, President of the Buck Institute.
Endorsed by Dr Frank Lipman, a leader in the functional medicine field, Elevant has conducted what it claims to be the first study of its kind to be undertaken on NMN : an OECD toxicology study. The study showed NMN-C® to be an ‘extremely well-tolerated option’ even at highest concentration level (>1500mg/kg/day). NMN-C is used in in-human trials, meaning it meets clinical levels of safety, purity and quality. With 11 clinical trials underway, NMN-C is the most extensive in-human NMN research program to date, and it is the only pharma grade NMN available in the market.
Based on this research, Elevant has developed two products: Prime capsules and Optima chewable tablets. Designed to work together as a daily combination, these complementary delivery forms target different routes of absorption, one aiming for the long-term while the other releases immediate effects:
- Elevant Prime Capsules: zero in on cellular repair to decrease risks of metabolic diseases, such as diabetes, or cardiovascular dysfunctions, providing your cells with the fuel they need to operate and combat infections.
- Elevant Optima Chewable tablets: aid in combatting plunges in energy and focus. Optima enters your body through sub-lingual sensors, allowing NMN-C® to operate faster and promotes brain clarity and enhanced cognition functions.
In an environment in which many suppliers make bold and over-inflated claims about the efficacy of their supplements, Elevant focuses on scientific rigour and analysis and aims to appeal to those who want to see independent recognition of a company’s claims before committing to a purchase.
LIPO NAD+ Complete – Powdered Liposomal NAD+, NMN, & NR
For one of the strongest and fastest acting supplements on the market, look to Liposomal NMN from Renue by Science. This is a powder-based liposomal NMN product which has been shown to be up to six times more bioavailable than liquids. It takes advantage of liposomes – delivery vehicles that transport substances into the body either by facilitating absorption directly in the mouth or by preventing its breakdown by stomach acid. The product comes in 250mg tables and has been FDA inspected and ISO-Certified. At $94.95 for a pack of 90, it is pricey but does promise a high strength and fast acting product.
Youth & Earth NMN delayed release capsules
Produced to GMP standard, Youth & Earth‘s NMN capsules are soy free, GMO free and suitable for vegans and vegetarians. According to the company’s website, the 99% pharmaceutical grade product has been third-party tested; in addition, Youth & Earth is keen to make the customer aware that as NMN production techniques can differ greatly, its NMN is stable at extreme temperatures and has been tested up 40°C (104°F) and 75% relative humidity for three months with little or no degradation in purity.
Youth & Earth also sell a sublingual NMN powder for those looking to address bioavailability concerns.
Making your choice
These are just some of the NMN products available, with a quick search of the market revealing myriad options. The best way to check on quality is to look at the ingredients and ascertain which products have been independently tested and approved. If you find a product which is significantly cheaper than the others, you should consider that there may be a very good reason for that – if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.