Effects of nicotinamide mononucleotide on older patients with diabetes and impaired physical performance: A prospective, placebo‐controlled, double‐blind study
Abstract
Objective: Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide regulates various biological processes. Nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) increases its intracellular levels and counteracts age‐associated changes in animal models. We investigated the safety and efficacy of oral nicotinamide mononucleotide supplementation in older patients with diabetes and impaired physical performance. Method: We carried out a 24‐week placebo‐controlled, double‐blinded study of male patients with diabetes aged ≥65 years with reduced grip strength (<26 kg) or walking speed (<1.0 m/s). The primary end‐points were to determine the safety of NMN oral administration (250 mg/day), and changes in grip strength and walking speed. The secondary end‐points were to determine the changes in various exploratory indicators. Results: We studied 14 participants aged 81.1 ± 6.4 years. NMN was tolerable without any severe adverse events. The changes in grip strength and walking speed showed no difference between the two groups: 1.25 kg (95% confidence interval −2.31 to 4.81) and 0.033 m/s (−0.021 to 0.087) in the NMN group, and −0.44 kg (−4.15 to 3.26) and 0.014 m/s (−0.16 to −0.13) in the placebo group, respectively. There were no significant differences in any exploratory indicators between the two groups. However, improved prevalence of frailty in the NMN group (P = 0.066) and different changes in central retinal thickness between the two groups (P = 0.051) was observed. Conclusion: In older male patients with diabetes and impaired physical performance, NMN supplementation for 24 weeks was safe, but did not improve grip strength and walking speed. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2023; 23: 38–43.
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NR and NMN supplementation exhibited minimal or no efficacy against aging and age-associated diseases in several clinical trials.
“However, NR and NMN supplementation exhibited minimal or no efficacy against aging and age-associated diseases in several clinical trials, suggesting that further investigation of NAD+ metabolism is necessary (20, 21).”
From Nicotinamide riboside and nicotinamide mononucleotide facilitate NAD <sup>+</sup> synthesis via enterohepatic circulation (2025) · cites this paper as [21]
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- Authors
- Akasaka, H., Nakagami, H., Sugimoto, K., Yasunobe, Y., Minami, T., Fujimoto, T., Yamamoto, K., Hara, C., Shiraki, A., Nishida, K., Asano, K., Kanou, M., Yamana, K., Imai, S., & Rakugi, H.
- Affiliations
- The University of Osaka (JP)
- Kawasaki Medical School (JP)
- Osaka University Hospital (JP)
- Teijin (Japan) (JP)
- Washington University in St. Louis (US)
- Corresponding author
- Rakugi, Hiromi
- ORCID
- Venue
- Geriatrics & Gerontology International
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2022-11-28
- Volume
- 23
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 38-43
- ISSN
- 1444-1586 (ISSN-L)
- 1447-0594
- OpenAlex
- W4310191620
- Cited by
- 34
- References
- 19
- Citations by year
- 2026: 8 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 4
- FWCI
- 3.70
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Geriatrics and gerontology international/Geriatrics & gerontology international (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Geriatrics and Gerontology › Sirtuins and Resveratrol in Medicine
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Nutrition and Health in Aging
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Rheumatology › Folate and B Vitamins Research
- Keywords
- nicotinamide mononucleotide, NAD+ precursor supplementation, type 2 diabetes, older adults, grip strength, walking speed, frailty, central retinal thickness, drug safety, aging
- MeSH terms
- Walking Speed, Aged, Diabetes Mellitus, Double-Blind Method, Humans, Male, NAD, Nicotinamide Mononucleotide, Prospective Studies, Hand Strength
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