Should You Supplement With NMN For Heart Health?
Results of a 2 week experiment on heart health metrics and blood markers
Supplementation with NMN for longevity is a huge discussion topic on social media these days. Does it make sense to explore it to improve heart health? Here are the results of my 2 week experiment with this supplement.
What is NMN?
There is a substance which is produced in our body which is called NAD. NAD stimulates a range of body functions including metabolic processes, improving cellular energy and aiding DNA repair. The level of NAD in the human body declines with age.
The theory is that supplementing with NMN, which is a precursor for NAD creation, increases NAD and this should lead to a number of good things. Like having more energy or being able to exercise for longer.
Ultimately it should improve longevity because it is fighting aging-related disorders such as oxidative stress, DNA damage, neurodegeneration, and inflammatory responses. So in theory it should help with heart health as well.
Why did I decide that I am ready for this experiment?
All supplements which I regularly consume, which includes magnesium, creatine, and Omega3, satisfy two criteria:
They are proven to be safe
They are proven to actually work by at least 10 randomised control trials.
At the time of publishing this video the situation with NMN is somewhat different. After about 10 years of research most published reports DO show that NMN in fact has a positive impact on metabolic functions of cell organisms or mice.
Most of the research on humans actually demonstrates very mixed results. Some of the research shows that NMN does have a positive effect and some research shows no positive effect whatsoever.
The good news is that all this research showed that NMN is safe for humans to consume [1].
So when our friends at www.youthandearth.com offered me to try their V14 longevity supplement, where NMN is a key component, I decided to give it a go.
Ingredients of the supplement which I have tried.
In addition to 500 mg of NMN in one sachet, V14 also includes another 13 science backed longevity ingredients, like Antioxidant-Rich Berry, Fruit and Vegetable Complex, plus minerals which many people consume in insufficient amounts. The full list of ingredients is available here.
The list of these ingredients is very impressive. Especially for someone who doesn't have regular access to the whole foods which include these components. For example for someone who spends a lot of time traveling. I am fortunate enough to consume these ingredients with our family’s diet so for me the most important component to test was in fact NMN.
What protocol did I use?
I had a 2 week supply of V14 provided by Youthandearth and I timed its consumption in such a way that I consumed 12 sachets prior to a very long travel day and the last two sachets I consumed on the day of a 20 hour trip which included several flight connections. I kept my usual weekly training routine during the loading phase.
What heart health metrics did I measure?
During the 12 day loading stage I took my regular daily measurements of the health metrics which I track. 24x7 blood pressure was measured with Aktiia 24x7 BP monitor bracelet.
I also measured resting heart rate and HRV after waking up, nighttime heart rate dip, respiration rate and VO2max with a 5 minute step test. All this was done with our app BreathNow.
I also took blood tests right before the 12 day loading phase and 24 hours after the long trip.
The blood test included a standard blood panel. I paid special attention however to Hb1AC , HDL, LDL metrics as some published research showed that NMN improves them.
What did I learn?
None of the heart health metrics produced a noticeable change.
My blood markers changed by no more than 5% . I attribute this difference primarily to different types of equipment in the different labs which I used. One potential reason is that in my case these metrics are reasonably good for my age anyway.
Has anything changed?
In fact one metric had a positive change. It is a subjective one but I think it is worth mentioning. Usually after long travels I do not feel enthusiastic about doing my usual 10K run.
This time however I woke up after a 6 hour sleep following this long trip feeling quite refreshed. I did my relaxed 10k in 55 minutes as usual and it felt ok. I can not say for sure whether it was a direct result of a positive NMN impact. More experiments needed.
Summary
2 week supplementation with 500mg of NMN did not produce a noticeable impact on my heart health metrics or blood markers. Subjectively I felt more energetic than I usually feel after a long trip. So I am considering a longer NMN trial in the fall to see if a longer consumption period makes any difference.
I would still recommend V14 supplement for its rich antioxidant, vitamin and mineral ingredients to people who do not have regular access to a diverse whole food diet which include these components. I plan to carry this supplement with me during long trips as a way to reduce stress and lower fatigue.
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