Do NMN supplements work? Biohackers like Bryan Johnson take them to help reverse ageing
- Nicotinamide mononucleotide supplements are trending after the molecule was linked to age reversal in mice. Are they effective in humans?
NMN is trending on social media; an Instagram search for #NMN shows more than 230,000 posts.
The acronym stands for nicotinamide mononucleotide, a molecule made in the body that some people – including celebrity biohacker Bryan Johnson – are taking in supplements marketed as elixirs of youth.
Staying young is an obsession for many people and there is a wealth of literature on the subject – searching “longevity” in the books field on Amazon throws up more 40,000 results.
Small wonder the global anti-ageing market was valued at around US$62 billion in 2021, a figure expected to rise to US$93 billion by 2027, and that the NMN market alone is forecast to be worth US$1.19 billion by 2028.
Research on the effects of NMN supplements is under way, but more studies are needed.
Hong Kong-based doctor Laurena Law says companies marketing NMN supplements are able to sell them over the counter and online in Hong Kong as long as they do not make any claims about them treating diseases.
