Evidence Level
NMN research has progressed rapidly from animal models to human trials. Yi et al. (2022) confirmed oral NMN bioavailability and NAD+ elevation in humans. Yoshino et al. (2021) published the first placebo-controlled trial showing metabolic benefits (improved insulin sensitivity) in postmenopausal women. Liao et al. (2022) demonstrated exercise performance improvements in recreational runners. The NMN vs NR (nicotinamide riboside) debate continues — both raise NAD+, but NMN may have a slight edge in direct conversion efficiency since it is one enzymatic step closer to NAD+. David Sinclair's work at Harvard has driven public interest, though his research is primarily in mice. The field awaits larger, longer-duration human trials to confirm longevity-specific outcomes.