Study
Improved Physical Performance Parameters in Patients Taking Nicotinamide Mononucleotide (NMN): A Systematic Review of Randomized Control Trials
A systematic review of NMN RCTs found non-significant improvements in physical performance and no serious adverse effects, with benefits appearing dose- and possibly time-dependent, at doses up to 1200 mg per day.
Summary Does NMN improve strength, fitness, or muscle in people? Show / hide ↓
Researchers combined a small number of randomized controlled trials, studies where people are assigned by chance to receive a treatment or comparison. The trials involved adults who took NMN, a form of vitamin B3, at doses up to 1,200 milligrams daily. NMN showed small improvements in strength and aerobic fitness, meaning the ability to exercise using oxygen, but these changes were not statistically significant, so they could have happened by chance. It did not clearly improve body fat or muscle size. No serious safety problems were found, and reported side effects did not appear to be caused by NMN.
What this means for you: This review does not show a clear physical-performance benefit worth buying NMN for. The doses studied appeared reasonably well tolerated, but the evidence is too limited to know whether longer use or higher doses help.
weak evidenceWen and colleagues reviewed randomised controlled trials testing NMN's effect on physical performance and safety. The review's stated purpose was to evaluate both effect and safety profile of NMN supplementation. Across the included trials, NMN supplementation was associated with a non-significant improvement in physical strength and aerobic performance. Body composition and muscle mass were not significantly affected. The authors describe a dose-dependent and possibly time-dependent relationship, meaning higher doses and longer duration trials tended to show larger, though still not statistically significant, effects. On safety, no serious adverse events were observed, and doses up to 1200 mg per day were well tolerated; reported side effects were determined to be independent of NMN supplementation. The authors explicitly note that the limited number of qualifying studies prevents a comprehensive conclusion about NMN's benefits. This review sits alongside the Zhang and Chen 2024 meta-analyses as a third independent voice reaching the same core verdict: NMN is safe at studied doses, reliably moves biomarkers, but has not yet demonstrated a clinically decisive functional benefit in adequately powered trials.
NMN supplementation is associated with a nonsignificant improvement in the physical strength and aerobic performance and is well tolerated with no serious adverse effects. However, body composition and muscle mass are not significantly affected. There is a dose-dependent and possibly time-dependent relationship with these benefits. However, the limited number of studies prevents a comprehensive conclusion on the benefits of NMN.
Authors themselves flag that the small number of eligible RCTs limits how much can be concluded. Non-significant trends should not be read as evidence of effect.
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