Interested in intestinal aging? In addition to the many findings about the benefits of using NMN powder, the researchers have found another finding that draws attention to studying it more. We talked about how NMN is a direct NAD+ precursor that boosts the NAD+ levels in the body. The new study focuses on how NMN can increase the antioxidant response and reduce inflammation in older mice by repairing the damaged intestinal tissue caused by aging. This is an important factor because the intestines are responsible for absorbing the minerals we consume through food.
The key findings
The intestines are a crucial part of the digestive system. In general, the process of digesting food that begins in the mouth and continues in the stomach ends in the small intestine. Its primary role is to complete the digestion process with the help of intestinal juices produced in the intestinal glands and to absorb nutrients found in food. Also, the intestines are responsible for protecting the body from unknown substances outside the body.
When this protective barrier is damaged, harmful substances can get into the body and cause inflammation, harming different organs. As we age, this protective barrier can weaken and cause certain problems. This finding suggests that NMN (nicotinamide mononucleotide) can help with this condition.
According to this study, NMN can boost NAD+ levels and repair intestinal dysfunction in older mice. Also, NMN can increase the natural antioxidants for protecting the intestines from harmful substances. Furthermore, the researchers found that NMN can enhance genes that are related to gut barrier integrity.
NMN repairs intestinal wall in old mice
Numerous glands and microvilli on the mucous membrane serve to digest food and increase the intestine’s surface area to efficiently absorb nutrients from food. For this study, they give mice NMN in the drinking water. The results showed improved intestinal function and increased microvilli in high, thus promoting better nutrient absorption. NMN supplementation also boosts NAD+ levels in the jejunum, a part of the intestine.
Ru M, Wang W, Zhai Z, Wang R, Li Y, Liang J, Kothari D, Niu K, Wu X. Nicotinamide mononucleotide supplementation protects the intestinal function in aging mice and D-galactose induced senescent cells. Food Funct. 2022 Jul 18;13(14):7507-7519. doi: 10.1039/d2fo00525e. PMID: 35678708.
(NMN helps in intestine tissue repair and increases NAD+ levels in the jejunum.)
There are gaps between the intestinal wall. If these gaps increase, it can cause barrier dysfunction, which means certain harmful molecules can cross the wall and cause problems, resulting in mucosal inflammation. These gaps can be repaired by certain proteins. Researchers found that giving NMN can increase the activation of the genes related to these proteins, improve the gut wall and block the entry of harmful substances that may pass through it.
Ru M, Wang W, Zhai Z, Wang R, Li Y, Liang J, Kothari D, Niu K, Wu X. Nicotinamide mononucleotide supplementation protects the intestinal function in aging mice and D-galactose induced senescent cells. Food Funct. 2022 Jul 18;13(14):7507-7519. doi: 10.1039/d2fo00525e. PMID: 35678708.
(NMN increases the activation of genes associated with proteins that reduce the gaps between the intestinal wall.)
Does NMN affect reverse intestinal aging? They measured the genes associated with reducing inflammation and increasing antioxidant levels. The results showed positive feedback. NMN supplementation significantly up-regulated superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2) and nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2). Also, NMN decreases the reactive oxygen species (ROS) that cause inflammation leading to certain tissues and organ dysfunction.
In addition, NMN increases the mRNA expression of SIRT3 and SIRT6. NMN also impacts the expression of antioxidant enzymes, including GCLC, NQO1, GSH-PX1, 3 and 4, and SOD 2 and 3.
These findings suggest that NMN can help improve cell viability and natural antioxidant capacity, which helps with inflammation through sirtuins genes.
Long-term NMN treatment improves the composition of the gut microbiota
Giving NMN in the long run has been shown to reduce the diversity of intestinal species. 12-week older mice were given different concentrations of NMN in their drinking water for 15 weeks. Mice were divided into five groups of six individuals.
The results suggest that giving NMN can improve the microbial composition of mice feces. Also, NMN can increase certain good gut microbiota species such as Bacteroidales, Erysipelotrichales, Lactobacillales, Saccharimonadales, and Verrucomicrobiales compared to the control group. These results also suggest that NMN can enhance the structure of gut microbiota.
Huang P, Jiang A, Wang X, Zhou Y, Tang W, Ren C, Qian X, Zhou Z, Gong A. NMN Maintains Intestinal Homeostasis by Regulating the Gut Microbiota. Front Nutr. 2021 Jul 29;8:714604. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2021.714604. PMID: 34395502; PMCID: PMC8358781.
(The long-term effects of NMN on the composition of intestinal microflora.)
In addition to the long-term effects of NMN treatment, certain molecules couldn’t pass the intestinal mucosal barrier compared to the control group. For that purpose, they measured serum 4 kDa FITC-labeled dextran (FD4) in the first G1 group. As shown in the picture, the FD4 infiltration in the G1 group was reduced more than that in the control group. Therefore, these results indicate that giving NMN can improve intestinal mucosal permeability and maintain mucosal barrier integrity.
Huang P, Jiang A, Wang X, Zhou Y, Tang W, Ren C, Qian X, Zhou Z, Gong A. NMN Maintains Intestinal Homeostasis by Regulating the Gut Microbiota. Front Nutr. 2021 Jul 29;8:714604. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2021.714604. PMID: 34395502; PMCID: PMC8358781.
(The long-term effects of NMN on the intestinal mucosal permeability in mice.)
To sum up
Further investigations show that NMN boosts NAD+ levels, and high NAD+ levels maintain colonic homeostasis, which can prevent age-related gastrointestinal degeneration. Furthermore, NMN can protect the gut by improving the gut microbiota. NMN improves intestinal’s lining and enhances gut microbiome composition in older rodents. All these findings indicate that NMN can be used long-term for maintaining intestinal homeostasis and a healthy intestinal barrier.
