[1] In mice, it has been proposed that NMN is absorbed via the small intestine within 10 minutes of oral uptake and converted to nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) through the Slc12a8 transporter.

[4] Because NADH is a cofactor for processes inside mitochondria, for sirtuins and PARP, NMN has been studied in animal models as a potential neuroprotective and anti-aging agent.

[8] However, no human studies to date have properly proven its anti-aging effects with proposed health benefits only suggested through research done in vitro or through animal models.

[12] A 2023 clinical trial showed that NMN improves performance on a six-minute walking test and a subjective general health assessment.

[21] Certain enzymes are sensitive to the intracellular NMN/NAD+ ratio, such as SARM1,[22] a protein responsible for initiating cellular degeneration pathways such as MAP kinase and inducing axonal loss and neuronal death.