A newly published 24-week clinical trial gives us a useful reality check on NMN research: taking NMN can raise NAD+ biomarkers in the blood, but a higher biomarker level does not automatically translate into better physical performance.
That distinction matters. NAD+ is essential to cellular energy metabolism and many other biological processes, which is why NMN continues to attract scientific interest. But responsible interpretation requires separating what researchers measured from what consumers might feel.
What did the researchers test?
The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study enrolled healthy Japanese adults aged 65 and older. Participants received either 1,250 mg of NMN daily or a placebo for 24 weeks. Sixty participants were included in the safety analysis, and 58 completed the study.
The researchers examined whole-blood NAD+ and related metabolites. They also evaluated hearing—the study’s primary functional endpoint—along with several measures of physical performance.
What changed?
NMN supplementation significantly and sustainably increased whole-blood NAD+ and related metabolites. This provides human evidence that oral NMN can meaningfully affect the circulating NAD+ metabolome over six months.
That is a biochemical result. It shows that the intervention engaged the intended metabolic pathway under the conditions tested.
What did not change?
Despite the increase in NAD+ biomarkers, the study found no significant improvement in its primary hearing endpoint or in measured physical-performance outcomes.
This does not mean NAD+ biology is unimportant. It means that raising a blood biomarker and demonstrating a noticeable health benefit are two different scientific questions.
Based on this trial alone, it would not be appropriate to claim that NMN increases strength, improves mobility, enhances hearing, provides noticeable energy, or slows aging.
What did the study find about safety?
Adverse events were reported in 7 of 31 participants receiving NMN and 6 of 29 receiving placebo. No serious adverse event was judged to have been caused by NMN.
One NMN participant developed liver dysfunction after entering the study with mildly abnormal liver-function results. The investigators considered a causal relationship with NMN unlikely, but they still emphasized the importance of careful safety monitoring—particularly in susceptible individuals.
The trial provides useful medium-term safety information, but it does not establish lifetime safety or safety for every population. Anyone with a medical condition, abnormal liver or kidney tests, or prescription-medication use should discuss supplements with a qualified healthcare professional.
Important limitations
- The study was relatively small.
- Participants were healthy Japanese adults aged 65 and older, so the findings may not apply equally to other populations.
- The tested dose was 1,250 mg per day.
- Blood NAD+ does not necessarily represent NAD+ changes in muscle, brain, liver, or other tissues.
- The study was funded by MIRAILAB BIOSCIENCE, which supplied the NMN and employed three authors. The paper states that the company was not involved in the study design, clinical data collection, statistical analysis, interpretation, manuscript preparation, or publication decision.
What does this mean for Vitasonic Labs NMN?
Vitasonic Labs NMN provides a 500 mg serving, not the 1,250 mg intervention tested in this study. The trial therefore should not be used to promise that our product will reproduce its biochemical result—and the trial did not establish improvements in energy, strength, mobility, hearing, or longevity at any dose.
The responsible takeaway is more precise: NMN can influence NAD+ metabolism, while researchers are still determining when—and whether—those biomarker changes produce meaningful functional benefits.
That is why we believe supplement positioning should emphasize accurate labeling, quality practices, realistic expectations, and transparent discussion of both positive and negative findings.
Study: Igarashi M, Naruse K, Takaoka Y, et al. “Sustained NAD+ augmentation by high-dose nicotinamide mononucleotide supplementation in older adults: a 24-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.” npj Aging. Published September 25, 2026. Read the original peer-reviewed paper.
This article is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Dietary supplements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Individual results may vary.