The Top 5 Benefits of NMN for Dogs: Teaching Old Dogs New Anti-Aging Tricks
TL;DR: NMN is a precursor to NAD+ — a compound required by every cell in our dogs’ bodies. Supplementing dogs with NMN is linked to support for immune, metabolic, cardiovascular, and cellular health, and it may even extend their lifespan. Staay’s Longevity powder provides your pup’s palate with the perfect pork liver-flavored product to keep them playing for perpetuity.
One of life’s cruel truths is that we tend to outlive our beloved furry friends. While we like to believe all dogs go to heaven, most of us would rather extend the time we have on earth with our loyal Fidos and Spots.
An innovative way to fight back against dogs' (maybe-not-so) inevitable aging is with a compound called NMN (nicotinamide mononucleotide). NMN is a direct precursor to another molecule, NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide), a vital coenzyme needed by virtually every cell in our—and our dogs’—bodies.
Without any NAD+, we would die—and with declining levels, we develop disease and premature aging. As humans age, we lose about 50% of our NAD+ stores by the time we turn 60; our dogs can suffer from similar declines (1). This knowledge has prompted pet-owning scientists to turn their longevity-focused attention away from humans and toward animals, hoping for a way to keep our four-legged friends with us longer. And, as it turns out, that answer might be supplemental NMN for dogs.
NMN 101: Why Is Boosting NAD+ So Important?
One of the most well-known functions of NMN is its ability to be rapidly converted into NAD+. As a coenzyme, NAD+ helps other enzymes to function correctly, including processes ranging from brain cell growth to DNA repair to helping the cells’ mitochondria create energy from food.
Essentially, NAD+ is crucial for maintaining cellular and metabolic functions, which translates to better health and longevity of our dogs’ cells, organs, and bodies as a whole.
So, where does NMN come in? Other than directly boosting levels of NAD+, NMN has also been studied for its effects on ameliorating various age-related conditions and improving markers of lifespan and “healthspan”—how long one lives without developing disease. As dogs tend to be afflicted by similar age-related conditions as humans, it’s thought that the same supplements that help humans could also benefit our pups.
Some of the most prominent areas of research involving NMN include supporting brain health and cognition (2), heart and vascular health (3), energy and physical performance (4), and eye health (5). While most of these studies have been with smaller animals, they are still a valuable stepping stone for supporting the use of NMN in dogs.
The foremost researcher in the longevity space, Dr. David Sinclair, is a well-known supporter of the research and use of NMN to boost NAD+ levels and support longevity—he’s publicly stated he uses NMN both for himself and his dog.
You may wonder when you should start supplementing your dog with NMN. While the answer can vary based on breed and size, it’s unlikely that your dog would need to boost NAD+ levels while still in puppyhood. (Their energy levels alone should tell you that their NAD+ stores are just fine!)
In humans, our NAD+ levels slightly drop in our 30s, with more significant declines in our late 40s and beyond. Translated into dog years, NMN supplementation could begin between the ages of 5 and 7, with larger breeds perhaps starting on the earlier end of the range.
“NMN supplementation could begin between the ages of 5 and 7, with larger breeds perhaps starting on the earlier end of the range.”
Top 5 Benefits of NMN for Dogs
While the majority of NMN studies so far have been done with rodents, research in recent years has exhibited how boosting NAD+ with its direct precursor—NMN—can benefit human health, which may then translate to canine health and longevity.
Biologically and physiologically, scientists believe that dogs and humans are quite alike—more so than our similarities to mice. Therefore, we can expect that the results from human trials with NMN could also apply to our four-legged friends.
NMN Slows Down Cellular Aging
Just as we exhibit signs of aging and physical decline as we grow older, our dogs do, too. Like humans, dogs’ DNA displays certain markers that are signs of accelerating their biological or cellular age faster than their chronological age—AKA the year that would be on their doggy birth certificate. This hallmark of biological aging is part of the field of epigenetics, or the modification of DNA molecules.
One form of epigenetic change that happens with age is DNA methylation—the addition or removal of chemicals called methyl groups to strands of DNA. Increased rates of DNA methylation accelerate aging and the development of physiological decline, like slowing down metabolic functions and weakening both mind and body.
Boosting NAD+ with precursors like NMN is a promising way to slow down this internal aging on a cellular level. NAD+ modulates DNA methylation and regulates the activity of a family of enzyme proteins called the sirtuins (6). In smaller animals and organisms, sirtuin activity determines the length of their lifespan, which is one way NMN slows down cellular aging.
2. NMN May Extend Lifespan
Many people want to know if NMN will be able to extend the lifespan of both themselves and their pets. While we don’t yet have that data from human studies (which take multiple decades and millions of dollars to complete), rodent and yeast studies can be an adequate representation. Even though dogs aren’t mice, yeast, or worms, these smaller species can serve as models for health and longevity research.
Research has found that boosting NAD+ levels through precursors like NMN extends lifespan in lesser species, including yeast and worms. For example, one 2013 study published in Cell found that NMN extended the lifespan of the commonly studied lab worm, C. elegans, by over 10% (7).
However, the research on NMN and lifespan in dogs (and humans) is still lacking, and we will need additional studies before we can state definitively if and how much NMN could lengthen the lifespans of our furry best friends. But on the bright side, even without further research, supplemental NMN can still boost our dogs’ healthspans, maximizing the number of healthy years we can spend playing with our pups.
3. NMN Supports Better Energy and Healthy Weights
In animal studies, supplemental NMN shows support for improving energy levels, and much of this improvement comes from beneficial action to the animals’ metabolic functions. Again, like humans, canine metabolisms slow with age and contribute to weight gain or obesity. If you have an older dog, you’ve also likely noticed that their energy levels have dropped substantially since their crazy puppy days.
Supplying dogs with supplemental NMN may be one way to fight back against both their age-related weight gain and declines in energy by providing their cells’ mitochondria with additional energy in the form of NAD+.
In a landmark study published in Cell Metabolism, mice that were NMN-supplemented for 12 months experienced significant improvements in physical activity, energy expenditure, and oxygen consumption—all of which are indicators of healthier metabolic function. Plus, they had reductions in body weight by 9%, which was due to the increased energy expenditure rather than decreasing appetite (8).
4. NMN Supports Immune Health
Dogs’ immune systems also slow down with increasing age, making them more susceptible to both acute illnesses like infections as well as chronic diseases.
In the previously mentioned Cell Metabolism study, the aged mice that didn’t receive NMN exhibited significant increases in negative immune function and inflammatory markers. Conversely, NMN ameliorated these adverse pathways in the supplemented mice, suggesting superior immune regulation with age when supplying the body with NAD+ precursors (8).
5. NMN Supports Heart Health
Our dogs’ organs tend to exhibit declining function with age—especially the heart. In older dogs, the prevalence of developing heart or cardiovascular disorders is estimated at over 60%.
Keeping blood vessels healthy with age is vital for preventing cardiovascular conditions, which may be done by boosting NAD+ levels in the circulatory system. Animal studies have found that supplemental NMN improves vascular blood flow, reduces artery stiffness and plaque buildup, and fights oxidative stress—the buildup of reactive molecules that damage cells and organ function (9, 10).
As with the other benefits of NMN for dogs, we don’t yet have available research looking at dogs’ hearts and NMN, but these animal studies provide relevant representations for now.
Is NMN Safe for Dogs?
What’s safe for humans isn’t always necessarily safe for dogs (chocolate, anyone?) Fortunately, this does not seem to be the case for NMN—and for this, we actually do have research directly studying NMN’s effects on dogs.
In a study published in the journal Frontiers in Pharmacology in 2020, researchers looked at the safety and potential toxicity of NMN in a small group of beagle dogs. The ten dogs were 4 years old and weighed between 9 and 11 kilograms; half were randomly chosen to receive 10 mL of NMN either once or twice per day (11).
After two weeks of NMN administration, the researchers found that the lower dose (once-per-day treatment) was especially safe and well-tolerated, and the high-dose and short-term oral administration caused mild or minimal side effects. The double dose did cause a mild but not clinically relevant increase in creatinine and uric acid—two markers of kidney health—and slight increases in one liver enzyme. But the higher doses of NMN also improved blood lipid levels and metabolic responses.
Overall, the scientists behind this study state, “NMN has the potential to be implemented as [a] safe therapeutic agent against age-associated physiological decline and disease. Our findings from this short-term administration study provide a possible safe dose range for oral administration of NMN, hoping to translate the results to humans.” (Or dogs.)
Winner Winner, Pork Liver Dinner
So, now that we know all about the benefits of NMN for dogs, you may wonder—can I just give them my own NMN supplements? In short, we wouldn’t recommend that because the dosages for humans and dogs are different.
Plus, one of the most significant difficulties of administering NMN to dogs is that they don’t seem to enjoy the taste of NMN, making human NMN supplements a no-go.
Therefore, Staay’s Longevity powder was born—a pet-focused NMN powdered supplement with a tasty pork liver flavoring designed to mask the natural taste of NMN so our dogs can live their longest and healthiest lives.
Key Takeaways:
NMN is a precursor to NAD+— a vital coenzyme that declines with age and is responsible for many age-related symptoms and disorders.
Supplementing dogs with NMN may be one way to extend their longevity, as NMN is linked to slower cellular aging, improved energy and metabolism, immune support, and better cardiovascular function.
Research has found that NMN is safe for dogs to take, even in higher-than-normal doses.
Staay’s Longevity powder is a pet-focused NMN supplement to support long and healthy lives in our furriest friends.
References:
Massudi H, Grant R, Braidy N, Guest J, Farnsworth B, Guillemin GJ. Age-associated changes in oxidative stress and NAD+ metabolism in human tissue. PLoS One. 2012;7(7):e42357. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0042357
Kiss T, Nyúl-Tóth Á, Balasubramanian P, et al. Nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) supplementation promotes neurovascular rejuvenation in aged mice: transcriptional footprint of SIRT1 activation, mitochondrial protection, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic effects. Geroscience. 2020;42(2):527-546. doi:10.1007/s11357-020-00165-5
Das A, Huang GX, Bonkowski MS, et al. Impairment of an Endothelial NAD+-H2S Signaling Network Is a Reversible Cause of Vascular Aging. Cell. 2018;173(1):74-89.e20. doi:10.1016/j.cell.2018.02.008
Liao B, Zhao Y, Wang D, Zhang X, Hao X, Hu M. Nicotinamide mononucleotide supplementation enhances aerobic capacity in amateur runners: a randomized, double-blind study. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2021;18(1):54. Published 2021 Jul 8. doi:10.1186/s12970-021-00442-4
Zhao C, Li W, Duan H, et al. NAD+ precursors protect corneal endothelial cells from UVB-induced apoptosis. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol. 2020;318(4): C796-C805. doi:10.1152/ajpcell.00445.2019
Ummarino S, Hausman C, Gaggi G, et al. NAD Modulates DNA Methylation and Cell Differentiation. Cell. 2021;10(11):2986. Published 2021 Nov 2. doi:10.3390/cells10112986
Mouchiroud L, Houtkooper RH, Moullan N, et al. The NAD(+)/Sirtuin Pathway Modulates Longevity through Activation of Mitochondrial UPR and FOXO Signaling. Cell. 2013;154(2):430-441. doi:10.1016/j.cell.2013.06.016
Mills KF, Yoshida S, Stein LR, et al. Long-Term Administration of Nicotinamide Mononucleotide Mitigates Age-Associated Physiological Decline in Mice. Cell Metab. 2016;24(6):795–806. doi:10.1016/j.cmet.2016.09.013
Zhang R, Shen Y, Zhou L, et al. Short-term administration of Nicotinamide Mononucleotide preserves cardiac mitochondrial homeostasis and prevents heart failure. J Mol Cell Cardiol. 2017;112:64-73. doi:10.1016/j.yjmcc.2017.09.001
de Picciotto NE, Gano LB, Johnson LC, et al. Nicotinamide mononucleotide supplementation reverses vascular dysfunction and oxidative stress with aging in mice. Aging Cell. 2016;15(3):522-530. doi:10.1111/acel.12461
You Y, Gao Y, Wang H, et al. Subacute Toxicity Study of Nicotinamide Mononucleotide via Oral Administration. Front Pharmacol. 2020;11:604404. Published 2020 Dec 15. doi:10.3389/fphar.2020.604404
