NMN supplements may slightly lower diastolic blood pressure, but the effect is small.Older adults aged 60 and older may see a modest reduction in systolic blood pressure, but more research is needed.NMN supplements are less effective at lowering blood pressure than proven lifestyle changes such as the DASH diet, regular exercise, and reduced sodium intake. Nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) is a compound the body uses to produce NAD+, a molecule that’s essential for producing energy in cells and repairing genetic cellular material. NAD+ levels naturally decline as we age, so NMN has become a popular anti-aging supplement.

A new study suggests it may have a positive effect on blood pressure levels. What the Research Says The study, published in Nutrients, analyzed 10 randomized controlled trials to determine whether using NMN supplements might improve blood pressure. The findings show NMN supplementation was associated with a small reduction in diastolic blood pressure (the maximum number), but there wasn’t a significant change in systolic blood pressure (the minimum number). The study does suggest that older adults might see slightly greater benefit, however.

In a subgroup analysis, adults aged 60 and older showed a significant reduction in systolic blood pressure of approximately 3.94 mmHg. "The results are interesting, but modest," said said Lauri Wright, PhD, RDN, director of nutrition programs and an associate professor at USF College of Public Health. "They show a drop of about 2 mmHg in diastolic blood pressure that is statistically measurable, but in clinical practice, is relatively small compared with results from more established lifestyle interventions." Why More Research Is Needed The meta-analysis included only 10 small, short-duration studies with a total of 349 participants.

This is a very small sample size for a meta-analysis, said Mahtab Jafari, PharmD, a longevity researcher and the founding director of the UC Irvine Center for Healthspan at University of California Irvine. Plus, none of the trials measured actual cardiovascular outcomes such as heart attacks, strokes, or cardiovascular mortality, Jafari said, adding that a 2.15 mmHg drop in blood pressure is statistically detectable but clinically modest and does not give us any information about cardiovascular outcomes. "The subgroup analysis in an even smaller sample size, which showed reduction of systolic blood pressure reduction in adults 60+, may be more significant, but it needs replication in larger, longer trials before it carries practical weight," she said. What Exactly Is NMN? NMN is a precursor molecule that is used to make NAD+, while NAD+ is a coenzyme that is essential for energy metabolism, DNA repair, cellular function, and more. NAD levels naturally decline with age, so NMN supplementation has been marketed as a way to restore NAD levels, sometimes with anti-aging claims, Jafari said.

But raising NAD+ in blood (a biomarker) does not guarantee the physiological effects that are related to NAD+, she explained. "NMN supplementation is an intriguing area of research because it targets NAD+ metabolism and cellular aging pathways," Wright added.

"However, the current evidence suggests only modest improvements in blood pressure, and more research is needed." Should You Take NMN For Blood Pressure? While the results are promising, Jafari said the change in diastolic blood pressure is too small, and study durations were too short, to justify taking this supplement to lower blood pressure. If you're looking to lower your blood pressure, Wright said NMN supplements shouldn't be a first-line strategy since the evidence suggests it may have a small effect compared with more powerful lifestyle strategy changes. For example, she said the DASH diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) can reduce systolic blood pressure by 8–14 mmHg in many people.

Regular physical activity, losing weight, and reducing sodium intake have also been shown to produce much larger, more consistent improvements. "So NMN may have potential adjunct benefits, but it doesn’t appear to approach the effectiveness of more proven dietary patterns as a way to lower blood pressure," she said. Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. By Mira Miller Miller is a journalist specializing in mental health, women's health, and culture.

Her work is published in outlets ranging from Vice to Healthnews. Thanks for your feedback!