Canine Health: NMN is one coenzyme that had been known for its ability to be rapidly converted into NAD+. This coenzyme is also widely known to help other enzymes to function well, which include processes ranging from brain cell growth to DNA repair to helping the cells’ mitochondria create energy from food.
In essence, NAD for DOGS is crucial for maintaining cellular and metabolic functions. This task translates to better health and longevity to human bodies. This time, it translates to the same conditions in the cells of our dogs and its organs, which translates to better health and longevity of our dogs’ cells, organs, and their bodies.
Dogs and men conditions
NMN has also been studied for its effects on the various age-related conditions and improving markers of lifespan and “healthspan” of our bodies. Incidentally, dogs tend to be afflicted with some age-related conditions as humans.
Medical researchersthought that the same supplements that help humans could benefit our dog. The belief is that biologically and physiologically, dogs and humans are more alike than humans and mice (the usual animals used for testing new medical finds).
There is also the added belief that the results of human trials with NMN could apply to our dogs.
Applicable to dogs
Therefore, we can expect that the results from human trials with NMN (which boosts the levels of NAD+) could also apply to our four-legged friends.
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.”
The foremost researcher in the longevity field, Dr. David Sinclair, a well-known supporter of the research and use of NMN to boost NAD+ levels and support longevity, has publicly stated he uses NMN both for himself and his dog.
The following are some of the benefits of NMN for dogs.
Slows down cellular aging
Humans exhibit signs of aging and physical decline as we grow older, and our dogs do, too. Like humans, their DNA displays certain markers that are signs of accelerating their biological or cellular age faster than their chronological age.
A form of epigenetic change that happens with age is DNA methylation—the addition or removal of chemicals called methyl groups to strands of DNA. The increased rates of DNA methylation accelerate aging.
It is coupled with the development of physiological decline (slowing of metabolic functions, weakening both mind and body). In smaller animals and organisms, sirtuin activity determines the length of their lifespan, which is oneway NMN slows down cellular aging.
NAD+ modulates DNA methylation and regulates the activity of a family of enzyme proteins called the sirtuins.
May extend lifespan
There is no evidence as yet if NMN can extend the lifespan of both themselves and their pets. There is no data on human studies that can serve as models for health and longevity research.
However, research has found that boosting NAD+ levels through precursors like NMN extends lifespan in some species, including yeast and worms. However, the research on NMN and lifespan in dogs (and humans) is still lacking, and we will need additional studies
supplemental NMN can still boost our dogs’ healthspans, maximizing the number of healthy years we can spend playing with our pups.
Better energy and healthy weights
Supplemental NMN in animal studies shows support for improving energy levels, and much of this improvement comes from beneficial action to the animals’ metabolic functions. Like humans, canine metabolisms slow with age and contribute to weight gain or obesity.
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 study published in Cell Metabolism, mice that were NMN-supplemented for 12 months experienced significant improvement. They were actively engaging in physical activity, energy expenditure, and oxygen consumption, all of which are indicators of healthier metabolic functions.
Supports Immune Health
As with humans, the immune systems of dogs also slow down with increasing age. In turn, this makes them more susceptible to both acute illnesses like infections as well as chronic diseases.
In the 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.
Supports heart health
Like their human counterpart, the dog’s 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. This can be done by boosting NAD+ levels in the circulatory system. Animal studies have found that supplemental NMN improves vascular blood flow.
Likewise, it reduces artery stiffness and plaque buildup, and fights oxidative stress.
Safety
What’s safe for humans isn’t always necessarily safe for dogs (chocolate), 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.
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.
Last notes
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 can still serve as valuable stepping stones for supporting the use of NMN in dogs.
