Nicotinamide Mononucleotide (NMN) and Nicotinamide Riboside (NR) are known for their potential anti-aging and energy-boosting properties. But as with all supplements, the conversation around NMN and NR takes a more cautious tone during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Here, we explore the intricacies of taking NMN and NR during pregnancy.
Consulting Healthcare Providers: The First Step
Before diving into the specifics of NMN and NR supplementation, it's crucial to highlight a fundamental principle: consulting your doctor before starting any new supplement while breastfeeding or pregnant is essential.
Medical professionals can offer personalised advice based on the latest research, your health history, and your pregnancy or breastfeeding needs. In line with this cautious approach, the general recommendation is not to take NMN and NR while pregnant or breastfeeding.
The Cautionary Tale: Safety First
Theoretically, since NMN and NR boost the production of NAD+ and because NAD+ is a compound naturally produced by the body, supplementation in doses under 1,000mg daily is unlikely to adversely affect the mother or baby. This perspective gains some support from animal studies, where NAD+ supplementation has been shown to result in healthier fetuses (R).
Despite the potential benefits and the body's natural affinity for NAD+, the lack of comprehensive research in pregnant and breastfeeding women warrants a cautious approach.
The primary concern revolves around the absence of targeted, human-based studies that specifically address the safety and efficacy of NMN and NR during pregnancy and breastfeeding. This gap in the research makes it challenging to draw firm conclusions about its safety profile for expecting or nursing mothers and their babies.
Research: A Glimpse into Potential Benefits
One study provides relevant insights, albeit in a non-human model. This study found that NMN supplementation in naturally aged mice improved the quality of oocytes (egg cells) by recovering levels of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+), increasing ovulation of aged oocytes, enhancing their meiotic competency, and maintaining normal spindle/chromosome structure.
The study suggests that NMN supplementation could be feasible to protect oocytes from age-related deterioration, potentially improving reproductive outcomes for aged women (R).
However, extrapolating these findings to humans requires caution, as physiological differences between species can lead to varying outcomes. Thus, these studies offer a foundation for further research but do not yet provide a green light for NMN and NR supplementation in pregnant and breastfeeding women (R).
Conclusion
In the landscape of pregnancy and early motherhood, where the well-being of two lives is intertwined, the approach to supplementation, including NMN and NR, must be navigated with care and informed caution.
The potential benefits of NMN and NR, backed by their role in enhancing NAD+ production and the promising yet preliminary animal studies, paint an optimistic picture for future research.
However, without conclusive human studies, the safest route remains to consult healthcare providers and, unless advised otherwise, refrain from NMN and NR supplementation during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
