Benefits of Supplementation with Nicotinamide Mononucleotide on Oocyte Quality

Chemotherapy, while essential in cancer treatment, can cause significant damage to the ovaries, resulting in premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) and reduced fertility. In a recent study, the potential of nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) supplementation as a non-invasive therapeutic approach to restore the quality of oocytes affected by chemotherapy and aging was investigated.

What is NMN?

NMN is a key metabolite in energy metabolism and cellular signaling, acting as a precursor to NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide), an essential cofactor for processes that maintain oocyte quality, including mitochondrial function and DNA repair. Previous studies had indicated that NMN could mitigate age-related decline in oocyte quality, but its effect on chemotherapy-induced ovarian damage had not been well-studied.

Key Findings of the Study

The study used murine models with varying degrees of ovarian damage induced by chemotherapy, and the results were encouraging:

• NMN supplementation during a full folliculogenesis cycle (4 weeks) notably improved the quality of oocytes exposed to chemotherapy.

• An increase in NAD+ levels was observed, along with mitochondrial redistribution that favored proper meiotic spindle formation, and improved fertilization rates.

• In POI models, NMN reduced the abundance of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and improved the quantity of mitochondria in oocytes.

Moreover, when NMN supplementation was applied over a shorter period (14 days), improvements were also evident, though less pronounced compared to prolonged treatment.

Clinical Implications

These findings highlight NMN not only as a powerful supplement to improve ovarian health in women who have undergone chemotherapy but also for those seeking to maintain fertility as they age. NMN's ability to restore oocyte quality presents significant opportunities for treating infertility and preserving fertility in this group of women.

With the increasing number of women surviving cancer and those delaying motherhood, research into strategies to protect ovarian function is more relevant than ever. This study suggests that NMN could represent a valuable adjuvant therapy to address deficiencies in oocyte quality and optimize overall reproductive health.

As research progresses, the scientific community now faces the challenge of conducting well-designed clinical trials to evaluate NMN's effectiveness and safety as a treatment for various reproductive conditions, thereby improving motherhood opportunities for many women.

Dive into the details of this research at the following link: Nicotinamide mononucleotide supplementation improves oocyte developmental competence in different ovarian damage conditions - ScienceDirect