In the US, as recorded by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), around 6.7 percent of the population experienced an episode of depression in the year 2016. If you are wondering about the symptoms of depression, then here they are:
- Reduced energy
- Inadequacy in feeling pleasure or joy
- A decline in cognition levels
Of course, there is a proper and approved medication course that doctors prescribe to their patients with depression. But many times, almost two-thirds of people do not respond to the initial treatment of antidepressant medication. Also, around 15-40% of percent population of depressed patients does not respond to further multiple therapies. You must read this article if you wish to know how NMN can reduce the symptoms of depression.
How NMN helps in reducing the symptoms of depression?
As it is well known, NAD+, short for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, is present in every cell of the body. It is responsible for various functions that are vital for your body. When the levels of NAD+ decline, it results in the person getting all sluggish, and even reduced NAD+ levels promote negative mood. This one requires increased levels of NAD+ levels in the body, and for that, NMN is a great supplement. While increasing the NAD+ levels, NMN also helps increase the energy metabolism in the powerhouse of cells of the brain and liver, the mitochondria.
With depression, people also tend to lose weight, and after supplementing the body with NMN, the situations were reversed. To check NMN supplements’ working, researchers first injected depression in mice with a stress hormone called corticosterone. Once four weeks are completed after the injection of depression, the researchers injected the mice with NMN for about two weeks and witnessed that mice’s bodyweight nearly came back to normal.
Even the researchers kept notice of mice’s behavior before and after NMN got injected, and the behavioral evaluations after NMN supplement were less likely to show depression. Wondering how mice do pass the test of no depression? The researchers force the mice into a “swim-test” where they struggle to stay afloat and not drown. In such a test, mice with no depression will continue to struggle for long, whereas the mice with depression will quit much sooner.
Also, some studies showed decreased production of energy molecules in the body, that is, ATP, in the bodies of patients having major disorders due to depression. Reduced ATP can lead to dysfunction in mitochondria and further lead to depression. To promote the functioning of mitochondria will help with depression, and for that, one needs to increase the NAD+ levels, and we all know how to do that. It can get achieved by taking NMN supplements.
In conclusion
NMN has proved to be effective in patients with depression, at least in animals, as mention in the top article. There are numerous benefits associated with it. If you ever wish to buy this supplement, do consult with your doctor first, as it is always great to have professional advice before taking any venture.