Yes, you can generally take your NMN (nicotinamide mononucleotide) supplements with your morning cup of coffee. In fact, NMN can fit well into your morning routine because its function is to support NAD+ levels, which aligns with the body's circadian rhythm to support cellular energy production for daily activities.
One thing you might want to consider, though, is to avoid mixing NMN powder directly into hot coffee because the heat might cause some stability concerns, making the compound less effective.
Effect of NMN with Coffee
Caffeine and coffee components don’t appear to interfere with NMN absorption. While research is limited, we couldn't find any evidence of harmful effects when combining NMN with coffee.
Dr. David Sinclair, a Havard professor best known for his research in aging, includes NMN in his extensive supplement routine, but he doesn't disclose that he specifically pairs it with coffee.
It looks like whether you choose to combine NMN with coffee comes down to your personal preference. NMN is a water-soluble compound, which means it dissolves easily in water and doesn't depend on fats for efficient absorption. This means you can take it with or without food.
For many people, pairing NMN with coffee is convenient as coffee is already part of their morning routine. Taking NMN in the morning aligns with your natural circadian rhythm when your cells are most active in energy metabolism.
However, some suggest avoiding hot beverages like coffee or tea when taking NMN.
The reasoning is that high temperatures could potentially degrade NMN, reducing its potency. While no direct studies confirm this, NMN’s stability is known to decrease in high-heat conditions.
If you’re taking NMN in a capsule, there’s no concern about the coffee’s heat, as the capsule protects the NMN until it’s absorbed in your digestive system. And you're likely consuming your hot beverages when they've cooled down a lot more so as not to burn yourself.
But if you’re using NMN powder, it’s best to mix it with cool water instead of hot coffee to preserve its stability.
The Effects of Coffee on Supplement Absorption
Coffee contains bioactive compounds like caffeine, chlorogenic acids, and polyphenols that have been shown to interact with certain supplements, potentially affecting their absorption.
For instance, it's recommended that you space out your morning coffee and iron, calcium, or vitamin D supplements.
The polyphenols and caffeine in coffee have been shown to reduce iron absorption from a hamburger meal by 39% [1]. And if you have a calcium deficiency, consuming high levels of caffeine from tea or coffee has been shown to slightly decrease calcium retention [2].
However, coffee doesn't negatively impact most supplements, including NMN. But if you're concerned about your supplement absorption, it's best to discuss this with your healthcare professional, who may be able to provide individual guidance on the best ways to make the most of your supplement regimen.
Can You Buy NMN-Infused Coffee?
We did find a brand that sells NMN coffee at $75 for 30 sachets. NMN iHealth Global has an instant coffee with 50 mg of NMN that's made to be a convenient way to get your boost of caffeine alongside the benefits of NMN for your cellular health.
We can’t vouch for this supplement’s flavor or effectiveness, but we can see where the company is coming from.
As coffee lovers ourselves, we’d say stick to making your own cup of coffee where you actually know the source of your beans and take your supplements separately. This way, you’ll have more control over how much NMN you’re getting with each dose.
For instance, our NMN capsules contain 900 mg per serving, and you get a 90-day supply at a fraction of the price ($59) of this brand’s NMN coffee.
Does NMN Exist in Coffee Naturally?
NMN is not naturally found in coffee.
Coffee has a range of antioxidants and bioactive compounds, but NMN is more commonly found in foods like edamame, broccoli, and avocado. But even in these foods, NMN isn't found in substantial quantities to reap its health benefits.
Because of this, supplements are the best reliable option for supporting NAD+ levels and cellular energy metabolism.
Can I Take NMN With Coffee?
We don't see a big issue in terms of safety or deteriorating the efficacy of taking your NMN supplements with coffee. Still, to maintain the potency of your NMN, we'd say it's best to avoid mixing powder into hot beverages.
Capsules are generally unaffected by heat, making them an easy option. Or you can take NMN drops under your tongue, where the absorption process starts at the microcapillaries under your tongue for fast and efficient absorption.
Besides calcium, iron, and vitamin D, coffee doesn't really impact the absorption of supplements, including NMN. If you're a coffee lover, you should stick to brewing your own cup of coffee rather than buying into the gimmick of pre-mixed instant coffee with supplements.
Resources:
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Morck, T. A., Lynch, S. R., & Cook, J. D. (1983). Inhibition of food iron absorption by coffee. The American journal of clinical nutrition, 37(3), 416-420.
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Al-Othman, A., Al-Musharaf, S., Al-Daghri, N. M., Yakout, S., Alkharfy, K. M., Al-Saleh, Y., ... & Chrousos, G. P. (2012). Tea and coffee consumption in relation to vitamin D and calcium levels in Saudi adolescents. Nutrition journal, 11, 1-6.
