There's no conclusive evidence that points to NMN supplements directly increasing estrogen levels in humans. However, there's limited research in animals that hints at links between NAD+ precursors, like nicotinamide mononucleotide, and supporting overall hormonal health [1].
If you're concerned about estrogen levels, NMN supplements aren't directly going to address them, and you should seek advice from a healthcare professional, as hormonal balance is incredibly complex and there could be underlying health issues at play.
Some studies say that NAD⁺, a molecule your body needs for energy and repair, might help with changes in hormones as people get older [1, 2]. But it doesn’t directly change estrogen levels.
How has NMN impacted Estrogen Levels
There isn't any research correlating NMN and estrogen levels in humans. However, scientists have done studies on mice to see how NMN might help with hormone levels as they get older.
As mice age, a special molecule in their ovaries called NAD⁺ starts to go down (this is also true in humans). This molecule is important because it helps cells make energy and stay healthy. It was observed in mice that when NAD⁺ levels drop, the ovaries don’t work as well, and this impacts how many eggs (oocytes) are successfully ovulated (matured).
The study showed that NMN supplementation helped improve the health of the ovaries, prevent ovarian atrophy (shrinkage), and enhance both the quality and number of eggs ovulated. This improvement likely happens because NMN boosts mitochondrial function, supports healthy inflammation, and restores energy production in ovarian cells [1].
This is exciting because it shows that NMN could help aging ovaries stay in better shape. But this was only in mice, so we don’t know for sure if it works the same way in humans. NMN isn't a therapeutic compound, so it's not currently FDA-approved to treat or manage any conditions related to hormonal health or anything else.
Have People Noticed NMN Changing Estrogen Levels?
We haven't come across any stories about how NMN affects estrogen in people, but some people who take NMN supplements say they feel more energetic or notice their skin looks better, but they don’t often talk about changes in hormones like estrogen.
When estrogen levels aren’t balanced, it can cause problems like irregular periods and hot flashes, and it can also make bones weaker (loss of bone density).
Hormonal health is important to our overall health because it helps your body do a lot of things, like grow muscles, give you energy, control how your body uses food (metabolic function), affect your mood, and, of course, reproduction.
NMN Supplementation and Estrogen Levels
NMN supplementation could improve reproductive health by increasing NAD+ levels and supporting energy metabolism [3].
In a mice study, scientists have observed that NMN may help maintain or enhance oocyte quality and quantity, potentially increasing fertility in older women — but of course, this research hasn't been done in humans, so it's hard to say if it works in the same way.
As of right now, just because NMN is accessible doesn't mean you should self-treat hormonal conditions with supplements, as there are far more targeted therapies that can help with maintaining balanced estrogen levels.
Resources:
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Li, L., Zhou, X., Liu, W., Chen, Z., Xiao, X., & Deng, G. (2024). Supplementation with NAD+ and its precursors: A rescue of female reproductive diseases. Biochemistry and Biophysics Reports, 38, 101715.
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Iqbal, T., & Nakagawa, T. (2024). The therapeutic perspective of NAD+ precursors in age-related diseases. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 149590.
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Freeberg, K. A., Udovich, C. C., Martens, C. R., Seals, D. R., & Craighead, D. H. (2023). Dietary supplementation with NAD+-boosting compounds in humans: Current knowledge and future directions. The Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences, 78(12), 2435.
