The claim that “NMN can help sober up and protect the liver” has gone viral on wechat Moments. Is it a black technology or a tax on intelligence?
There are many parties in summer and drinking sessions are inevitable? Everyone knows that drinking alcohol is bad for the liver, but sometimes it’s really unavoidable.
GSHWORLD is here to delve into the relationship between NMN and the liver. After reading this, you’ll understand – no matter how good your “amulet” is, it can’t compare to putting down your wine glass!
When alcohol enters stomach, liver is undergoing a “trial”!
Every time you raise your glass and drink heartily, the one that suffers the most is actually your liver. It is the unsung “detoxification factory”.
When alcohol (ethanol) enters the stomach, it mainly relies on the liver to “clean up the mess”.
This process, simply put, is divided into two steps:
The first step: Ethanol turns into acetaldehyde (highly toxic!) The “bomb disposal expert” in the liver, alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), steps in and breaks down ethanol into acetaldehyde.
Attention! Acetaldehyde is a ruthless character. It is highly toxic and one of the main culprits that make you blush, feel dizzy and nauseous. It is also a “killer” that directly damages liver cells!
Step Two: Acetaldehyde to acetic acid (safe) – Fortunately, there is another “scavenger”, aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), taking over and quickly converting the highly toxic acetaldehyde into relatively safe acetic acid, which is finally excreted from the body as water and carbon dioxide.
The problem lies in this: If you drink too much and too fast, or if the “scavenger” (ALDH) in your body is not working well, acetaldehyde will accumulate in the liver and cause damage!
At the very least, it can cause inflammation and make liver cells “lie flat” (die) due to injury. Over time, the risk of fatty liver, liver cirrhosis and even liver cancer will increase significantly! Just thinking about it is terrifying.
Why can NMN “sober up and protect the liver”? key lies in NAD+!
The reason why NMN has attracted attention lies in the fact that it is a key raw material for the synthesis of NAD+, an extremely important coenzyme in the body.
You can imagine NAD+ as the “fuel” or “spark plug” of a cellular power plant.
In this tense “detoxification battle” of alcohol in the liver, NAD+ plays multiple key roles:
1. Boost speed of “Bomb Disposal Expert”!
Do you still remember the ADH “bomb disposal expert” who disassembled ethanol in the first step? It must have NAD+ as its “assistant” (coenzyme) to work!
NMN boosts the NAD+ level in the liver, which is equivalent to providing ADH with sufficient manpower and tools, enabling it to convert ethanol into acetaldehyde more efficiently (although acetaldehyde is toxic, this step is inevitable, and the sooner it is processed, the better).
This accelerates the first step of alcohol metabolism to a certain extent.
2. Form a “fire extinguishing team” to counter “heavy blow” of alcohol!
During the process of alcohol metabolism, a large number of fierce “free radicals” (oxidative stress) are produced, which are like small fires, burning liver cells.
Alcohol itself and its metabolites (especially accumulated acetaldehyde) can also fan the flames and cause liver inflammation.
After NMN boosts NAD+, it can activate an important “guardian” – the SIRT1 protein. SIRT1 is like the “commander” in the cell:
Fire extinguishing (anti-oxidation) : It can direct cells to produce more “fire extinguishers” (antioxidant enzymes), enhancing the cells’ ability to put out free radical “fires” and protecting liver cells from being damaged.
Calming disturbances (anti-inflammatory) : It can also hold down those “trouble-making molecules” (pro-inflammatory factors), reduce the “disturbances” (inflammatory responses) inside the liver, and alleviate the damage caused by alcohol.
3. Initiate “repair Project” to restore damaged liver
Long-term or excessive alcohol consumption leaves liver cells scarred and may even “go on strike” (functionally impaired).
High levels of NAD+ (achieved by supplementing NMN) can activate the signaling pathways for cell repair and regeneration.
It’s like initiating the “post-disaster reconstruction” of the liver:
Repair “Damage Report” (DNA Repair) : Help repair the damage caused by alcohol to the DNA of liver cells.
Summoning the “construction team” (promoting regeneration) : It can also stimulate the proliferation and differentiation of “stem cells” in the liver, generating new healthy liver cells, gradually replacing the damaged “old, weak, sick and disabled”, and striving to maintain the normal structure and function of the liver.
This is the potential liver-protecting effect of NMN.
What does research say? There is evidence, but don’t take it as a “gold medal of acquittal”!
Scientists have indeed observed the potential of NMN in animal experiments.
For example:
After supplementing NMN to those experimental animals that were “fed alcohol”, their liver damage was significantly alleviated:
The inflammatory indicators have decreased, the necrosis of liver cells has decreased, and the metabolic function of the liver has also recovered to some extent.
These findings support the theory that NMN protects the liver from alcohol damage through pathways such as increasing NAD+ and activating SIRT1.
Sounds wonderful? But! Please note:
Animal experiments do not equal human effects: The results on animals cannot be directly equated to having the same effect on humans.
The human body is more complex.
Dosage, strain, individual differences: How much NMN should be used? In which form? The effect may vary greatly from person to person.
It only treats the symptoms but not the root cause! No matter how miraculous NMN is, it cannot eliminate all the damage caused by alcohol, nor can it reverse serious diseases such as liver cirrhosis!
At most, it can provide your liver with more “support” and “protection” when you are “forced” to drink alcohol.
ultimate liver protection secret: Drink less! Drink less! Drink less!
Do you understand?
NMN has indeed demonstrated some potential based on scientific principles in detoxifying alcohol and protecting the liver.
This is mainly achieved by enhancing the core molecule NAD+, thereby assisting the liver in accelerating initial metabolism, combating oxidative inflammation, and promoting repair and regeneration.
However, get to the point! This is by no means equal to:
“Take NMN and you can drink it freely!” — Completely wrong!
“NMN is the antidote to alcohol!” — Not at all!
The damage alcohol does to the liver is real and cumulative.
No supplement, including NMN, can completely eliminate this harm, nor can it be an excuse for you to indulge in drinking!
The truly reliable liver protection method that always ranks first is:
Strictly limit alcohol intake. It’s best not to drink at all!
Balanced diet and sufficient sleep.
Exercise regularly and maintain a healthy weight.
Have regular physical examinations and pay attention to liver function.
