Tier 3 — preclinical

β-Nicotinamide Mononucleotide Enhances Skin Barrier Function and Attenuates UV-B-Induced Photoaging in Mice

Sung Jin Kim, Sullim Lee, Yea Jung Choi, Minseo Kang, Junghwan Lee, Gwi Seo Hwang, Seok-Seon Roh, Mu Hyun Jin, Sangki Park, Minji Park, Ho Song Cho, Ki Sung Kang
Antioxidants 2025 14(12):1424

Bibliography

PubMed
PMID 41462625
PubMed Central
PMC12729516
DOI
10.3390/antiox14121424
Funding
Supported by Korean Technology Innovation Program grants RS-2025-13642970 and RS-2025-09452988 from MOTIR/MOTIE.
Competing interests
Five authors (Seok-Seon Roh, Mu Hyun Jin, Sangki Park, Minji Park and Ho Song Cho) were employed by LG Household and Healthcare Ltd.; remaining authors reported no commercial or financial conflicts. Government funders were reported not to influence the study.

Study snapshot

DesignControlled 10-week animal study of oral NMN supplementation in UV-B-induced photoaging.
ModelSKH-1 hairless mice exposed to UV-B radiation.
SampleMouse experimental groups; no human participants.
InterventionOral β-NMN supplementation during a 10-week UV-B photoaging protocol.
Duration10 weeks
EndpointsWrinkle formation; Skin roughness; Hydration; Elasticity; Transepidermal water loss; Collagen density; Epidermal thickness; MAPK signaling; Inflammatory cytokines; MMP-1; Hyaluronan synthase; Antioxidant defense

What the study showed, in plain terms

This 2025 mouse study is directly relevant to the popular claim that oral NMN may protect aging skin.

In UV-B-exposed hairless mice, oral NMN improved several skin-barrier and photoaging measures, including wrinkles, roughness, hydration, elasticity, transepidermal water loss and collagen preservation.

The evidence is still preclinical. The study supports biological plausibility for oral NMN and photoaging but does not show that human NMN supplements reduce wrinkles or replace sunscreen/retinoids.

Key findings

  • Oral NMN reduced UV-B-associated wrinkle formation and surface roughness in mice.
  • NMN improved hydration, elasticity and transepidermal water-loss measures.
  • Histology showed greater collagen preservation and reduced matrix-degradation signaling.
  • NMN modulated MAPK/inflammatory pathways and antioxidant defenses.
  • No human participants were studied.

What this study can and cannot tell us

Results come from a UV-B mouse model and cannot be assumed to reproduce human cosmetic outcomes at supplement doses.

Hairless-mouse skin exposure and photoaging differ from chronic heterogeneous human sun exposure.

Several authors were employees of LG Household and Healthcare Ltd., which is relevant to interpretation of cosmetic-translation claims.

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Dr. Khaled Mahmoud, MBBChCritical Care Medicine, Longevity Science & Editorial Direction Dr. Amr Yasser, PhDCardiometabolic, Musculoskeletal, Gut & Bioavailability Dr. Abdulla Mostafa, PhDCellular Senescence, Neurological, Mitochondrial & Brain-Ageing Biology