NMN is FDA Approved (& Can Lawfully Be Sold as a Supplement)

FDA Finally Declares NMN Legal as a Dietary Supplement

This is big news in the supplement world: as of September 29, 2025, the FDA has officially confirmed that NMN (nicotinamide mononucleotide) can be sold as a dietary supplement.

For years, there’s been controversy over whether NMN could be sold as a supplement or if it would be restricted as a “drug in development.” The uncertainty caused many e-commerce platforms (including Amazon) to pull NMN products entirely, which has been really frustrating for consumers who had been using it since at least 2017.

Now, after heavy pressure and a lawsuit from the Natural Products Association (NPA), the FDA has reversed its position. NMN is back!

What Happened?

• 2019–2022: NMN was gaining popularity as an NAD⁺ booster and longevity supplement. Then FDA stepped in, saying NMN was being developed as a drug and therefore couldn’t legally be sold as a supplement.
• 2022–2024: NPA fought back – filing a citizen petition, launching a lawsuit, and pointing out that NMN was marketed as a supplement before drug trials even began.
• September 2025: FDA finally acknowledged that evidence, confirming that NMN can lawfully be sold as a dietary supplement.

This follows a similar battle over NAC (N-acetyl-cysteine), which the FDA also tried to pull but later allowed back under enforcement discretion. For the full story on what prompted that attempt — and all the twists and turns that followed — read my comprehensive post here: Is the FDA Banning NMN? (Nov 2022).

Why This Matters

For those of us interested in longevity and mitochondrial health, this is huge. Many people feel it supports their energy, metabolism, and overall health.

This decision is a win not just for NMN, but for consumer choice in general. Whether you personally take NMN or not, the bigger issue is that we should have access to supplements that have already been safely used for years.

What to Expect

• Expect NMN supplements to return to major platforms (including Amazon) soon.
• It’s possible that research on NMN will accelerate, now that companies have more certainty to invest

Why Take NMN? What’s the Deal Anyway?

NMN is a form of vitamin B3 that helps your body make NAD⁺, the coenzyme your cells need for energy, repair, and healthy aging. The problem is that NAD⁺ naturally declines as you get older, and this coincides with an increase in inflammation and accelerated aging.

NR and NMN are both precursors to NAD⁺ and they can be taken in supplement form to help raise your levels. They are both effective at raising NAD⁺ but work a little bit differently. Some people prefer to take both of them, others take just one.

My Experience Taking NR & NMN Over the Years

I started taking NR a little over 6 years ago and later switched to NMN. After I first began taking NR, I noticed a massive improvement in my energy levels. Looking back, I assume my NAD⁺ levels were depleted, which is probably why it had such a strong effect on me at the time. You can watch me share that experience in more detail here: My NR Supplement Experience (YouTube).

Nowadays when I take these types of supplements, the effects are rather subtle. But, I believe it’s because my NAD⁺ levels are now optimal. I’ve had testing done and it showed that my levels were quite high. I still take NAD⁺ boosting supplements here and there to keep my NAD⁺ levels supported, while also hoping for a subtle energy boost.

I’ve also done some at-home epigenetic biological age testing out of curiosity. After taking NMN consistently, I tracked my results with the myDNAge test, which looks at DNA methylation patterns as a marker of aging. It’s not perfect science, but it was fascinating to see how my results changed. You can watch that breakdown here: Testing My Biological Age After NMN (YouTube).

A Word of Caution

If you’re dealing with cancer, be cautious with any supplements you’re taking, especially NAD⁺ boosters like NMN, polyamines like spermidine, and strong antioxidants such as NAC or high-dose vitamin C.

The research here is mixed. While these compounds can support healthy cells, there’s concern they might also protect or “fuel” cancer cells, or interfere with treatments that work by creating oxidative stress. Because of this, many oncologists recommend avoiding them during treatment, or at least checking with your doctor before use.