Joint research with ToMMo and Meiji Co., Ltd. has resulted in identifying the concentration of nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN)^*1, a nutrient contained in breast milk, is an important nutritional ingredient related to the neurodevelopment of infants raised on breast milk. The findings of this research have been published in the international journal “Nutrients”.

Summary of the Findings

(1) Nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) was quantified as the major NAD precursor in breast milk. As a result, NMN had the highest concentrations in breast milk among the NAD-related substances.

(2) The NMN concentration in breast milk was the only NAD-related substance in breast milk that showed a significant positive correlation with neurodevelopmental outcome in children.

Background and Outlook

The so-called first 1000 days, spanning the prenatal period to 2 years after birth, constitute the most significant period of neurodevelopment. Nutritional deficiencies during this period can have long-term and often irreversible effects on neurodevelopmental outcome. However, few studies have examined the relationship between breast milk micronutrients and infant neurodevelopmental outcome. In the Tohoku Medical Megabank Project Birth and Three-Generation Cohort Study, breast milk samples were gathered and used to measure the concentrations of multiple nutrients related to a type of vitamin known as niacin^*2 and analyze the correlation to child neurodevelopment metrics. As a result, it was discovered that nicotinamide mononucleotide concentration showed a significant positive correlation with neurodevelopmental outcome at the age of two years for infants (ASQ-3 Score)^*3.
In this study, biobank breast milk samples were used to measure niacin-related compounds, identifying NMN as one of the elements related to infant neurodevelopment. These results are expected to serve as knowledge that contributes to better growth and development for babies and infants.

*1. A precursor of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+). Promoting the generation of NAD+ supports cellular energy generation and metabolic activity.
*2. A type of vitamin B group. In addition to supporting the metabolism of lipid and amino acids in the body, this also serves as a coenzyme related to redox reactions. Found in plentiful amounts in foods such as chicken breast, pork, mackerel, pike, yellowtail, and cod roe.
*3. Age & Stages Questionnaires®, Third Edition. The ASQ-3 is used to screen infants aged 1–66 months for risk of developmental delay in five developmental domains: communication, gross motor, fine motor, problem solving, and personal-social. For each domain, six questions to parents are used to assess achievements in the associated skills of children. The ASQ-3 scores consisted of values of 0–60, in increments of 5 points.

Publication Details

Title: Effect of Nicotinamide Mononucleotide Concentration in Human Milk on Neurodevelopmental Outcome: The Tohoku Medical Megabank Project Birth and Three-Generation Cohort Study
Authors: Yoshie Saito, Keigo Sato, Shinji Jinno, Yoshitaka Nakamura, Takahiro Nobukuni, Soichi Ogishima, Satoshi Mizuno, Seizo Koshiba, Shinichi Kuriyama, Kinuko Ohneda, Masashi Morifuji
Journal: Nutrients
Published date: December 31, 2023
DOI: 10.3390/nu16010145