Nicotinamide mononucleotide production by non-recombinant Limosilactobacillus reuteri and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide synthesizing lactic acid bacteria.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Bench research / in vitro microbiological study without human data
PubMed 41114505 · doi:10.1128/spectrum.00333-25
What was done
Supernatants from MRS broth cultures of 18 lactic acid bacteria (LAB) type strains were screened to quantify beta-nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) production. Precursor pathways in Limosilactobacillus reuteri JCM 1112T were investigated using stable isotope-labeled NAD+, nicotinic acid, and nicotinamide. Researchers then co-cultivated L. reuteri ME-989 with Lactobacillus johnsonii JCM 2012T, an NAD+-synthesizing strain, to measure resulting NMN concentrations.
What was found
Limosilactobacillus reuteri JCM 1112T produced NMN using NAD+, nicotinic acid, and nicotinamide as precursors. Co-cultivation of L. reuteri ME-989 with L. johnsonii JCM 2012T produced NMN at a concentration of 16.7 µmol/L in culture supernatant.
Why it matters
Demonstrates a proof-of-concept for biological NMN synthesis using non-recombinant, food-grade lactic acid bacteria, potentially offering a route for NMN-enriched fermented foods without genetic modification.
Limits
This is purely an in vitro laboratory study in culture broths with no animal or human clinical data. The abstract does not report baseline monoculture NMN concentrations to quantify the exact fold-increase achieved by co-culture, nor does it test stability, yield scalability, or bioavailability.
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