Oral nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) increases tissue NAD⁺ content in mice but neither NMN nor Polypodium leucotomos protect against UVR-induced skin cancer.

Pihl C, Kara RD, Granborg JR, Olesen UH, Bjerring P, Haedersdal M, Untracht GR, Lerche CM

Photochemical & photobiological sciences : Official journal of the European Photochemistry Association and the European Society for Photobiology29 May 2025Cited by 3 (Europe PMC)

PMID40439965DOI10.1007/s43630-025-00736-5PepBankPUB-40439965

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Summary

Keratinocyte carcinoma is the most common cancer. Oral photoprotection offers an attractive addition to classical prevention measures. Popular candidates include nicotinamide and nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), which are NAD⁺ precursors thought to facilitate DNA repair. Extracts from the Polypodium leucotomos plant (PL) are also reported to convey broad protection against ultraviolet radiation (UVR) in both human and animal models. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of NMN and PL treatment to prevent UVR-induced tumor development in hairless mice. Oral treatment with NMN or PL did not affect tumor development evaluated by tumor onset, number, size, or growth. Oral NMN increased NAD⁺ content in skin compared to the UVR control (p ≤ 0.00039) and liver tissue compared to the UVR control and non-exposed mice (p ≤ 0.0466) with no effect on tumor growth. We also demonstrated that UVR exposure induced urinary excretion of thymidine dimers in mice as measured by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, indicating that the induction of photodamage can be monitored non-invasively throughout the study period.

CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study7

7 results from studies that gave the peptide. No result from this study comes from people.

01AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In UVR-exposed hairless mice, oral NMN did not affect tumor onset.
In plain wordsIn mice exposed to ultraviolet radiation, oral NMN did not change when tumors appeared.
Peptide
NMN (nicotinamide mononucleotide)
Outcome
No significant changeTumor onset
Study
mousen: not reported in source
UVR-exposed hairless mice
Outcome group
Tumor growth · Cancer
Studied dose
Dose not stated · oralAs given in this study (mouse).
Source sentences
Summary
Oral treatment with NMN or PL did not affect tumor development evaluated by tumor onset, number, size, or growth.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of NMN and PL treatment to prevent UVR-induced tumor development in hairless mice.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-4043996501
02AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In UVR-exposed hairless mice, oral NMN did not affect tumor number.
In plain wordsIn mice exposed to ultraviolet radiation, oral NMN did not change tumor numbers.
Peptide
NMN (nicotinamide mononucleotide)
Outcome
No significant changeTumor number
Study
mousen: not reported in source
UVR-exposed hairless mice
Outcome group
Tumor growth · Cancer
Studied dose
Dose not stated · oralAs given in this study (mouse).
Source sentences
Summary
Oral treatment with NMN or PL did not affect tumor development evaluated by tumor onset, number, size, or growth.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of NMN and PL treatment to prevent UVR-induced tumor development in hairless mice.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-4043996502
03AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In UVR-exposed hairless mice, oral NMN did not affect tumor size.
In plain wordsIn mice exposed to ultraviolet radiation, oral NMN did not change tumor size.
Peptide
NMN (nicotinamide mononucleotide)
Outcome
No significant changeTumor size
Study
mousen: not reported in source
UVR-exposed hairless mice
Outcome group
Tumor growth · Cancer
Studied dose
Dose not stated · oralAs given in this study (mouse).
Source sentences
Summary
Oral treatment with NMN or PL did not affect tumor development evaluated by tumor onset, number, size, or growth.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of NMN and PL treatment to prevent UVR-induced tumor development in hairless mice.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-4043996503
04AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In UVR-exposed hairless mice, oral NMN did not affect tumor growth.
In plain wordsIn mice exposed to ultraviolet radiation, oral NMN did not change tumor growth.
Peptide
NMN (nicotinamide mononucleotide)
Outcome
No significant changeTumor growth
Study
mousen: not reported in source
UVR-exposed hairless mice
Outcome group
Tumor growth · Cancer
Studied dose
Dose not stated · oralAs given in this study (mouse).
Source sentences
Summary
Oral treatment with NMN or PL did not affect tumor development evaluated by tumor onset, number, size, or growth.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of NMN and PL treatment to prevent UVR-induced tumor development in hairless mice.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-4043996504
05AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In UVR-exposed mice, oral NMN increased skin NAD+ content compared with the UVR control.
In plain wordsIn mice exposed to ultraviolet radiation, oral NMN increased skin NAD+ compared with the radiation control.
Peptide
NMN (nicotinamide mononucleotide)
Outcome
IncreaseSkin NAD+ content
Study
mousen: not reported in source
UVR-exposed hairless mice
Comparator
UVR control
Outcome group
Energy expenditure and thermogenesis · Skin and wound
Studied dose
Dose not stated · oralAs given in this study (mouse).
Source sentences
Summary
Oral NMN increased NAD⁺ content in skin compared to the UVR control (p ≤ 0.00039) and liver tissue compared to the UVR control and non-exposed mice (p ≤ 0.0466) with no effect on tumor growth.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of NMN and PL treatment to prevent UVR-induced tumor development in hairless mice.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-4043996505
06AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In UVR-exposed mice, oral NMN increased liver NAD+ content compared with the UVR control.
In plain wordsIn mice exposed to ultraviolet radiation, oral NMN increased liver NAD+ compared with the radiation control.
Peptide
NMN (nicotinamide mononucleotide)
Outcome
IncreaseLiver NAD+ content versus UVR control
Study
mousen: not reported in source
UVR-exposed hairless mice
Comparator
UVR control
Outcome group
Energy expenditure and thermogenesis · Liver
Studied dose
Dose not stated · oralAs given in this study (mouse).
Source sentences
Summary
Oral NMN increased NAD⁺ content in skin compared to the UVR control (p ≤ 0.00039) and liver tissue compared to the UVR control and non-exposed mice (p ≤ 0.0466) with no effect on tumor growth.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of NMN and PL treatment to prevent UVR-induced tumor development in hairless mice.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-4043996506
07AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In UVR-exposed mice, oral NMN increased liver NAD+ content compared with non-exposed mice.
In plain wordsIn mice exposed to ultraviolet radiation, oral NMN increased liver NAD+ compared with mice without radiation exposure.
Peptide
NMN (nicotinamide mononucleotide)
Outcome
IncreaseLiver NAD+ content versus non-exposed mice
Study
mousen: not reported in source
UVR-exposed hairless mice
Comparator
non-exposed mice
Outcome group
Energy expenditure and thermogenesis · Liver
Studied dose
Dose not stated · oralAs given in this study (mouse).
Source sentences
Summary
Oral NMN increased NAD⁺ content in skin compared to the UVR control (p ≤ 0.00039) and liver tissue compared to the UVR control and non-exposed mice (p ≤ 0.0466) with no effect on tumor growth.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of NMN and PL treatment to prevent UVR-induced tumor development in hairless mice.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-4043996507

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

Version 2Current
21 Oct 2026, 15:58 UTC
Study results updated
Version 1
21 Oct 2026, 12:50 UTC
First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

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Journal Article

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