Short answer: in a 2023 study (Mo et al., eBioMedicine), NMN reduced the activation and proliferation of HIV-1-infected CD4+ T cells in the lab. In humanized mice, CD4+ T cells recovered better with NMN plus standard antiretroviral therapy (cART) than with cART alone. This is early, preclinical research: there are no human results yet, and NMN is not a treatment for HIV.
Why researchers are looking at NMN and HIV
Modern antiretroviral therapy (cART) suppresses the virus well in most people. Still, in some patients CD4+ T-cell counts fail to recover, even when the virus is undetectable in the blood. These people are often called immunological non-responders. Persistent, excessive immune activation appears to be an important cause.
NMN (nicotinamide mononucleotide) is a precursor of NAD+, a coenzyme cells use for energy production and for regulating immune cells. Because NAD+ metabolism influences how T cells are activated, researchers tested whether NMN could dampen that overactivation.
What did the eBioMedicine study (2023) find?
- In the lab (cell culture): NMN raised NAD+ levels in CD4+ T cells and reduced production of the viral protein p24 and proliferation of infected cells, especially activated CD25+ cells, without clear toxicity.
- Patient cells: in resting CD4+ T cells from people already successfully treated with cART, NMN reduced expression of the activation marker CD25 after reactivation.
- Humanized mice: HIV-1-infected mice with a human immune system showed significantly better CD4+ T-cell recovery with cART plus NMN than with cART or NMN alone, with fewer activated and dying CD4+ T cells.
According to the researchers, NMN does not work by blocking the virus directly, but by dampening activation and proliferation of infected T cells.
What this does and does not mean
Does: it is a well-founded reason to study NMN further as an add-on to cART in people whose immune system recovers poorly.
Does not: these results come from cell culture and mice, which often do not translate to humans. It has not been shown that NMN raises CD4+ counts, suppresses the virus or improves symptoms in people with HIV. NMN never replaces HIV medication; always consult your HIV specialist before adding a supplement.
Is there research in humans?
Yes. A clinical trial is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT06889142) on the effect of NMN supplementation on CD4+ T-cell recovery in people with HIV and poor immune recovery. Only when such studies are completed can anything be said about effectiveness and safety in this group.
How this fits into broader NMN research
In healthy adults, human studies mainly show that NMN raises blood NAD+ and is generally well tolerated, while effects on concrete health outcomes are mixed. Read more in our overview of the latest NMN studies of 2026 and how NMN and NAD+ work.
Frequently asked questions
Can NMN cure or treat HIV?
No. There is no evidence that NMN cures or treats HIV. The research is preclinical and looked at NMN as a possible add-on to cART, not a replacement.
Is NMN safe alongside antiretroviral drugs?
This has not been studied in humans. Possible interactions with antiretrovirals are unknown, so always discuss supplements with your doctor first.
What is CD25?
CD25 is a protein on the surface of activated T cells (part of the interleukin-2 receptor). It is used as a marker of immune activation.
Sources
- Mo Y, et al. Nicotinamide mononucleotide impacts HIV-1 infection by modulating immune activation in T lymphocytes and humanized mice. eBioMedicine. 2023;98:104877. PubMed 37980794
- ClinicalTrials.gov. Impact of NMN Supplementation on CD4+ T Cell Recovery in HIV Patients With Immunological Failure. NCT06889142
