Comparison
Fisetin vs NMN
Side-by-side of Fisetin and NMN. Every row below is pulled from the compound schema and will update as our data grows. For deeper reads, follow through to each compound page.
Fisetin
Fisetin is a flavonoid found in strawberries with senolytic activity in mouse models. Hickson 2019 confirmed senescent-cell clearance in human adipose tissue.
NMN
NMN supplements are oral nicotinamide mononucleotide capsules sold for longevity, energy, and metabolic health. They raise plasma NAD+ 30-90% at 250-1000.
Effects at a glance
Fisetin
- •Flavonoid found in strawberries; most potent natural senolytic in screening assays (Yousefzadeh 2018)
- •Hickson 2019 confirmed reduced senescent-cell burden in human adipose tissue at 20 mg/kg pulsed for 2 days
- •Pulsed Mayo protocol (20 mg/kg/day x 2 days monthly) is the only dose with human biomarker evidence
- •Daily low-dose (100-500 mg) is mechanistically weaker but commonly used
- •Low oral bioavailability; with-fat dosing modestly improves absorption
- •Active cancer is a relative contraindication pending clearer polyphenol-treatment data
NMN
- •Plasma NAD+ rises 30-90% at 250-1000 mg/day across human PK studies
- •Tissue NAD+ rise is inconsistent across human trials (Yoshino 2021, Igarashi 2022)
- •No human trials measure hard endpoints (mortality, CV events, cancer); evidence is biomarker-only
- •Most trials cluster at 250-500 mg/day; dose-response above 250 mg/day is poorly characterized
- •FDA position contested; widely sold as supplement but with regulatory uncertainty
- •Marketing claims for fertility and longevity outrun the human trial evidence substantially
Side-by-side
| Attribute | Fisetin | NMN |
|---|---|---|
| Category | supplement | supplement |
| Also known as | 3,7,3',4'-tetrahydroxyflavone | nicotinamide mononucleotide, beta-NMN |
| Half-life (hr) ↗ | 2 | 4 |
| Typical dose (mg) ↗ | 500 | 250 |
| Dosing frequency | pulsed 2 days/month (Mayo protocol) or daily continuous (empirical) | 1x daily, often morning |
| Routes | oral | oral, sublingual |
| Onset (hr) | 1 | 1 |
| Peak (hr) | 4 | 3 |
| Molecular weight | 286.24 | 334.22 |
| Molecular formula | C15H10O6 | C11H15N2O8P |
| Mechanism | Senolytic via Bcl-2 family inhibition (Bcl-xL, Bcl-w); broad polyphenol with Nrf2 activation, mTOR inhibition at high concentrations, and antioxidant effects. | Direct precursor in the NAD+ salvage pathway; converted to NAD+ by NMNAT enzymes in essentially every tissue. Raised NAD+ supports sirtuin and PARP enzyme activity. |
| Legal status | OTC dietary supplement | Contested in US (FDA position 2022); widely sold as supplement; broadly available in EU, UK, Asia |
| WADA status | allowed | allowed |
| DEA / Rx | OTC supplement | Not scheduled |
| Pregnancy | Insufficient data | Insufficient data; precautionary avoidance |
| CAS | 528-48-3 | 1094-61-7 |
| PubChem CID | 5281614 | 14180 |
| Wikidata | Q230614 | Q418972 |
Safety profile
Fisetin
Common side effects
- mild GI upset
- headache (rare)
Contraindications
- active cancer (theoretical, polyphenol interactions)
- pregnancy and lactation (insufficient data)
- concurrent CYP3A4-sensitive medications
Interactions
- statins (CYP3A4 substrates): theoretical reduction in statin clearance at high fisetin doses(minor)
- warfarin: theoretical CYP-mediated interaction; monitor INR if combining(moderate)
- other senolytics (rapamycin, dasatinib + quercetin): additive senolytic effect; pairing is investigational(minor)
NMN
Common side effects
- mild GI upset (rare)
- occasional headache
- flushing (rare)
Contraindications
- pregnancy and lactation (precautionary, no data)
- active cancer (theoretical concern, not evidence-based)
Interactions
- metformin: no clinically significant interaction documented; both modulate metabolism through different mechanisms(minor)
- chemotherapy agents: theoretical concern about supporting cancer cell proliferation; coordinate with oncology team(moderate)
- CD38 inhibitors: would amplify NMN-induced NAD+ rise; not clinically relevant for most users(minor)
Which Should You Take?
Fisetin and NMN score evenly on the criteria we weight (goal breadth, legal accessibility, evidence depth). The conditionals below should drive the decision more than any aggregate score.
- → If your priority is focus or working memory, pick Fisetin.
- → If your priority is energy and stamina, pick NMN.
- → If your priority is metabolic health and glucose control, pick NMN.
Edge case: If you want to avoid Contested in US (FDA position 2022); widely sold as supplement; broadly available in EU, UK, Asia, Fisetin is the more accessible choice.
Default choice: either is defensible. Fisetin edges out on goal breadth + legal accessibility; NMN is the right call if your priority sits in the goals listed above.
This verdict is generated from each compound's schema (goals, legal status, evidence outcomes, dosing route). It updates automatically as our compound data evolves; the deeper read sits on each individual compound page.
Common questions
What is the difference between Fisetin and NMN?
Fisetin and NMN differ in category (supplement vs supplement), mechanism, and typical dosing. See the side-by-side table for full details.
Which has a longer half-life, Fisetin or NMN?
Fisetin half-life is 2 hours; NMN half-life is 4 hours.
Can you stack Fisetin with NMN?
Stack compatibility depends on mechanism overlap, legal status, and individual response. Check each compound page for specific interactions and contraindications before combining.
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