Vitamin B3 - Niacin Deficiency

Vitamin B3, also called niacin, is one of the water-soluble B vitamins. The term niacin refers to nicotinic acid and nicotinamide (also called niacinamide). Both are used to form the coenzymes nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP) which play essential roles in living cells.

Niacin (vitamin B3) is often part of a daily multivitamin, but most people get enough niacin from the food they eat. Foods rich in niacin include yeast, milk, meat, tortillas and cereal grains.

A sufficient intake of vitamin B3 (niacin) is important as it helps the body to

• convert food into glucose, used to produce energy

• produce macromolecules, including fatty acids and cholesterol

• DNA repair and stress responses

• normal energy-yielding metabolism

• the normal function of the nervous system

• the maintenance of normal skin and mucous membranes

Conditions / Diseases Risk

Cancer : Some preliminary study results have indicated that increased consumption of vitamin B3 (niacin), along with other micronutrients, might be associated with a decreased incidence of mouth and throat cancer.

Diabetes : Some evidence suggests that vitamin B3 (nicotinamide) might help to delay the time individuals with type 1 diabetes would need to take insulin.

High cholesterol : Vitamin B3 (nicotinic acid) supplements in high doses have been used successfully to lower elevated LDL (bad) cholesterol and fat (triglyceride) levels in the blood and to increase HDL (good). However, side effects (e.g., flushing of the skin) can be unpleasant and may be harmful in long-term use (liver damage).

Atherosclerosis : Because high-dose vitamin B3 (nicotinic acid) lowers LDL and triglycerides in the blood, it may help prevent hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis). However, niacin also increases levels of homocysteine in the blood, which is associated with an increased risk of heart disease.

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