The ABCs of Vitamins: Vitamin B3 (Niacin)

This week, in part four of my series on the ins and outs of vitamins, we will look at the cholesterol lowering superstar known as vitamin B3.

What Does Vitamin B3 (Niacin) Do?

Vitamin B3, also known as niacin, is the third of eight B vitamins. Niacin is a term that relates to several chemical forms of vitamin B3. These forms include nicotinamide and nicotinic acid. These names are all based on the research done on tobacco in the 1930s in which vitamin B3 was first isolated in a laboratory while working on the nicotine collected from tobacco leaves.

Niacin, like the other B-complex vitamins, plays an important role in energy production in the body. Two forms of vitamin B3, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP), are needed by the body to convert protein, fat, and carbohydrates into useable energy.

The processing of fats in the body, like those involved in the building of cell membranes and even fat-based hormones (otherwise known as steroid hormones), all require the presence of vitamin B3 to initiate synthesis. Niacin has also been used to lower total blood cholesterol with great success, even though the body actually requires vitamin B3 to produce cholesterol in the liver.

Vitamin B3 is also involved in the manufacture of DNA. A link between DNA damage and a deficiency of niacin can be found. It is being researched particularly in terms of the formation of cancer and its possible prevention.

Blood sugar regulation is another benefit of vitamin B3, as it has been shown to be involved in the metabolism of insulin. Although researchers are yet to completely agree on the process by which vitamin b3 does this, they do support the idea that glucose tolerance factor (GTF), of which vitamin B3 is a part of, must be present in the body to help maintain optimal insulin activity.

Foods Rich in Vitamin B3

The best sources of vitamin B3 can be found in salmon, tuna, beetroot, beef kidneys and livers, and peanuts. Chicken, red meat, dairy products, and eggs all contain the amino acid tryptophan, which the body can convert into niacin.

Vitamin B3 Synergistic Nutrients

Nutrients that can help with vitamin B3 absorption are vitamins B1, B2, B6, B12, and C, along with chromium, zinc, potassium, manganese, chromium, phosphorus, copper, folic acid, iron, magnesium, selenium, and tryptophan.

Vitamin B3 Deficiency

Through diet, the body can obtain all the vitamin B3 that it needs. In the developed world it is rare to be deficient, but alcoholism is one of the leading causes of vitamin B3 deficiency. Mild deficiency symptoms include fatigue, depression, vomiting, indigestion, and canker sores. A swollen red tongue or a burning sensation in the mouth can also be due to vitamin B3 deficiency.

Severe deficiency, also known as pellagra, is caused by having a niacin or tryptophan deficiency in the diet. It can also occur if the body fails to absorb these nutrients properly. Pellagra is common in parts of the world where people have a lot of corn in their diet. This is because even though corn contains niacin, it is chemically bound and not bio-available unless cooked using a method called nixtamalization.

Pellagra can exhibit the following symptoms:

Cracked lips
Scaly skin
Dementia
Diarrhea

Vitamin B3 Side Effects

Common side effects of vitamin B3 toxicity include:

Flushing of the face and trunk
Indigestion or heartburn
Burning, tingling, or itching
Nausea and vomiting
Diarrhoea
Headaches

Vitamin B3 Researched Uses

Studies are investigating the link between Alzheimer’s disease and niacin. There seems to be a relationship between higher levels of niacin consumption in the diet and a lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Another study demonstrated that the consumption of niacin lowered a person’s risk of developing cataracts.

Skin conditions are another avenue that is being investigated by looking at the use of niacin in topical forms to treat conditions such as rosacea and skin aging, as well as possibly even help with the prevention of skin cancers.

Vitamin B3 may play a role in the prevention and/or treatment of the following:

Diabetes
Multiple sclerosis
Gout
Hallucinations
Depression
Hypothyroidism
Inflammatory bowel disease
Insomnia
Menstrual pain
Osteoarthritis
Hyperactivity
Headaches
Vertigo

Vitamin B3 Recommended Intake

It is recommended to get the following amounts of vitamin B3 per day:

Infants: 2mg up to 6 months and 4mg up to 12 months
Children: 6mg a day up to 3 years, 8mg a day up to 8 years, and 12mg a day up to 13 years
Adolescents and adults: 16mg a day for males 14 and older, 14mg a day for females 14 years and older
Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding: Pregnant women will need 18mg and breastfeeding women will need around 17mg a day

So now you can understand the importance of niacin and making sure that you get enough in your diet. With any type of supplementation always consult your health care provider to make sure you are taking the correct doses or to check if you even need to supplement as your diet could be providing an adequate supply.

Continue by reading the other articles in the series ABCs of Vitamins:

References:

1. Osiecki, Henry , The Nutrient Bible 8th Edition, Bio Concepts Pub, Kelvin Grove QLD

2. “niacin -B3.” The World’s Healthiest Foods.

3. “Niacin and niacinamide (Vitamin B3).” Medline Plus. November 2011.

4. “Vitamin B3 (Niacin).” University of Maryland Medical Center. August 2011.

5. Duggal, JK; Singh, M; Attri, N; Singh, PP; Ahmed, N; Pahwa, S; Molnar, J; Singh, S et al. (2010). 6. “Effect of niacin therapy on cardiovascular outcomes in patients with coronary artery disease.” Journal of cardiovascular pharmacology and therapeutics 15 (2): 158–66.

7. Wan, P; Moat, S; Anstey, A (2011). “Pellagra: A review with emphasis on photosensitivity.” The British journal of dermatology 164 (6): 1188–200.

8. Villines, TC; Kim, AS; Gore, RS; Taylor, AJ (2012). “Niacin: The evidence, clinical use, and future directions.” Current atherosclerosis reports 14 (1): 49–59.

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