Web definitions a B vitamin essential for the normal function of the nervous system and the gastrointestinal tract

B3 is one of 8 B vitamins. It is also known as niacin (nicotinic acid) and has 2 other forms, niacinamide (nicotinamide) and inositol hexanicotinate, which have different effects from niacin.

Description Vitamin B3
Vitamin B3, generally referred to as niacin, is a water-soluble vitamin. This vitamin can generally be found in two distinctive forms, namely nicotinic acid and nicotinamide. These substances are

used by the body to form the coenzymes NAD and NADP.

Niacin coenzymes degrade

carbohydrates, fats, proteins and alcohols and synthesize fatty acids and
cholesterol. They play a role in cell signaling

How it Functions
What is the function of vitamin B3?
Energy Production

Like its fellow B-complex vitamins, niacin is important in energy production. Two unique forms of vitamin B3 (called nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, or NAD, and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate, or NADP) are essential for conversion of the body's proteins, fats, and carbohydrates into usable energy. Niacin is also used to synthesize starch that can be stored in the body's muscles and liver for eventual use as an energy source.
Metabolism of Fats

Vitamin B3 plays a critical role in the chemical processing of fats in the body. The fatty acid building blocks for fat-containing structures in the body (like cell membranes) typically require the presence of vitamin B3 for their synthesis, as do many fat-based hormones (called steroid hormones). Interestingly, although niacin is required for production of cholesterol by the liver, the vitamin has repeatedly been used to successfully lower total blood cholesterol in individuals with elevated cholesterol levels. This cholesterol-

lowering effect of vitamin B3 only occurs at high doses that must be obtained through nutrient supplementation, and most likely involves a chemical feature of vitamin B3 that is not directly related to fat or fat processing.
Support of genetic processes

Components of the primary genetic material in our cells, called deoxyribose nucleic acid (DNA) require vitamin B3 for their production, and deficiency of vitamin B3 (like deficiency of other B-complex vitamins) has been directly linked to genetic (DNA) damage. The relationship between vitamin B3 and DNA damage appears to be particularly important in relationship to cancer and its prevention.
Regulation of insulin activity

Although experts cannot agree on the precise mechanism though which vitamin B3 affects blood sugar regulation and function of the hormone insulin, the vitamin has repeatedly been shown to be involved in insulin metabolism and blood sugar regulation. Some (but by no means all) researchers support the idea of a "glucose tolerance factor" (GTF) molecule that includes vitamin B3 and must be present for optimal insulin activity.

Deficiency Symptoms of mild deficiency include indigestion, fatigue, cancer sores, vomiting, and depression. Severe deficiency can cause a condition known as pellagra. Pellagra is characterized by cracked, scaly skin, dementia, and diarrhea. It is generally treated with a nutritionally balanced diet and niacin supplements. Niacin deficiency also causes burning in the mouth and a swollen, bright red tongue

Excessive

Gastrointestinal Side Effects

Excessive amounts of niacin causes various side effects including problems with the gastrointestinal tract. These side effects may include abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting. It can also cause damage to the liver, and in severe cases cause the liver to fail. According to "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine" by Anthony Fauci, M.D, liver damage can be asymptomatic or manifest as right upper abdominal pain, yellowing of the skin, easy bleeding and bruising, swelling and a number of other possible symptoms.
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Cardiac Side Effects

Excessive amounts of niacin can also cause cardiac arrhythmias. These are abnormal rhythms of the heart that can lead to inadequate delivery of blood to the body. Normally the top two chambers of the heart, the atria, contract to deliver blood to the larger bottom two chambers, the ventricles. The ventricles pump blood out to the lungs on the right and the rest of the body on the left. Rhythm disturbances can cause symptoms. Particularly severe arrhythmias can cause death. In less severe cases, they can cause chest pain, lightheadedness and weakness.

Skin Side Effects

A common side effect of niacin is skin flushing, even at therapeutic levels. Skin flushing is a reddening and increased temperature of the skin due to blood vessels dilating. It can also cause dry skin, itching and skin rashes, including a condition called acanthosis nigricans. This is a condition in which the skin becomes thickened and darkened, typically in body folds and creases such as the armpits. It is not unique to niacin toxicity, however.
1. Flushing
Flushing is a side effect commonly experienced by those who take niacin as a pharmaceutical supplement for the control of blood cholesterol. Pharmaceutical doses of niacin, which are higher than normal doses, can reduce the levels of bad LDL cholesterol while increasing levels of good HDL cholesterol. However, many patients using niacin for blood cholesterol will experience flushing for the first several weeks of their treatment, as the body adjusts to the high dose. Flushing occurs all over the body and lasts for 15 to 30 minutes. You may experience tingling and itching during the flushing episode, especially under your clothes. After several weeks your body will adjust to the high doses of niacin and youll no longer experienceflushing symptoms. Here are some ways to relieve flushing in the meantime: Take your niacin supplement with food. Take 300 mg of aspirin about 30 minutes before taking your niacin supplement. Take ibuprofen each day.

2. Hyperglycemia
High doses of niacin can raise blood sugar to dangerous levels, which is why those with juvenile onset diabetes shouldnt take pharmaceutical niacin. Pharmaceutical niacin can also put you at risk for developing type 2 diabetes. Niacin hampers the effectiveness of insulin and other drugs used to treat diabetes.

3. Hyperuricemia

Niacin toxicity can cause hyperuricemia, or too much uric acid in the blood. This can lead to gout, a medical condition in which the excess uric acid in the blood crystallizes and accumulates in the joints and tendons. Gout causes painful inflammatory arthritis and can lead to kidney stones.

4. Liver Damage
High doses of niacin can cause liver damage, even leading to acute liver failure as the liver struggles to process niacin in the blood. If you take niacin with alcohol or with another drug that may cause liver damage, you can increase your risk of niacin related liver damage and liver failure.

5. Blindness
Very high doses of niacin (even higher than those used for pharmaceutical purposes) can cause a condition known as niacin maculopathy, in which macula and retina of the eye thicken. As a result, youll experience blurred vision and blindness. Fortunately, this condition is reversible; all you need to do is stop taking niacin and wait for your body to excrete the excess.

6. Death
Very high doses of niacin can serious toxic shock reactions and death. Never use high doses of niacin without a doctors supervision.

Dietary Sources The best food sources of vitamin B3 are found in beefs, brewer's yeast, beef liver, beef kidney, sunflower seeds, swordfish, fish, salmon, tuna, and peanuts. Bread cereals are usually fortified with niacin. In addition, foods that contain tryptophan, an amino acid the body coverts into niacin, include poultry, red meat, eggs, and dairy products.

Available Forms Vitamin B3 is available in several different supplement forms: niacinamide, niacin, and inositol hexaniacinate. Niacin is available as a tablet or capsule in both regular and timed-release forms. The timed-release tablets and capsules may have fewer side effects than regular niacin. However, the timed-release versions are more likely to cause liver damage. Regardless of which form of niacin you're using, doctors recommend periodic liver function tests when using high doses (above 100 mg per day) of niacin.

Overview Vitamin B3 is one of 8 B vitamins. It is also known as niacin (nicotinic acid) and has 2 other forms, niacinamide (nicotinamide) and inositol hexanicotinate, which have different effects from niacin.

All B vitamins help the body to convert food (carbohydrates) into fuel (glucose), which is used to produce energy. These B vitamins, often referred to as B complex vitamins, also help the body use fats and protein. B complex vitamins are needed for healthy skin, hair, eyes, and liver. They also help the nervous system function properly. Niacin also helps the body make various sex and stress-related hormones in the adrenal glands and other parts of the body. Niacin helps improve circulation. All the B vitamins are water-soluble, meaning that the body does not store them.

You can meet all of your body's needs for B3 through diet. It is rare for anyone in the developed world to have a B3 deficiency. In the United States, alcoholism is the main cause of vitamin B3 deficiency. Excessive?? Very high doses of B3, available by prescription, have been studied to prevent or improve symptoms of the following conditions. However, at high doses niacin can be toxic. You should not take doses higher than the Recommended Daily Allowance except under your doctor's supervision. Researchers are trying to determine if inositol hexanicotinate has similar benefits without serious side effects, but so far results are preliminary. High Cholesterol Niacin -- but not niacinamide -- has been used since the 1950s to try to lower elevated LDL ("bad") cholesterol and triglyceride (fat) levels in the blood. However, side effects can be unpleasant and even dangerous. High doses of niacin cause flushing of the skin, stomach upset (which usually subsides within a few weeks), headache, dizziness, and blurred vision. There is an increased risk of liver damage. A time-release form of niacin reduces flushing, but its long-term use is associated with liver damage. In addition, niacin can interact with other cholesterol-lowering drugs (see "Possible Interactions"). You should not take niacin at high doses without your doctor's supervision. Atherosclerosis and Heart Disease In one study, men with existing heart disease slowed down the progression of atherosclerosis by taking niacin along with colestipol. They had fewer heart attacks and deaths, as well.

In another study, people with heart disease and high cholesterol who took niacin along with simvastatin (Zocor) had a lower risk of having a first heart attack or stroke. Their risk of death was also lower. In another study, men who took niacin alone seemed to reduce the risk of having a second heart attack, although it did not reduce the risk of death. Diabetes Some evidence suggests that niacinamide (but not niacin) might help delay the time that you would need to take insulin in type 1 diabetes. In type 1 diabetes, the body's immune system mistakenly attacks the cells in the pancreas that make insulin, eventually destroying them. Niacinamide may help protect those cells for a time, but more research is needed to tell for sure. Researchers have also looked at whether high-dose niacinamide might reduce the risk of type 1 diabetes in children at risk for the disease. One study found that it did, but another, larger study found it did not protect against developing type 1 diabetes. More research is needed to know for sure. The effect of niacin on type 2 diabetes is more complicated. People with type 2 diabetes often have high levels of fats and cholesterol in the blood. Niacin, often along with other drugs, can lower those levels. However, niacin may also raise blood sugar levels, which is particularly dangerous for someone with diabetes. For that reason, anyone with diabetes should take niacin only when directed to do so by their doctor, and should be carefully monitored for high blood sugar. Osteoarthritis One preliminary study suggested that niacinamide may improve arthritis symptoms, including increasing joint mobility and reducing the amount of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) needed. More research is needed. Other Alzheimer's disease -- Population studies show that people who get higher levels of niacin in their diet have a lower risk of Alzheimer's disease. No studies have evaluated niacin supplements, however. Cataracts -- One large population study found that people who got a lot of niacin in their diets had a lower risk of developing cataracts. Skin conditions -- Researchers are studying topical forms of niacin as treatments for rosacea, aging, and prevention of skin cancer, although it's too early to know whether it is effective. Researchers are also studying the use of vitamin B3 in treating ADHD, migraines, dizziness, depression, motion sickness, and alcohol

dependence. But there is no evidence that it helps treat any of these conditions.

Niacin functions and food sources

Niacin function: Niacin is needed for energy metabolism, proper digestion, and healthy nervous system. Niacin sources: Niacin is found in lean meats, liver, poultry, milk, canned salmon, leafy green vegetables.
List All Nutrient Information

Deficiency Symptoms
What are deficiency symptoms for vitamin B3?
Because of its unique relationship with energy production, vitamin B3 deficiency is often associated with general weakness, muscular weakness, and lack of appetite. Skin infections and digestive problems can also be associated with niacin deficiency.
Large doses of niacin can cause: Increased blood sugar (glucose) level) Liver damage Peptic ulcers Skin rashes

Photo Credit David De Lossy/Photodisc/Getty Images

Niacin is also known as vitamin B3 or nicotinic acid. It is involved in regulating metabolism, DNA repair and steroid hormone synthesis. It is prescribed medically to treat high fat and cholesterol in the blood. Some people take the drug in the belief that it flushes out illicit drugs from the body or interferes with the results of drug screening, though this does not appear to be

the case. Excess niacin can in fact be dangerous and cause side effects. If an overdose of niacin is suspected a person should seek emergency care.
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