9 Science-Based Benefits of Niacin (Vitamin B3)

Niacin also known as vitamin B3, is an important nutrient for every part of the body. Niacin helps lower cholesterol, reduce arthritis, and boost brain function. However, niacin can cause serious side effects if you take too much.

Niacin is one of the 8 B vitamins and is also known as vitamin B3. Niacin comes in two main chemical forms, and each has different effects on your body. Both forms are found in foods as well as supplements:
Nicotinic acid: As a supplement, nicotinic acid is a form of niacin used to lower cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of heart disease. Niacinamide or nicotinamide: Unlike nicotinic acid, niacinamide does not lower cholesterol. However, it may help treat psoriasis and reduce the risk of non-melanoma skin cancer. Niacin is water-soluble, so your body can't store it. This also means that your body can excrete excess vitamins if they are not needed. The body gets most of its niacin through food, but it can also make small amounts of it on its own from the amino acid tryptophan.

As with all B vitamins, niacin helps convert food into energy by supporting enzymes. Specifically, niacin is a major component of NAD and NADP, which are two coenzymes involved in cellular metabolism. Furthermore, niacin plays a role in cell signaling, DNA creation and repair, and acts as an antioxidant.
If niacin deficiency will lead to some symptoms such as:
Memory loss and mental confusion Fatigue

Depression Headaches Diarrhea Skin problems Severe niacin deficiency or fungal diseases occur mostly in developing countries where the diet is not varied.
The amount of niacin needed is based on your daily intake (RDI) and depends on your age and gender. Therapeutic doses of niacin are higher than recommended and should be taken only when prescribed by a doctor. Here is the daily intake of niacin for:

Infants
0 months 6 months: 2 mg/day * 7 to 12 months: 4 mg/day * * These figures represent Adequate Intake, similar to the RDI but based on evidence weaker science.
Children
1 to 3 years: 6 mg/day 4 to 8 years: 8 mg/day 9 to 13 years: 12 mg/day Teens and adults
Men 14 years and older: 16 mg/day Female Gender 14 years and older: 14 mg/day Pregnant women: 18 mg/day Lactating women: 17 mg/day

Lowers bad LDL cholesterol
Niacin has been used since the 1950s to treat high cholesterol. In fact, this substance can reduce the bad LDL cholesterol by 5% - 20%.
However, niacin is not a primary treatment for high cholesterol due to possible side effects.
Instead, it is primarily used as a cholesterol-lowering treatment for people who are intolerant of statins.
Increases good HDL cholesterol
In addition to lowering bad LDL cholesterol, niacin also increases good HDL cholesterol.
Studies show that niacin increases HDL levels by 15%-35%.
Reduces triglycerides (triglycerides)
Niacin can also lower triglycerides by 20% to 50% by blocking the action of an enzyme involved in triglyceride synthesis. This results in decreased production of both LDL and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL).
May help prevent cardiovascular disease

Because of Niacin's effect on cholesterol, it can help prevent heart disease. Additionally, it can help reduce oxidative stress and inflammation, both of which are associated with atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries.
Some studies show that taking niacin therapy alone or in combination with a statin may help reduce the risk of heart disease-related health problems. However, several recent reviews have concluded that niacin therapy does not significantly reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, or death from heart disease in people with heart disease or those at high risk for heart disease. . Therefore, more research is still needed to draw definitive conclusions about this effect of Niacin.

May contribute to the treatment of type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which your body attacks and destroys insulin-making cells in the pancreas. There is research to suggest that niacin may help protect the cells that make insulin and may even reduce the risk of type 1 diabetes in at-risk children.
However, for people with type 2 diabetes, the role of niacin is more complicated. On the one hand, it can help reduce high cholesterol levels commonly seen in people with type 2 diabetes. On the other hand, it has the potential to raise blood sugar levels.
Therefore, people with diabetes taking niacin to treat high cholesterol also need to carefully monitor their blood sugar.

Boost brain function
Your brain needs niacin, which is part of the coenzyme NAD and NADP that are needed for energy and proper functioning.
In fact, brain fog and even psychotic symptoms have been linked to niacin deficiency. Certain types of schizophrenia can be treated with niacin, as it helps heal brain cell damage that occurs as a result of a deficiency.
Preliminary research suggests that Niacin may also help keep the brain healthy in cases of Alzheimer's disease. However, more research is still needed before a recommendation can be made.
Improves skin function
Niacin helps protect skin cells from sun damage, whether it is taken orally or applied as a lotion.
Recent research shows that niacin may help prevent certain types of skin cancer. One study found that taking 500 mg of nicotinamide twice a day (a form of niacin) reduced the incidence of non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) in people at risk. tall muscle.
May reduce symptoms of arthritis
In one preliminary study, niacin helped alleviate some symptoms of osteoarthritis, improve joint mobility, and reduce the need for nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). ). Although these results are promising, more research is still needed.

Pellagra treatment (niacin deficiency)
Severe niacin deficiency causes a condition called Pellagra disease. Therefore, taking niacin supplements is the mainstay of treatment for this condition.
Niacin deficiency is rare in developed countries. However, it can occur alongside other medical conditions, such as alcoholism, anorexia, or Hartnup disease.
Vitamin B3 brings many benefits to users, but when using an overdose or experiencing unwanted effects of vitamin B3, you should notify your doctor or go to the nearest medical facility for diagnosis. and appropriate treatment plan.
Customers can directly go to Vinmec Health system nationwide to visit or contact the hotline here for support.
Source: healthline.com