Niacin is a B vitamin that’s made and used by your body to turn food into energy . It helps keep your nervous system, digestive system and skin healthy. Niacin (vitamin B-3) is often part of a daily multivitamin, but most people get enough niacin from the food they eat.
What are the main functions of vitamin B3?
Also known as vitamin B3 or nicotinic acid, niacin is one of eight B vitamins. Like all B vitamins, niacin plays a role in converting carbohydrates into glucose, metabolizing fats and proteins, and keeping the nervous system working properly .
What is niacin in food?
Niacin, or vitamin B3, is a water-soluble B vitamin found naturally in some foods, added to foods, and sold as a supplement. The two most common forms of niacin in food and supplements are nicotinic acid and nicotinamide. The body can also convert tryptophan—an amino acid—to nicotinamide.
What is the importance of niacin?
Niacin, also known as vitamin B3, is an important nutrient. In fact, every part of your body needs it to function properly. As a supplement, niacin may help lower cholesterol, ease arthritis, and boost brain function , among other benefits. However, it can also cause serious side effects if you take large doses.
What foods contain the most niacin?
- Liver. Liver is one of the best natural sources of niacin. ...
- Chicken Breast. Chicken, especially the breast meat, is a good source of both niacin and lean protein. ...
- Tuna. ...
- Turkey. ...
- Salmon. ...
- Anchovies. ...
- Pork. ...
- Ground Beef.
Does niacin cause weight gain?
Niacin has been found to increase daily feed intake, weight gain and percentage of abdominal fat in chicken when increasing supplementation from 0 to 60 mg nicotinic acid per kilogram diet[24].
Does niacin make you sleepy?
Niacin oral tablet doesn’t cause drowsiness , but it can cause other side effects.
Why do they put niacin in food?
There are two chemical forms of niacin: nicotinic acid and niacinamide (nicotinamide). Both are found in food, as well as in B3 supplements. Much like the other B vitamins, niacin helps to turn the foods you eat into energy . It also aids in DNA repair and functions as an antioxidant.
What is the most common side effect of niacin?
A common side effect of niacin is a flushing reaction . This might cause burning, tingling, itching, and redness of the face, arms, and chest, as well as headaches. Starting with small doses of niacin and taking 325 mg of aspirin before each dose of niacin will help reduce the flushing reaction.
Does niacin help you lose weight?
The average reduction in those who experienced improvement was 27% , and the degree of fat loss was significantly associated with the degree of increase in HDL cholesterol (niacin is given to people with elevated cholesterol to increase levels of `good` HDL cholesterol), and a reduced Total Cholesterol/HDL cholesterol ...
Is niacin good for cholesterol?
What impact does niacin have on cholesterol? Niacin can raise HDL cholesterol by more than 30 percent . There’s currently some debate about the exact role HDL plays in the body and in the development of heart disease.
Is niacin good for hair?
As it improves blood circulation, Niacin also brings oxygen and nutrients to the hair follicle – the main reason why it’s vital for healthy hair growth. ... Poor blood circulation is a huge factor in hair thinning and hair loss. By improving the blood circulation to the scalp, Niacin aids in faster and thicker hair growth.
Does niacin raise blood sugar?
CONCLUSION: Low-dose niacin increases fasting blood sugar in patients with stable NIDDM.
Why is niacin bad for you?
Niacin does have risks. It can cause liver problems , stomach ulcers, changes to glucose levels, muscle damage, low blood pressure, heart rhythm changes, and other issues.
Is it safe to take 500mg of niacin a day?
Niacin in the form of nicotinamide has fewer side effects than nicotinic acid. However, at high doses of 500 mg/day or more, nicotinamide can cause diarrhea, easy bruising, and can increase bleeding from wounds. Even higher doses of 3,000 mg/day or more can cause nausea, vomiting, and liver damage.
Does niacin help depression?
Some say it reduces feelings of sadness and hopelessness, and others say it made their depression completely go away. There’s a wide variety of causes and treatments for depression. However, according to scientific research, there’s currentlyno evidence that niacin can be used to treat depression.
