NIACIN (VITAMIN B3).

STRATON Alexandru, PhD 1, GIDU Diana, PhD 1.

1
Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Ovidius University of Constanta, Bvd. Mamaia, No. 124, e-mail:
stratonalex@gmail.com.

Abstract. Vitamin B3 is part of vitamin B complex that plays an essential role in metabolism. Niacin is necessary for the
body to produce enzymes that help releasing energy in the form of glucose. Vitamin B3 plays a role in maintaining healthy
skin and digestive system; it also has a role in normal development of nerves and reduction of total cholesterol.

Key words: niacin, nicotinamide, deficiency, toxicity.

Introduction 2003) varying in terms of certain metabolic or diet

Niacin (also known as vitamin B3, nicotinic acid factors.
or vitamin PP) is an organic compound, colorless, solid Absorption of nicotinic acid and nicotinamide in
and water soluble. The forms of vitamin B3 include the stomach and intestine is rapid, and when the
nicotinamide (niacinamide), nicotinic acid (niacin) and concentration of nicotinic acid and nicotinamide is low
derivatives having biological activity of nicotinamide. the absorption can be achieved by facilitated diffusion,
The terms of niacin, vitamin B3 or nicotinamide are often which is sodium ion dependent; when the concentration
used interchangeably to refer for any member of this of nicotinic acid and nicotinamide is high, their
family of compounds that have the same biochemical absorption is realized predominantly by passive
activity. diffusion.
Niacin cannot be converted directly into
nicotinamide, but both compounds can be converted into Food sources
NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) and NADP+ Niacin is found in animal products (liver, heart,
(nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate) in vivo. kidney, chicken (roasted 9.2 mg 6), turkey (roasted 5.5
Even if the two compounds are identical in vitamin mg), beef (roast 2.4 mg), tuna, salmon (canned in own
activity, nicotinamide (niacinamide) hasn’t the same juice 6.5 mg), sardines (canned in own juice 5.2 mg),
pharmacological and toxic properties as niacin. milk, eggs), in vegetables and fruits (avocados, tomatoes,
Nicotinamide does not reduce cholesterol and has no skin leafy vegetables, broccoli, carrots, sweet potatoes,
vasodilator properties (P. Jaconello, 1992). Niacin is a asparagus) and seeds (seeds and nuts (peanuts (roasted
precursor of NAD+/NADH 1 and NADP+/NADPH 2, 13.5 mg)), whole-grain products (whole wheat flour (6.4
which plays an essential metabolic role in living cells. mg)), bean). Niacin is also found in fungi and yeast.
Niacin is involved indirectly via NAD+ in DNA repair, Amino acid tryptophan-rich foods (mushrooms,
steroid hormone 3 production in the adrenal glands and shrimp, chicken, scallops, salmon, tofu) may become an
calcium mobilization. important source of niacin indirectly, by converting the
Amino acid tryptophan 4 can be partially amino acid tryptophan into niacin.
converted in nicotinamide, with the help of iron, Niacin is lost in significant quantities by boiling
riboflavin or vitamin B6, contributing to niacin body's and is recommended to be ingested in their natural state
needs (table 1). Conversion efficiency of tryptophan to (raw).
niacin appears to be 60 to 1 (from 60mg of tryptophan
will result 1mg of niacin) 5 (D. L. Yeung and I. Laquatra,
1
NAD+ is an oxidative agent that accepts electrons from other
molecules; this reaction forms NADH, which can be used as a
reducing agent to donate electrons.
2
NADPH is the reduced form of NADP+; NADPH provides reduction
equivalents for biosynthetic and oxidation-reduction reactions
engaged in defending the body from the toxic effects of free radicals
(Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS)); NADPH is also used in anabolic
ways like lipid synthesis, synthesis of cholesterol and fatty acid chain
elongation.
3
steroids that act as hormones; are grouped into five categories:
glucocorticoids (with a role in regulating glucose metabolism),
mineralocorticoids (influencing the balance between salt (sodium)
and water), androgens (influence the development of male sex,
spermatogenesis, muscle, brain and inhibits lipid storage), estrogen
(affecting the development of secondary sexual characteristics in
female reproductive system and some important features of sperm
maturation in men, affecting fetal development and mental health)
and progestagens (with functions in maintaining pregnancy).
4
essential amino acid. 6
values in parentheses represent mg of niacin from an average of
5
indicative average. 100g of food products; values are averages guidance.
 Table 1. The recommended daily allowances of niacin intake (RDA) and tolerable upper limit of
niacin intake (UL) (Standing Committee on the Scientific Evaluation of Dietary Reference Intakes
and its Panel on Folate, Other B Vitamins, and Choline, Subcommittee on Upper Reference
Levels of Nutrients, Food and Nutrition Board, Institute of Medicine, 1998)
mg/day *
Age UL mg /day ***
~mg/kgbody/day
†
2 ** -
<6 months
~0,2 ** † -
Babies
4 ** -
7-12 months
~0,4 ** -
1-3 years 6 10
Children
4-8 years 8 15
9-13 years 12 20
Children - male
14-18 years 16 30
9-13 years 12 20
Children - female
14-18 years 14 30
19-30 years 16 35
31-50 years 16 35
Adults - male
51-70 years 16 35
>70 years 16 35
19-30 years 14 35
31-50 years 14 35
Adults - female
51-70 years 14 35
>70 years 14 35
14-18 years 18 30
Pregnant women 19-30 years 18 35
31-50 years 18 35
14-18 years 17 30
The first 12 months after
19-30 years 17 35
pregnancy (lactation)
31-50 years 17 35
* values represent mg per day of niacin equivalents;
** adequate intake (AI) of niacin equivalents or preformed niacin;
*** UL, tolerable upper limit; values represent mg per day of niacin;
† values represent mg per day of preformed niacin.

Utility Pellagra is a classic manifestation of severe

Niacin, as nicotinic acid form and in an
amount between 1.5 g and 3g per day, have a role in
reducing atherosclerosis, by reducing total
cholesterol 7 (P. L. Canner et al., 1986), triglycerides,
very low density lipoproteins (VLDL), low density
lipoprotein (LDL) and raising high density
lipoprotein (HDL).
Niacin is an important function in energy
metabolism as part of the coenzymes NAD+ and
NADP+; in turn, these coenzymes can be reduced to
form NADH and NADPH; these compounds have a
role in transport of hydrogen required in many
cellular reactions, including certain reactions that are
part of glycolysis, Krebs cycle, electron transport
system and β-oxidation.
Niacin is necessary for the maintenance and
functioning of the skin, gastrointestinal tract and
nervous system.
Symptoms of deficiency
deficiency of niacin. Pellagra is characterized by
erythematosus skin ulceration in areas of the skin
exposed to sunlight, changes in the digestive tract
(vomiting, constipation or diarrhea, bright red
tongue) or neurological symptoms (depression,
apathy, headache, fatigue or memory loss) (R.
Prakash et al., 2008). Although pellagra is correlated
with poverty and malnutrition, it almost disappeared
in industrialized countries (developed countries)
except for its appearance in chronic alcoholics or
people with conditions that disturb the formation of
the amino acid tryptophan (S. Pitsavas et al., 2004 ).
In some cases untreated pellagra may lead to death.
Hartnup disease (Hart syndrome) 8 is an
inherited disorder resulting also from nutritional
deficiency of niacin (R. Prakash et al., 2008). This
disease occurs due to certain problems arising in the
intestines and kidneys 69, which makes degradation
and absorption of dietary tryptophan difficult for the
body. The characteristics of this disease are similar to

8
is an autosomal recessive metabolic disorder caused by
7
organic alcohol, sterol, identified in the cell membrane and impaired transport of neutral amino acids in the brush side of the
tissues of the body being carried in the blood. intestinal mucosa and proximal tubules of renal glomerulus.
pellagra, characterized by a red scaly rash and
sensitivity to sunlight.
Symptoms of overdose (toxicity)
Nicotinamide dose of about 3000mg can cause
side effects like nausea, vomiting, signs and
symptoms of liver toxicity (J. I. Rader et al., 1992; T.
A. Dalton and R. S. Berry, 1992; J. M. McKenney et
al., 1994) and failure to glucose tolerance (blood
sugar increased by about 5-10% which leads to
hiperglycemia or diabetes). In severe cases of
overdose with niacin (3g to 9g per day of niacin),
hepatic dysfunction may occur and fulminant
hepatitis 9 (D. J. Fischer et al., 1991). Another sign of
toxicity with niacin, that commonly occurs in many
patients, is skin redness (vasodilator effect), fatigue,
and acanthosis nigricans 10, at doses ranging between
30mg and 3000mg of niacin (J. M. McKenney et al.,
1994). Also, in patients treated with high doses of
nicotinic acid, nonspecific gastrointestinal effects can
occur.
In some cases, niacin overdose (1,5g - 5g of
niacin per day) can produce significant ocular effects
as blurry vision, toxic amblyopia 11, macular edema 12
or cystic maculopathy (F. W. Fraunfelder et al.,
1995). It appears that ocular effects induced by niacin
overdose may be reversible and dose-dependent.
Conclusion
The most important role of niacin is in energy
production and in reduction of total cholesterol.
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