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Nicotinic acid helps some enzymes work properly and helps skin, nerves, and the digestive tract stay healthy.
Nicotinic acid is found in many plant and animal products.
CAS Number: 59-67-6
EC Number: 200-441-0
IUPAC name: Pyridine-3-carboxylic acid
Chemical Formula: C6H5NO2
Other names: niacin, 59-67-6, Pyridine-3-carboxylic acid, 3-pyridinecarboxylic acid, 3-Carboxypyridine, wampocap, Niaspan, Acidum nicotinicum, nicolar, Apelagrin, Pellagrin, Akotin, Daskil, Efacin, Pelonin, Linic, vitamin B3, nicamin, nicobid, nicocap, Enduracin, Nicodelmine, Niconacid, Nicotinipca, Pellagramin, Direktan, Nicacid, Nicangin, Peviton, Bionic, Diacin, Nicyl, Nyclin, Niac, Vitaplex N, Davitamon PP, Nico-Span, Tega-Span, Nicocidin, Nicocrisina, Niconazid, Nicoside, Nicotamin, Nicotene, Nicovasan, Nicovasen, Nipellen, SK-Niacin, Naotin, Niacor, Nicodon, Niconat, Nicosan 3, Nicosyl, Nicotil, Tinic, 3-Carboxylpyridine, Nicotine acid, nicotinate, Slo-niacin, NICO, 3-Picolinic acid, Nicotinsaure, Nico-400, Acide nicotinique, Pyridine-beta-carboxylic acid, Nicagin, anti-Pellagra vitamin, Caswell No. 598, PP Factor, Kyselina nikotinova, P.P. factor, Pellagra preventive factor, S115, Nicotinsaure [German], Acido nicotinico, 3-Pyridylcarboxylic acid, m-Pyridinecarboxylic acid, MFCD00006391, Kyselina nikotinova [Czech], niacine, CCRIS 1902, Pyridine-carboxylique-3, EPA Pesticide Chemical Code 056701, Acide nicotinique [INN-French], Acido nicotinico [INN-Spanish], Acidum nicotinicum [INN-Latin], HSDB 3134, Pyridine-carboxylique-3 [French], AI3-18994, Pyridinecarboxylic acid, 3-, Niacin [USP], SR 4390, BRN 0109591, Niacin extended release, Nicotinic acid [INN], NAH, CHEMBL573, beta-pyridinecarboxylic acid, NSC-169454, MLS000069603, Pyridine-.beta.-carboxylic acid, DTXSID1020932, CHEBI:15940, Niacin (USP), 2679MF687A, P.P. factor-pellagra preventive factor, CAS-59-67-6, pyridine, 3-carboxy-, NCGC00016268-02, SMR000059024, [5, 6-3H]-niacin, DTXCID10932, Niacin [USAN], Nicotinicacid, NIO, Niacin (nicotinic acid), SR-01000722017, EINECS 200-441-0, NIASPAN TITRATION STARTER PACK, NSC 169454, pellagra, Nikotinsaeure, Ncotnc acd, Nicotinic Acid;, UNII-2679MF687A, preventative factor, antipellagra vitamin, Niaspan (TN), 3-Pyridylcarboxylate, 3PyrCOOH, [3H]nicotinic acid, Niacor (TN), Nicotinic Acid,(S), [3H]-Nicotinic acid, Spectrum_001063, Nicotinic acid, Ph Eur, pyridinium-3-carboxylate, NIACIN [VANDF], NIACIN [HSDB], Nicotinic acid (Niacin), 5-pyridinecarboxylic acid, NIACIN [FCC], NIACIN [USP-RS], Opera_ID_1346, Prestwick0_000881, Prestwick1_000881, Prestwick2_000881, Prestwick3_000881, Pyridine-3-carbonic acid, Spectrum2_000006, Spectrum3_000515, Spectrum4_000965, Spectrum5_001287, VITAMIN B-3, 3-Pyridyl carboxylic acid, Nicotinic acid-d3(major), WLN: T6NJ CVQ, 3-pyridine carboxylic acid, bmse000104, Nicotinic acid, >=98%, Nicotinic acid, USP grade, EC 200-441-0, SCHEMBL1433, NICOTINIC ACID [MI], Oprea1_514398, VITAMIN B3 [VANDF], BCP16301, BSPBio_000662, BSPBio_002069, KBioGR_001309, KBioSS_001543, NIACIN [ORANGE BOOK], NICOTINIC ACID [JAN], 5-22-02-00057 (Beilstein Handbook Reference), Nicotinic acid (Vitamin B3), BIDD:GT0644, DivK1c_000695, Nicotinic acid (JP18/INN), SIMCOR COMPONENT NIACIN, SPECTRUM1500430, .beta.-Pyridinecarboxylic acid, SPBio_000011, SPBio_002881, ADVICOR COMPONENT NIACIN, NIACIN [USP MONOGRAPH], NICOTINIC ACID [VANDF], BPBio1_000730, GTPL1588, GTPL1594, NICOTINIC ACID [MART.], NICOTINIC ACID [WHO-DD], NICOTINIC ACID [WHO-IP], BDBM23515, HMS502C17, KBio1_000695, KBio2_001543, KBio2_004111, KBio2_006679, KBio3_001569, ABT-919, NICOTINIC ACID [EMA EPAR], NINDS_000695, HMS1570B04, HMS1920P17, HMS2091H22, HMS2097B04, HMS2236A05, HMS3259K21, HMS3371E07, HMS3655K08, HMS3714B04, Pharmakon1600-01500430, Nicotinic acid, analytical standard, BCP16301, HY-B0143, STR00112, Tox21_110337, Tox21_201420, Tox21_302904, AC8691, BBL037343, CCG-38340, NICOTINIC ACID [EP IMPURITY], Nicotinic acid, for synthesis, 99%, NSC169454, NSC757241, s1744, STK301803, NICOTINIC ACID [EP MONOGRAPH], AKOS000118980, Nicotinic acid, >=99.5% (HPLC), Tox21_110337_1, CS-1946, DB00627, NC00524, Nicotinic Acid 1.0 mg/ml in Methanol, NSC-757241, PS-4255, SDCCGMLS-0066610.P001, IDI1_000695, NCGC00016268-01, NCGC00016268-03, NCGC00016268-04, NCGC00016268-05, NCGC00016268-08, NCGC00016268-09, NCGC00016268-13, NCGC00094734-01, NCGC00094734-02, NCGC00256537-01, NCGC00258971-01, AC-22484, ACIDUM NICOTINICUM [WHO-IP LATIN], BP-21419, NCI60_001041, Nicotinic acid, NIST(R) SRM(R) 148, Nicotinic acid, plant cell culture tested, SY011111, SBI-0051456.P003, DB-007765, Nicotinic Acid [Matrix for MALDI-TOF/MS], AB00052050, N0082, N1103, Nicotinic acid 10 microg/mL in Acetonitrile, Nicotinic acid, purum, >=99.0% (HPLC), NS00003500, SW197229-3, EN300-16693, C00253, D00049, Nicotinic acid, SAJ special grade, >=99.5%, AB00052050-13, AB00052050_14, AB00052050_15, Nicotinic acid, meets USP testing specifications, AC-907/25014105, L001199, METHYL NICOTINATE IMPURITY A [EP IMPURITY], Nicotinic acid, Vetec(TM) reagent grade, >=98%, Q134658, J-523605, SR-01000722017-2, SR-01000722017-3, SR-01000722017-4, BRD-K60237333-001-26-3, BRD-K60237333-001-27-1, BRD-K60237333-001-28-9, Z56755709, 3DDB011E-F3A6-45B6-A2D2-77B2A6E8936E, F2191-0082, Niacin, United States Pharmacopeia (USP) Reference Standard, Nicotinic acid, certified reference material, TraceCERT(R), Nicotinic acid, European Pharmacopoeia (EP) Reference Standard, Nicotinic acid, matrix substance for MALDI-MS, >=99.5% (HPLC), InChI=1/C6H5NO2/c8-6(9)5-2-1-3-7-4-5/h1-4H,(H,8,9), Nicotinic acid, for inorganic trace analysis, >=99.999% (metals basis), Niacin (Nicotinic Acid), Pharmaceutical Secondary Standard; Certified Reference Material, 101113-41-1, Nicotinic acid, BioReagent, suitable for cell culture, suitable for insect cell culture, suitable for plant cell culture, >=98%
Nicotinic acid is water-soluble (can dissolve in water) and must be taken in every day.
Not enough nicotinic acid can cause a disease called pellagra (a condition marked by skin, nerve, and digestive disorders).
A form of nicotinic acid is being studied in the prevention of skin and other types of cancer.
Nicotinic acid may help to lower blood cholesterol.
Nicotinic acid is also called niacin and vitamin B3.
Niacin can be either synthesized within the body or can be obtained from dietary sources.
Nicotinic acid, also known as niacin or vitamin B3, is a water-soluble vitamin whose derivatives such as NADH, NAD, NAD+, and NADP play essential roles in energy metabolism in the living cell and DNA repair.
The designation vitamin B3 also includes the amide form, nicotinamide or niacinamide.
Severe lack of niacin causes the deficiency disease pellagra, whereas a mild deficiency slows down the metabolism decreasing cold tolerance.
The recommended daily allowance of niacin is 2-12 mg a day for children, 14 mg a day for women, 16 mg a day for men, and 18 mg a day for pregnant or breast-feeding women.
Nicotinic acid is found in various animal and plant tissues and has pellagra-curative, vasodilating, and antilipemic properties.
The liver can synthesize niacin from the essential amino acid tryptophan, but the synthesis is extremely slow and requires vitamin B6; 60 mg of tryptophan are required to make one milligram of niacin.
Bacteria in the gut may also perform the conversion but are inefficient.
Nicotinic acid 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.
Niacin is water-soluble so that excess amounts the body does not need are excreted in the urine. Niacin works in the body as a coenzyme, with more than 400 enzymes dependent on it for various reactions.
Niacin helps to convert nutrients into energy, create cholesterol and fats, create and repair DNA, and exert antioxidant effects.
Nicotinic acid is an odorless white crystalline powder with a feebly acid taste.
pH (saturated aqueous solution):2.7
pH (1.3% solution): 3-3.5
Nicotinic acid is needles from alcohol or water, colorless and Odorless.
Nicotinic acid is an organic compound and a form of vitamin B3, an essential human nutrient.
Niacin can be manufactured by plants and animals from the amino acid tryptophan.
Niacin is obtained in the diet from a variety of whole and processed foods, with highest contents in fortified packaged foods, meat, poultry, red fish such as tuna and salmon, lesser amounts in nuts, legumes and seeds.
Niacin as a dietary supplement is used to treat pellagra, a disease caused by niacin deficiency.
Signs and symptoms of pellagra include skin and mouth lesions, anemia, headaches, and tiredness.
Many countries mandate its addition to wheat flour or other food grains, thereby reducing the risk of pellagra.
The amide derivative nicotinamide (niacinamide) is a component of the coenzymes nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP+).
Although niacin and nicotinamide are identical in their vitamin activity, nicotinamide does not have the same pharmacological, lipid-modifying effects or side effects as niacin, i.e., when niacin takes on the -amide group, Niacin does not reduce cholesterol nor cause flushing.
Nicotinamide is recommended as a treatment for niacin deficiency because Niacin can be administered in remedial amounts without causing the flushing, considered an adverse effect.
Niacin is also a prescription medication.
Amounts far in excess of the recommended dietary intake for vitamin functions will lower blood triglycerides and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and raise blood high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C, often referred to as "good" cholesterol).
There are two forms: immediate-release and sustained-release niacin.
Initial prescription amounts are 500 mg/day, increased over time until a therapeutic effect is achieved.
Immediate-release doses can be as high as 3,000 mg/day; sustained-release as high as 2,000 mg/day.
Despite the proven lipid changes, niacin has not been found useful for decreasing the risk of cardiovascular disease in those already on a statin.
A 2010 review had concluded that niacin was effective as a mono-therapy, but a 2017 review incorporating twice as many trials concluded that prescription niacin, while affecting lipid levels, did not reduce all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, myocardial infarctions, nor fatal or non-fatal strokes.
Prescription niacin was shown to cause hepatotoxicity and increase risk of type 2 diabetes.
Niacin prescriptions in the U.S. had peaked in 2009, at 9.4 million, declining to 1.3 million by 2017.
Niacin has the formula C6H5NO2 and belongs to the group of the pyridinecarboxylic acids.
As the precursor for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate, niacin is involved in DNA repair.
As a vitamin, Niacin is precursor of the coenzymes nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP).
These compounds are coenzymes for many dehydrogenases, participating in many hydrogen transfer processes.
NAD is important in catabolism of fat, carbohydrate, protein, and alcohol, as well as cell signaling and DNA repair, and NADP mostly in anabolism reactions such as fatty acid and cholesterol synthesis.
Vitamin intake recommendations made by several countries are that intakes of 14–18 mg/day are sufficient to meet the needs of healthy adults.
Niacin or nicotinamide (niacinamide) are used for prevention and treatment of pellagra, a disease caused by lack of the vitamin.
When niacin is used as a medicine to treat elevated cholesterol and triglycerides, daily doses range from 500 to 3,000 mg/day.
High-dose nicotinamide does not have this medicinal effect.
Application of niacin:
Nicotinic acid has been used as a component of the MS vitamins stock solution
Nicotinic acid has been used for the detection of siderophores in Escherichia coli bacterial culture
Nicotinic acid has been used as a component of the holidic medium for adult Drosophila .
Uses of Nicotinic acid:
Niacin (nicotinic acid) is used to prevent and treat niacin deficiency (pellagra).
Niacin deficiency may result from certain medical conditions (such as alcohol abuse, malabsorption syndrome, Hartnup disease), poor diet, or long-term use of certain medications (such as isoniazid).
Niacin deficiency can cause diarrhea, confusion (dementia), tongue redness/swelling, and peeling red skin.
Niacin is also known as vitamin B3, one of the B-complex vitamins.
Vitamins help to support the body's ability to make and break down natural compounds (metabolism) needed for good health.
Niacinamide (nicotinamide) is a different form of vitamin B3 and does not work the same as niacin. Do not substitute unless directed by your doctor.
Check the ingredients on the label even if you have used the product before.
The manufacturer may have changed the ingredients.
Also, products with similar names may contain different ingredients meant for different purposes. Taking the wrong product could harm you.
Nicotinic acid is used to treat:
High levels of cholesterol and triglycerides, which are fat-like substances in the blood;
Pellagra, a nicotinic acid deficiency which is very rare in Australia.
Symptoms of pellagra include loss of appetite, lethargy, weakness, diarrhoea, dermatitis and mental changes.
Cholesterol and triglycerides:
Everyone has cholesterol in their blood.
It is a type of blood fat needed by the body for many things, such as making bile acids (which help to digest food) and some hormones.
Some people have a family history of high cholesterol.
However, having too much cholesterol in the blood can contribute to the development of heart disease.
Cholesterol is present in many foods and is also made in your body by the liver.
If your body does not balance the amount of cholesterol it needs with the amount of cholesterol eaten, then your cholesterol becomes too high.
There are different types of cholesterol, called LDL (low-density lipoprotein) and HDL (high-density lipoprotein).
LDL cholesterol is the ‘bad’ cholesterol that can block your blood vessels.
HDL cholesterol is the ‘good’ cholesterol that is thought to remove the ‘bad’ cholesterol from the blood vessels.
There is another type of fat called triglyceride, which is a source of energy.
High levels of triglyceride can be associated with a low level of ‘good’ cholesterol and may increase your risk of heart disease.
Having high levels of ‘bad’ cholesterol and triglycerides can be a problem.
Over time, this can form hard areas, called plaque, on the walls of your blood vessels, making it more difficult for the blood to flow.
This blocking of your blood vessels can lead to heart disease (such as heart attack or angina), and stroke.
Treating high cholesterol and triglycerides:
High cholesterol and triglyceride levels can be treated in two main ways:
Lifestyle changes.
This includes a low-fat diet, increasing physical exercise, and weight management;
Medicines such as cholesterol-lowering agents.
Nicotinic acid (also known as niacin) is vitamin B3, which occurs naturally in food.
Used as a medicine, niacin can improve levels of blood fats (lipids) such as cholesterol and triglycerides.
Nicotinic acid works by reducing the amount of ‘bad’ cholesterol and triglycerides made by the liver.
In most people, there are no symptoms of high cholesterol or triglycerides.
Your doctor can measure your cholesterol and triglycerides with a simple blood test.
Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why niacin has been prescribed for you.
Your doctor may have prescribed niacin for another reason.
Do not give nicotinic acid to a child.
The safety and effectiveness of niacin have not been established in this age group.
Nicotinic acid is not addictive.
Niacin is available from your pharmacist without a doctor’s prescription.
Action of niacin:
Nicotinic acid is a water-soluble B complex vitamin which is able to reduce serum lipids.
niacin lowers serum cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations by inhibiting the synthesis of very low-density lipoproteins (VLDL), which are the precursors to the formation of low-density lipoproteins (LDL), the principal carrier of blood cholesterol.
Several possible modes of action have been proposed, including inhibition of hepatic synthesis of lipoproteins containing apolipoprotein B-100, promotion of lipoprotein lipase activity, and reduction of free fatty acid mobilisation from adipose tissue with an increase in faecal output of sterols.
Oral therapy produces reduced triglyceride concentrations within several hours and reduced cholesterol concentrations within several days.
Nicotinic acid also has a vasodilation effect when administered in large doses, identified by flushing of the skin while plasma nicotinic acid levels are rising.
This process is believed to be mediated by prostacyclin.
Vasodilation occurs within 20 minutes of an oral dose and persists for about 20-60 minutes.
The tablets contain 250 mg of nicotinic acid as the active ingredient.
They also contain lactose, wheat starch, povidone, talc, magnesium stearate.
The medicine does not contain tartrazine or any other azo dyes.
Niacin (nicotinic acid) is used to prevent and treat niacin deficiency (pellagra).
Niacin deficiency may result from certain medical conditions (such as alcohol abuse, malabsorption syndrome, Hartnup disease), poor diet, or long-term use of certain medications (such as isoniazid).
Niacin deficiency can cause diarrhea, confusion (dementia), tongue redness/swelling, and peeling red skin.
Niacin is also known as vitamin B3, one of the B-complex vitamins.
Vitamins help to support the body's ability to make and break down natural compounds (metabolism) needed for good health.
Niacinamide (nicotinamide) is a different form of vitamin B3 and does not work the same as niacin. Do not substitute unless directed by your doctor.
Check the ingredients on the label even if you have used the product before.
The manufacturer may have changed the ingredients.
Also, products with similar names may contain different ingredients meant for different purposes. Taking the wrong product could harm you.
Other Uses:
This section contains uses of niacin that are not listed in the approved professional labeling for the drug, but may be prescribed by your health care professional.
Use niacin for a condition that is listed in this section only if niacin has been so prescribed by your health care professional.
Niacin may also be used to improve cholesterol and lower fat levels (triglycerides) in the blood under the care of your doctor.
Niacin is generally used after non-drug treatments have not been fully successful at lowering cholesterol.
Doses used for these blood fat problems are usually much higher than for dietary problems.
Niacin is used to lower blood levels of "bad" cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein, or LDL) and triglycerides, and increase levels of "good" cholesterol (high-density lipoprotein, or HDL).
Niacin may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
How to use Nicotinic Acid Capsule, Extended Release?
Take Nicotinic Acid Capsule by mouth with a low-fat meal or snack as directed by your doctor, usually 1-3 times daily.
Taking niacin on an empty stomach increases side effects (such as flushing, upset stomach).
Follow all directions on the Nicotinic Acid Capsule package.
If your doctor has prescribed Nicotinic Acid Capsule, take it as directed.
If you have any questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Niacin is available in different formulations (such as immediate and sustained release).
Do not switch between strengths, brands, or forms of niacin.
Severe liver problems may occur.
Swallow extended-release capsules whole.
Do not crush or chew extended-release Nicotinic Acid capsules or tablets.
Doing so can release all of the drug at once, increasing the risk of side effects.
Also, do not split extended-release tablets unless they have a score line and your doctor or pharmacist tells you to do so.
Swallow the whole or split tablet without crushing or chewing.
Do not stop taking this medicine unless instructed by your doctor.
If you stop taking niacin, you may need to return to your original dose and gradually increase it again. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for instructions on restarting your dose if you have not taken your medication for several days.
Use this medication regularly to get the most benefit from Nicotinic Acid Capsule.
To help you remember, take Nicotinic Acid Capsule at the same time(s) each day.
It is very important to continue to follow your doctor's advice about diet and exercise.
If your condition lasts or gets worse, or if you think you may have a serious medical problem, get medical help right away.
Biochem/physiol Actions of niacin:
Niacin is involved in the production of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+), which is used in the adenine triphosphate (ATP) production in mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation.
Niacin also decreases hepatic production of very-low density lipoproteins (VLDL), and apolipoprotein B (apo-B).
Niacin deficiency leads to pellagra.
Health benefits of niacin:
VitaminB3 Improves blood fat levels:
Niacin may help to improve your blood fat levels by:
increasing your HDL (good) cholesterol
reducing your LDL (bad) LDL cholesterol
reducing your triglyceride levels
This may translate to a decrease in heart disease risk, although several studies have found no link between niacin supplementation and a decrease in heart disease risk or deaths.
It also takes high doses of niacin, typically 1,500 mg or greater, to achieve blood fat level improvements, which increases the risk of experiencing unpleasant or potentially harmful side effects.
For these reasons, niacin is not a primary treatment for high cholesterol.
It’s primarily used to help improve blood fat levels in people who cannot tolerate statin drugs
VitaminB3 may reduce blood pressure:
One role of niacin is to release prostaglandins, or chemicals that help your blood vessels widen — improving blood flow and reducing blood pressure.
For this reason, niacin may play a role in the prevention or treatment of high blood pressure.
In one observational study of over 12,000 adults, researchers found that each 1 mg increase in daily niacin intake was associated with a 2% decrease in high blood pressure risk — with the lowest overall high blood pressure risk seen at a daily niacin intake of 14.3 to 16.7 mg per day.
A high quality study also noted that single doses of 100 mg and 500 mg of niacin slightly reduced right ventricular systolic pressure.
VitaminB3 may help treat type 1 diabetes:
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which your body attacks and destroys insulin-creating cells in your pancreas.
There’s research to suggest that niacin could help protect those cells and possibly even lower the risk of type 1 diabetes in children who have a higher chance of developing this condition.
However, for people with type 2 diabetes, the role of niacin is more complicated.
On one hand, niacin can help lower the high cholesterol levels that are often seen in people with type 2 diabetes.
On the other, niacin has the potential to increase blood sugar levels.
As a result, people with diabetes who take niacin to treat high cholesterol also need to monitor their blood sugar carefully.
Fortunately, a more recent review of studies found that niacin did not have significant negative effects on blood sugar management in people with type 2 diabetes.
Vitamin B3 boosts brain function:
Your brain needs niacin — as a part of the coenzymes NAD and NADP — to get energy and function properly.
In fact, brain fog and even psychiatric symptoms are associated with niacin deficiency.
Some types of schizophrenia can be treated with niacin, as niacin helps undo damage to brain cells that’s caused by a niacin deficiency.
Preliminary research shows that niacin could also help keep the brain healthy in cases of Alzheimer’s disease.
However, results are mixed.
Nicotinic acid improves skin health:
Niacin helps protect skin cells from sun damage, whether niacin is used orally or applied as a lotion.
Niacin may help prevent certain types of skin cancer as well.
One high quality study in over 300 people at high risk of skin cancer found that taking 500 mg of nicotinamide twice daily reduced rates of nonmelanoma skin cancer compared to a control.
Drug Interactions:
Drug-Drug Interactions:
NICOTINIC ACID may interact with statins (atorvastatin, rosuvastatin), bile acid sequestrants (colestipol, cholestyramine), antihypertensives (ramipril, enalapril) and blood thinners (aspirin, warfarin, apixaban).
Drug-Food Interactions:
NICOTINIC ACID may interact with Ginkgo Biloba, garlic and saw palmetto.
Drug-Disease Interactions:
NICOTINIC ACID should be used with caution in case of active liver disease, gout, glaucoma, acanthosis nigricans (a skin condition seen in diabetics and PCOS patients), peptic ulcer disease, arterial bleeding, diabetes, renal failure, hypothyroidism, any myopathies (muscle diseases) and unstable angina.
Safety Advice about niacin:
ALCOHOL:
NICOTINIC ACID should be used with caution with alcohol as there may be an interaction.
Please consult your doctor in case of any concerns.
PREGNANCY:
Not enough studies have been done on pregnant women.
NICOTINIC ACID should be used with caution in pregnancy and only if the benefits outweigh the risks. Please consult your doctor in case of any concerns.
BREAST FEEDING:
NICOTINIC ACID should be used with caution in nursing mothers.
Please consult your doctor in case of any concerns.
DRIVING:
NICOTINIC ACID commonly has no effects on driving.
However, do not drive if you experience any side effects such as dizziness.
LIVER:
NICOTINIC ACID should be used with caution in those with pre-existing liver disease.
Please consult your doctor in case of any concerns.
KIDNEY:
NICOTINIC ACID should be used with caution in those with pre-existing kidney disease.
Please consult your doctor in case of any concerns.
SAFETY
First aid measures:
Description of first aid measures:
General advice:
Consult a physician.
Show this safety data sheet to the doctor in attendance.
If inhaled:
If breathed in, move person into fresh air.
If not breathing, give artificial respiration.
Consult a physician.
In case of skin contact:
Wash off with soap and plenty of water.
Consult a physician.
In case of eye contact:
Rinse thoroughly with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes and consult a physician.
If niacin is swallowed:
Never give anything by mouth to an unconscious person.
Rinse mouth with water.
Consult a physician.
Firefighting measures:
Extinguishing media:
Suitable extinguishing media:
Use water spray, alcohol-resistant foam, dry chemical or carbon dioxide.
Special hazards arising from the substance or mixture:
Carbon oxides, Nitrogen oxides (NOx)
Advice for firefighters:
Wear self-contained breathing apparatus for firefighting if necessary.
Accidental release measures:
Personal precautions, protective equipment and emergency procedures
Use personal protective equipment.
Avoid dust formation.
Avoid breathing vapours, mist or gas.
Ensure adequate ventilation.
Avoid breathing dust.
Environmental precautions:
Prevent further leakage or spillage if safe to do so.
Do not let product enter drains.
Discharge into the environment must be avoided.
Methods and materials for containment and cleaning up:
Pick up and arrange disposal without creating dust.
Sweep up and shovel. Keep in suitable, closed containers for disposal.
Handling and storage:
Store at room temperature away from moisture and light.
Do not store in the bathroom. Refer to storage information printed on the package.
If you have any questions about storage, ask your pharmacist.
Keep all medications away from children and pets.
Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed.
Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company.
Precautions for safe handling:
Avoid contact with skin and eyes.
Avoid formation of dust and aerosols.
Provide appropriate exhaust ventilation at places where dust is formed.
Conditions for safe storage, including any incompatibilities:
Keep container tightly closed in a dry and well-ventilated place.
Store in cool place.
Light sensitive.
Specific end use(s):
Exposure controls/personal protection:
Control parameters:
Components with workplace control parameters.
Exposure controls:
Appropriate engineering controls:
Handle in accordance with good industrial hygiene and safety practice.
Wash hands before breaks and at the end of workday.
Personal protective equipment:
Eye/face protection:
Safety glasses with side-shields conforming to EN166 Use equipment for eye protection tested and approved under appropriate government standards such as NIOSH (US) or EN 166(EU).
Skin protection:
Handle with gloves.
Gloves must be inspected prior to use.
Use proper glove removal technique (without touching glove's outer surface) to avoid skin contact
with this product.
Dispose of contaminated gloves after use in accordance with applicable laws and good laboratory practices.
Wash and dry hands.
The selected protective gloves have to satisfy the specifications of Regulation (EU)2016/425 and the standard EN 374 derived from it.
Full contact:
Material: Nitrile rubber
Minimum layer thickness: 0,11 mm
Break through time: 480 min
Material tested:Dermatril® (KCL 740 / Aldrich Z677272, Size M)
Splash contact:
Material: Nitrile rubber
Minimum layer thickness: 0,11 mm
Break through time: 480 min
Material tested:Dermatril® (KCL 740 / Aldrich Z677272, Size M)
If used in solution, or mixed with other substances, and under conditions which differ from EN 374, contact the supplier of the CE approved gloves.
This recommendation is advisory only and must be evaluated by an industrial hygienist and safety officer familiar with the specific situation of anticipated use by our customers.
It should not be construed as offering an approval for any specific use scenario.
Body Protection:
Impervious clothing, the type of protective equipment must be selected according to the concentration and amount of the dangerous substance at the specificworkplace.
Respiratory protection:
For nuisance exposures use type P95 (US) or type P1 (EU EN 143) particle respirator.
For higher level protection use type OV/AG/P99 (US) or type ABEK-P2 (EUEN 143) respirator cartridges.
Use respirators and components tested and approved under appropriate government standards such as NIOSH (US) or CEN (EU).
Control of environmental exposure:
Prevent further leakage or spillage if safe to do so.
Do not let product enter drains.
Discharge into the environment must be avoided.
Recommended Amounts:
RDA: Niacin is measured in milligrams (mg) of niacin equivalents (NE).
One NE equals 1 milligram of niacin or 60 mg of tryptophan.
The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for adults 19+ years is 16 mg NE for men, 14 mg NE for women, 18 mg NE for pregnant women, and 17 mg NE for lactating women.
The Tolerable Upper Intake Level is the maximum daily intake unlikely to cause harmful effects on health.
The UL for niacin for all adults 19+ years is 35 milligrams.
Sources of niacin:
Niacin is found in a variety of whole and processed foods, including fortified packaged foods, meat from various animal sources, seafoods, and spices.
A niacin deficiency is rare because niacin is found in many foods, both from animals and plants.
Red meat: beef, beef liver, pork
Poultry
Fish
Brown rice
Fortified cereals and breads
Nuts, seeds
Legumes
Bananas
Top food sources of niacin:
Niacin is found in a variety of foods, especially meat, poultry, fish, nuts, and legumes.
Some foods may also be fortified with niacin and other vitamins, like breakfast cereals
Some energy drinks also list doses — sometimes high — of B vitamins.
Here are some common food sources of niacin, along with how much of the Daily Value (DV) they provide:
grilled chicken breast, 3 ounces: 64% of the DV
roasted turkey breast, 3 ounces: 63% of the DV
cooked brown rice, 1 cup: 33% of the DV
dry roasted peanuts, 1 ounce: 26% of the DV
medium baked potato: 14% of the DV
In general, animal-sourced foods provide about 5–10 mg niacin per serving, although dairy foods and eggs have little.
Some plant-sourced foods such as nuts and grains provide about 2–5 mg niacin per serving, although this naturally present niacin is largely bound to polysaccharides and glycopeptides, making Niacin only about 30% bioavailable.
Fortified food ingredients such as wheat flour have niacin added, which is bioavailable.
Vegetarian and vegan diets can provide adequate amounts if products such as nutritional yeast, peanuts, peanut butter, tahini, brown rice, mushrooms, avocado and sunflower seeds are included. Fortified foods and dietary supplements can also be consumed to ensure adequate intake.
Food preparation:
Niacin naturally found in food is susceptible to destruction from high heat cooking, especially in the presence of acidic foods and sauces.
Niacin is soluble in water, and so may also be lost from foods boiled in water.
Food fortification:
Countries fortify foods with nutrients to address known deficiencies.
As of 2020, 54 countries required food fortification of wheat flour with niacin or niacinamide; 14 also mandate fortification of maize flour, and 6 mandate fortification of rice.
From country to country, niacin fortification ranges from 1.3 to 6.0 mg/100 g.
As a dietary supplement:
In the United States, niacin is sold as a non-prescription dietary supplement with a range of 100 to 1000 mg per serving.
These products often have a Structure/Function health claim allowed by the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA).
An example would be "Supports a healthy blood lipid profile."
The American Heart Association strongly advises against the substitution of dietary supplement niacin for prescription niacin because of potentially serious side effects, which means that niacin should only be used under the supervision of a health care professional, and because manufacture of dietary supplement niacin is not as well-regulated by the FDA as prescription niacin.
More than 30 mg niacin consumed as a dietary supplement can cause skin flushing.
Face, arms and chest skin turns a reddish color because of vasodilation of small subcutaneous blood vessels, accompanied by sensations of heat, tingling and itching.
These signs and symptoms are typically transient, lasting minutes to hours; they are considered unpleasant rather than toxic.
Niacin is available as a supplement in the form of nicotinic acid or nicotinamide.
Sometimes the amounts in supplements are far beyond the RDA, causing unpleasant side effects of flushing.
Niacin supplements are also available as a prescription medicine that is used to treat high cholesterol; this typically comes in an extended release form of nicotinic acid that allows slower, more gradual absorption so that it does not cause flushing.
Because of the very high doses of nicotinic acid needed, up to 2,000 mg daily, nicotinic acid should only be used when monitored by a physician.
Pharmacology:
Pharmacodynamics:
Niacin and nicotinamide are both converted into the coenzyme NAD.
NAD converts to NADP by phosphorylation in the presence of the enzyme NAD+ kinase.
NAD and NADP are coenzymes for many dehydrogenases, participating in many hydrogen transfer processes.
NAD is important in catabolism of fat, carbohydrate, protein, and alcohol, as well as cell signaling and DNA repair, and NADP mostly in anabolism reactions such as fatty acid and cholesterol synthesis.
High energy requirements (brain) or high turnover rate (gut, skin) organs are usually the most susceptible to their deficiency.
Activating HCA2 has effects other than lowering serum cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations: antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, antithrombotic, improved endothelial function and plaque stability, all of which counter development and progression of atherosclerosis.
Niacin inhibits cytochrome P450 enzymes CYP2E1, CYP2D6 and CYP3A4.
Niacin produces a rise in serum unconjugated bilirubin in normal individuals and in those with Gilbert's Syndrome.
However, in the Gilbert's Syndrome, the rise in bilirubin is higher and clearance is delayed longer than in normal people.
One test used to aid in diagnosing Gilbert's Syndrome involves intravenous administration of nicotinic acid (niacin) in a dose of 50 mg over a period of 30 seconds.
Pharmacokinetics:
Both niacin and niacinamide are rapidly absorbed from the stomach and small intestine.
Absorption is facilitated by sodium-dependent diffusion, and at higher intakes, via passive diffusion. Unlike some other vitamins, the percent absorbed does not decrease with increasing dose, so that even at amounts of 3-4 grams, absorption is nearly complete.
With a one gram dose, peak plasma concentrations of 15 to 30 μg/mL are reached within 30 to 60 minutes.
Approximately 88% of an oral pharmacologic dose is eliminated by the kidneys as unchanged niacin or nicotinuric acid, its primary metabolite.
The plasma elimination half-life of niacin ranges from 20 to 45 minutes.
Niacinamide is the major form in the bloodstream.
In the liver, niacinamide is converted to storage nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD).
As needed, liver NAD is hydrolyzed to niacinamide and niacin for transport to tissues, there reconverted to NAD to serve as an enzyme cofactor.
Excess niacin is methylated in the liver to N1-methylnicotinamide (NMN) and excreted in urine as such or as the oxidized metabolite N1-methyl-2-pyridone-5-carboxamide (2-pyridone).
Decreased urinary content of these metabolites is a measure of niacin deficiency.
Deficiency of niacin:
A niacin deficiency is rare in the United States and other industrialized countries because it is well-absorbed from most foods (with the exception of some cereal grains in which niacin is bound to its fibers, decreasing the absorption) and is added to many foods and multivitamins.
A severe niacin deficiency leads to pellagra, a condition that causes a dark, sometimes scaly rash to develop on skin areas exposed to sunlight; bright redness of the tongue; and constipation/diarrhea. Other signs of severe niacin deficiency include:
Depression
Headache
Fatigue
Memory loss
Hallucinations
Groups at risk for deficiency
Limited diets:
People whose diets are limited in both variety and quantity of foods, such as those living in poverty or who are very ill and cannot eat a balanced diet, are at increased risk.
Developing countries that eat corn or maize as a main food source are at risk for pellagra, as these foods are low in both absorbable niacin and tryptophan.
Chronic alcoholism:
The absorption of several nutrients, particularly water-soluble vitamins including the B family, is decreased with excessive alcohol intake.
Carcinoid syndrome:
This is a disease of slow-growing cancer cells in the gut that release a chemical called serotonin.
The syndrome causes tryptophan in the diet to be converted into serotonin rather than niacin, which increases the risk of decreased niacin.
Production of niacin:
Biosynthesis:
In addition to absorbing niacin from diet, niacin can be synthesized from the essential amino acid tryptophan, a five-step process with the penultimate compound being quinolinic acid.
Some bacteria and plants utilize aspartic acid in a pathway that also goes to quinolinic acid.
For humans, the efficiency of conversion is estimated as requiring 60 mg of tryptophan to make 1 mg of niacin.
Riboflavin, vitamin B6 and iron are required for the process.
Pellagra is a consequence of a corn-dominant diet because the niacin in corn is poorly bioavailable and corn proteins are low in tryptophan compared to wheat and rice proteins.
Industrial synthesis of niacin:
Nicotinonitrile is produced by ammoxidation of 3-methylpyridine.
Nitrile hydratase is then used to catalyze nicotinonitrile to nicotinamide, which can be converted to niacin.
Alternatively, ammonia, acetic acid and paraldehyde are used to make 5-ethyl-2-methyl-pyridine, which is then oxidized to niacin.
The demand for commercial production includes for animal feed and for food fortification meant for human consumption.
According to Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry, worldwide 31,000 tons of nicotinamide were sold in 2014.
Chemistry of niacin:
This colorless, water-soluble solid is a derivative of pyridine, with a carboxyl group (COOH) at the 3-position.
Other forms of vitamin B3 include the corresponding amide nicotinamide (niacinamide), where the carboxyl group has been replaced by a carboxamide group (CONH2).
Preparations of niacin:
Niacin is incorporated into multi-vitamin and sold as a single-ingredient dietary supplement. The latter can be immediate or slow release.
Nicotinamide (niacinamide) is used to treat niacin deficiency because it does not cause the flushing adverse reaction seen with niacin.
Nicotinamide may be toxic to the liver at doses exceeding 3 g/day for adults.
Prescription products can be immediate release (Niacor, 500 mg tablets) or extended release (Niaspan, 500 and 1000 mg tablets).
Niaspan has a film coating that delays release of the niacin, resulting in an absorption over a period of 8–12 hours.
This reduces vasodilation and flushing side effects, but increases the risk of hepatotoxicity compared to the immediate release drug.
Prescription niacin in combination with statin drugs (discontinued) is described above.
A combination of niacin and laropiprant had been approved for use in Europe and marketed as Tredaptive.
Laropiprant is a prostaglandin D2 binding drug shown to reduce niacin-induced vasodilation and flushing side effects.
A clinical trial showed no additional efficacy of Tredaptive in lowering cholesterol when used together with other statin drugs, but did show an increase in other side effects.
The study resulted in the withdrawal of Tredaptive from the international market.
Inositol hexanicotinate:
One form of dietary supplement sold in the US is inositol hexanicotinate (IHN), also called inositol nicotinate.
This is inositol that has been esterified with niacin on all six of inositol's alcohol groups.
IHN is usually sold as "flush-free" or "no-flush" niacin in units of 250, 500, or 1000 mg/tablets or capsules.
In the US, it is sold as an over-the-counter formulation, and often is marketed and labeled as niacin, thus misleading consumers into thinking they are getting an active form of the medication.
While this form of niacin does not cause the flushing associated with the immediate-release products, there is not enough evidence to recommend IHN to treat hyperlipidemia.
