Vitamin B3 (Niacin)

Also known as: Niacin, Niacinamide, Nicotinic Acid

Vitamin B3 is water soluble and plays a big role in maintaining muscle tone along the digestive tract, maintains health of the nervous system, skin, eyes, mouth as well as the liver as do all the B vitamins.

B3 must be taken every day as it can not be stored in the body for long periods of time for it is excreted within a few days of consumption.

Home Remedies using Vitamin B3:

Benefits and Uses of Vitamin B3:

Vitamin B3 is involved in the role of ridding the body of toxic and harmful chemicals. It helps the body make sex and stress-related hormones in the adrenal glands as well as other parts of the body.

Vitamin B3 helps improve circulation and reduces cholesterol levels in the body. Vitamin B3 aids in producing hydrochloric acid in the digestive system.

Vitamin B3 is found to be helpful for:

Reducing Cholesterol:

Niacin is excellent for raising your high-density lipoprotein (HDL) or “good” cholesterol levels while depleting the your low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or “bad” cholesterol levels as well as triglycerides. High levels of LDL cholesterol frequently accompany high triglycerides levels, in turn increasing the risk of heart disease.

Niacin is so effective, the American Heart Association reports that niacin reduces cholesterol more effectively than certain prescription medication. I can't think of a better endorsement than that!

• Schizophrenia and other mental illnesses
• Commonly used to lower elevated LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood, and helps to increase HDL level more effectively than cholesterol-lowering medications
• Combating the physical effects of stress
• A high dose of Vitamin B3 medications are used to prevent the fostering of atherosclerosis
• To reduce problems such as heart attack and peripheral vascular disease (atherosclerosis of the blood vessels in the legs)
• High doses of Vitamin B3 appears to be as effective as certain medications for heart disease
• High doses of Vitamin B3 may help relieve the symptoms of claudication (diminish the pain experienced with walking)
• When used in combination with the cholesterol-lowering drug Simvastatin, Vitamin B3 may dramatically slow the progression of heart disease which reduces the risk of heart attack and even death
• Essential for DNA repair
• Diabetes
• Osteoarthritis increasing joint mobility and reducing inflammation
• Cataracts when used with Vitamin A, Vitamins B1, B2, B12 and B9
• Multi-vitamins including all the B complex Vitamins have been shown to speed the healing of burns

Vitamin B3 comes in the following over the counter forms:

• Tablet
• Capsule
• Powder Sublingual
• Lozenge
• Liquid

(Note: Time release formulas are not recommended for long periods of use because they are more likely to cause liver damage. No matter what form of B3 you supplement your diet with, it is a good idea to check liver function via liver tests when a large dose (2-6 mg per day) is used.)

Vitamin B3 needs can be partially met by eating foods containing protein because the body is able to convert tryptophan, and amino acids in Vitamin B3. Vitamin B3 can be found in:

• Beef
• Broccoli
• Carrots
• Cheese
• Corn flour
• Eggs
• Fish
• Milk
• Pork
• Potatoes
• Tomatoes
• and whole wheat

Vitamin B3 is also available in various supplements:

• Niacinamide
• Nicotinic acid
• Inositol hexaniacinate which is the best tolerated

Side Effects of Vitamin B3:

Because of the risk for side effects and interactions with medications, Vitamin B3 should only be taken under the supervision of a knowledgeable healthcare provider. High doses of Vitamin B3 can cause the following side effects:

• Niacin flush, which is a burning sensation in the face and chest and red or “flushed” skin.
• Very high doses used to lower cholesterol and other conditions can cause liver damage and stomach ulcers
• People with a history of liver disease and/or stomach ulcers should not take Vitamin B3 supplements
• People with diabetes or gallbladder disease should only do so under the supervision of a health care provider
• Vitamin B3 should not be used by those with gout

(Note: Taking any one of the B vitamins alone for long periods of time can result in an imbalance of other B vitamins, for this reason it is best to take a B vitamin complex formula rather than a single B vitamin supplement alone.)